Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • The Funny Papers (Tales to Astonish and Tales of Suspense; 5-05-1959)

      Daniel Gehen
      May 7, 2014
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • 3.0

      Secret Wars #9: Good, But Unsatisfying

      Daniel Gehen
      January 13, 2016
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • Countdown to the King: Godzilla - The Half Century War

      Daniel Gehen
      May 14, 2019
      Columns, IDW
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.5

      Review: 'Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I'm the Deodorant!' is so funny you might hurt yourself reading it

      Daniel Gehen
      December 16, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: Matt Gagnon Loves his Job - Who Could Blame Him?

      Daniel Gehen
      April 20, 2015
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • The Phantom Stranger Vol. 1

      Daniel Gehen
      July 16, 2012
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Exclusive IDW Preview: TMNT Casey and April #2

      Daniel Gehen
      July 17, 2015
      Previews
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Kickstarter for the Independent Creator: A Practical and Informative Guide To Crowdfunding'

      Daniel Gehen
      September 14, 2015
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: If I win Powerball, I will buy Amazing Fantasy 15
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Indie

Review: The Super Support Group #1 Needs Medical Attention

Daniel Gehen
November 8, 2018
Indie, Reviews

Anomalous Comics

(w) Arkhein (a) David Jaxon (c) Sambas Suryadi (l) Chris Johnson

“Well, it’s time to suck the day’s dick.” That’s the opening line to The Super Support Group from Anomalous Comics. Following in the recent trend of putting superheroes in mundane or everyday situations, Super Support Group sees a group of powered individuals forced to partake in court-ordered group therapy. If it sounds similar to DC’s Heroes in Crisis, it’s because it is… to an extent. Whereas that high-profile book deals with trauma for full-fledged superheroes, Super Support Group deals with characters that are “super” insofar as they have what can loosely be defined as powers and little to no indication of actual heroics.

It is clear from the onset that the creative team, each of whom had a hand in developing a story, is attempting to strike a balance between comedy and commentary. Each character is distinct and brings with them their own boisterous personality, from the Ultra-Transvestite to Porno Pete. However, they are less characters and more caricatures, with the two aforementioned characters being emblematic of this issue. Arkhein’s script plays to the lowest common denominator by playing up stereotypes for laughs. It doesn’t help that the group therapy is facilitated by a shrink (literally a guy with Ant-Man’s powers) acts like the frustratingly apathetic therapist portrayed in countless films and television shows. Admittedly, the combination of the therapist’s powers with the colloquial term for the profession is one of the book’s genuinely clever moments.

Also of interest are two plot threads that are more captivating that the therapy sessions. One features a cowboy-clad bank robber that says the previously mentioned quote about felatiating the day, and the other sees a kinda-but-not-exactly mime frequently ignored by passers-by. Unfortunately, each of these plot threads look to play a bigger role in issues down the road. It’s a true shame, because the creative team appears to have something genuinely special going on here, but it is just bogged down by the “main” story.

Despite the story’s flaws, the art from David Jaxon and Sambas Suryadi is well executed. Vibrant and expressive, this duo makes the world of Super Support Group feel genuinely lived in. I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two make their way through the ranks at Titan or BOOM! or IDW in the near future. The script may be a bit rocky, but the artwork is smooth from the cover through the last panel.

The Super Support Group #1 is a book rife with potential that is squandered by a subpar script. Though the artwork and a couple plot threads can hold the reader’s interest for the majority of the issue, its core just cannot seem to get out of its way. It a true shame, because I went into this book with high hopes and it just didn’t deliver the goods.

Review: The Super Support Group #1 Needs Medical Attention
2.0Overall Score

Anomalous ComicsArkheinChris JohnsonDavid JaxonSambas SuryadiThe Super Support Group

Share On:
Tweet
Review: Marvel Knights 20th #1
Remembering Stan Lee

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Editor-in-Chief

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • 4.5

    DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders