Aerobicide: The Extreme Ninja Workout (Rad One Shot) // Review
Indie comics are generally awesome. From their simple roots, we have mammoth franchises like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or even just fun rampant and insane comics like Sam and Max. Today, independent comics are even more prolific than in the golden age of the 80s, with the internet connecting people in more unique ways than ever, and allowing for more ways to distribute the end results.
Ever want to revisit the 80s, with neon and spandex fashioned by popular movies like Flashdance? What if we throw in some anime styling from the decade as well, along with a bunch of popular things from the 80s like ninjas and slasher movies?
That, in a weirdly earnest and fun nutshell, is Aerobicide: The Extreme Ninja Workout’s self-proclaimed Rad One Shot. Created by Terry Parr, they’re joined by writer David Doub, artists Cal Slayton, with colors often provided by Halo Toons.
The first of the three chapters, Slashdance, is a solo work by Terry Parr, with one dancer Sheri Ken trying out for a dance audition in Hollywood. It doesn’t take long for Sheri to stun those running the audition, and for them to try and kill her! Can she fend them off with her ancient ninja powers?
Chapter two, Double Blow, comes from David Doub, Cal Slayton, and Halo Toons. Taking place during the filming of a bubble gum commercial, Sheri finds herself fending off the advances of a local cop dressed in their finest Miami Vice cosplay, while trying to investigate a possible up and coming drug lord!
The final chapter, Blockbuster Night, has a ninja with bizarre and mystical powers using the ancient art of VHS tapes to force Sheri to live through the most horrific horror movies imaginable! Can the aerobics ninja survive against some of the cheesiest of 80s horror?
This comic is utterly infectious in its enthusiasm. The comic runs at a brief 32 pages for three stories, and the breakneck pace of each chapter prevents the reader from really questioning what’s going on before the next bizarre and spectacular event happens. Vibrant colors that seem to have been cracked from some ancient casket not seen since 1991 color the leggings of Sheri and her fellow dancers, and the backgrounds used to show off dance also feel like they come from a 1980s music video.
If you couldn’t tell, you’re in for an acid flashback to the 80s with this comic, and it’s a blast.
Chapters one and three have some wonderful art, feeling like screenshots from an animated feature frozen in time. Sheri herself shines as a character, feeling like she’s a lost piece of art from a Saturday Morning Cartoon show that didn’t mind having something extra “for the dads.” Chapter two is the weaker of the three with an artist who doesn’t quite gel with Parr’s art, but still finds the time to make the world feel highly absurd with the setting of a commercial that feels like it comes right from the weirdest “best of 80s commercials” VHS recordings you can find on Youtube.
With modern comics being filled with serious plotlines, over the top parodies of characters who demand to be taken seriously, and Batmen who do things that aren’t entertaining, sometimes all you need is just a bit of enjoyable fluff and eye candy. If you have some spare money in this day and age, this is a comic you should pick up.
