Review: Junk Punch #1
From Mad Cave Studios
Set in the near future and featuring a lot of groin-related pugilism, is a new series from Mad Cave Studios with Junk Punch #1.
In a near-future world, peculiar new compulsions have arisen to afflict individuals in bizarre ways, such as a need to paint all pigeons pink or the unfortunate craving to tell the truth on dating apps.
One such individual is Clara Castanelle, aka Junk Punch, who “suffers” an addiction to punching people square in their junk!
From Eisner-winning author Paul Tobin and Probably Even More Talented Artist Carlos Olivares comes the story of one woman’s quest to solve a bizarre series of thefts, such as kisses stolen from willing and waiting lips! JUNK PUNCH! It’s entertainment with IMPACT!
Author: Paul Tobin
Artists: Colleen Coover, and Carlos Javier Olivares
Well... that was certainly something. To be fair, I knew exactly what sort of comic I was getting myself into. A book called Junk Punch doesn’t exactly suggest a thoughtful meditation on the human condition or a deep exploration of society’s greatest challenges. You pick up a title like this expecting chaos, absurdity, and a healthy dose of nonsense.
What I wasn’t expecting was to finish the issue and immediately find myself wondering, “What on earth did I just read?” Not because it was confusing or poorly put together, but because it embraces its bizarre premise so completely that you’re left trying to process the sheer madness of it all.
Despite that, or perhaps because of it, I had a great time reading this first issue. It throws readers headfirst into a wonderfully ridiculous world filled with strange characters, bizarre situations, and a constant stream of unexpected developments. The comic has real energy, never slowing down for long before introducing another oddball concept or visual gag. It feels completely comfortable being weird, and that confidence makes the humour land all the more effectively.
At the centre of the story is Clara, who suffers from the overwhelming urge to Junk Punch. It’s such a ridiculous concept on paper, yet the book commits to it wholeheartedly. Sometimes her compulsion appears at the worst possible moment, while at other times it turns out to be surprisingly useful. Some of the funniest moments come from seeing how this strange ability intersects with everyday situations, especially when it involves uncovering threats or dealing with individuals who are far more dangerous than they initially appear. The assassin sequence was a particular highlight, perfectly capturing the comic’s unpredictable sense of humour.
What impressed me most was that beneath all the absurdity, there is actually a story being told. The narrative may be just as strange as everything else happening on the page, but there is a clear thread running through the madness. As Clara moves through this chemically altered city, readers are given a guided tour of a setting that feels alive with strange ideas and visual jokes. Every page is packed with details, from background signs to random citizens going about their bizarre lives. It often feels like a modern-day Mad Magazine filtered through a colourful science-fiction fever dream.
Because of that, this is definitely a comic that rewards a second look. It’s easy to focus on the main action and dialogue during a first read-through, but there is so much additional humour tucked away in the background that you’re almost guaranteed to miss some of it initially. The creative team has clearly put a huge amount of effort into making every corner of the world feel unique and entertaining.
The artwork is a perfect match for the tone of the story. The bright colours leap off the page and help create a world that feels vibrant, chaotic, and constantly on the verge of spiralling out of control. Character designs are wonderfully exaggerated, while the backgrounds are filled with amusing little details that often go completely unmentioned by the characters themselves. These visual side jokes add an extra layer of entertainment and help make the city feel like a character in its own right.
Overall, this was a wonderfully strange, wildly entertaining first issue that fully embraces its own insanity. It isn’t trying to be subtle, serious, or realistic, and it’s all the better for it. Between the outrageous premise, the energetic storytelling, and the eye-catching artwork, Junk Punch delivers a reading experience unlike almost anything else on shelves right now. It is chaotic, ridiculous, and endlessly fun, leaving me eager to see just how much stranger things can get in future issues.
She's lucky they didn't nickname her "Ball Buster".