Chimichanga-the all age circus freak comic book with heart

Chimichanga, The Sorrow of the World’s Worst Face is a freak show. No really, the backdrop for the comic book is Winkle’s Traveling Circus and our main characters are the freaks. They’re fun loving good-natured folk who society just doesn’t understand, plus Chimichanga a giant green monster that eats anything.

This is the latest story creation by Eric Powell, the creator of The Goon. Whereas that title was definitely for older audiences, Chimichanga is its all age sister who gleefully plays with young readers 9 and up.  Lula is the bearded girl and serves as the guide for the comic book. She’s eternally optimistic, greets each day with a song and has lots of friends like a sad clown, talking fish with a bitter attitude and more.

Just as her day starts things off a skinny creature with a head full of hair is running from the police.  It’s also the day that Lulu has to give Chimichanga his monthly scrub down. Sure the big green, horned beast smells funny, but she doesn’t mind. She calls for her diving gear, because she has to go into his belly to do a thorough cleaning, and she gets to work. While there she finds a sack of angry belly potatoes-that proceed to attack a hobo, the circus elephant-who goes to his area once he’s freed and other oddities.

When cleaning up she finds the skinny creature with the head full of hair hiding in a boxcar.  All we see of this creature is its lanky arms and gaunt frame that’s dressed like something from Seattle 1996. It’s then that Lulu sees its face which causes Lulu to exclaim, “sweet potato pie”.

Chimichanga is a funny comic book. There are moments of very droll humor that will make kids and adults laugh. And just when readers think this is just a funny book it brings forth some real emotion when Lulu has an argument with the creature where they realize that they’re both freaks. To top things off the issue ends with a jolt of action and Chimichanga chasing after someone to do what it does best, eat.

Most of the content in Chimichanga is great for ages 8 and up. However, there are just a couple instances, like when Lulu’s grandpa gets robbed and beaten, as well as a couple monster panels that might be too much for that age. Because of that this is a great comic book for ages 9 and up. This is also one of the great examples of a comic book that adults will enjoy reading to their children.

The art by Stephanie Buscema compliments the family-friendly freak vibe that the comic has too. The monsters are obviously not real, but there is a sense of danger and are drawn in a manner that makes readers think that they’ll jump off of the page.