Bad Gateway Review

                                

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: After Owl moves out, Werewolf Jones moves in while Megg and Mogg's life deteriorates as they struggle to make ends meet in the midst of their psychological turmoil.

My Thoughts: Finally has Simon Hanselmann's Megahex series succeeded in meeting the level of character a depth so laudingly described in the blurb of the previous books which primarily focused on the characters' juvenile and sophomoric misadventures and mishaps. While I certainly found the lowbrow stoner comedy in the preceding volumes knee-slapping fun, it was nice to see the series takes a thematic shift from an episodic narrative to a more mature dynamic one where the readers are able to sympathize or even empathize with Megg and Mogg and, of all individuals, one can think of, Werewolf Jones's dejection as they become more self-aware of the emptiness in their reckless lifestyle of sex, drugs, and mischief with Owl's complete absence. Meg's childhood, in particular, was pretty screwed up and surprisingly poignant in a way that made her demeanor understandable without condoning it. To put in other words, the characters were more well-rounded and three-dimensional here than in the previous comics where they were mostly lopsided jerks for the sake of being lopsided jerks. While there was some of the scatological and dark humor which initially defined the series, much of it here felt like a mere reflection of the characters' dismal vanity.

Final Thoughts: Bad Gateway marks a monumental tonal shift in the Megahex graphic novels worth the perusal for both Simon Hanselmann fans and those losing faith in his ability to craft mature stories. I hope the next book focuses on Owl's life after moving out.