You've Been... THUNDERPACKED!
Or, a Rodent and a Lagomorph Walk Into a Bar
This review took me a little longer to write than I intended, partly because my wife swiped my copies almost as soon as I got the package open. It was a nice, big package, too. Felt great to hold it in my hands.1
The Backstory
I first heard about Packrat & Thunderbunny waaaay back at Baltimore Comic-con 2021 (Halloween weekend). Derek and John (aka, The Guyz™) came up to my booth to buy stuff from me and we started up a conversation. Turns out they both backed my Spider-Squirrel & Trash Panda Kickstarter for issue #2. We kept talking, and found more & more in common (like our excessively immature senses of humor).
The Guyz™ pitched Packrat & Thunderbunny to me and shared some early commissions (you can see those in the back matter of their first issue), told me about how they came up with these characters (and more) and introduced me to Chris Campana (who eventually did a Gateway Comics & Toys store exclusive cover for Spider-Squirrel #3).
We’ve been pals ever since!
The Comic
Packrat & Thunderbunny can be described as a buddy cop action comedy superhero adventure! No, wait… that’s how I describe Spider-Squirrel & Trash Panda. Uh, I mean it’s not wrong. Lemme try again.
Packrat & Thunderbunny can be described as what happens when Saturday morning cartoons, comicbooks, and best buds combine to form a Megazord of Comic-Awesomeness loaded with Acme level hijinks and indiecomics guest stars galore!
It’s like the Love Boat of indie comics!
The Review
I’ll keep this one short and sweet because you should really just go buy the damn book from the damn guys who created the damn thing. Ya feel me??2
The story opens up with Packrat on the prowl, to catch ne’er do-wellers… ne’er do-welling (??). While he’s doing his thing and stopping the Numbers Gang, a giant, pink, furry, bearded, glasses-wearing rabbit-dude pops in with the Hug-of-Hugs™ for his bestie.
But, there’s something off. And Thunderbunny (the pink, furry, bearded… you get the idea) has to explain what came before this issue, for both the reader and for Packrat.
The book is fun, funny, and just a delightful read, with terrific art (the flashback art is totes adorbs3 and the production quality on this book is just perfect. Clearly The Guyz™ took the time to do this right the first time.
I mentioned my exceedingly-hawt wife swiped my copies to read before I got a chance — I heard her giggle twice, snicker thrice, and guffaw at least one time audibly.
The Rating
Derek & John have a wild, fun, ridiculously engaging adventure on their hands and I am here for all of it! The writing fits the premise flawlessly, Nate’s lines & colors are just clean, crisp, cartoony, and as fitting the characters and story as the writing is the premise (I mean, this is a comedy, folks — don’t overthink the damn thing). It’s all wrapped up in Thomas’s beautiful letters and absolutely riotous SFX! I giggled several times at some of the literal sound effects like this one:
🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰🌰 (17 out of 5 Acorns4)
Packrat & Thunderbunny… what happens when Saturday morning cartoons, comicbooks, and best buds combine to form a Megazord of Comic-Awesomeness loaded with Acme level hijinks and indiecomics guest stars galore!
It’s like the Love Boat of indie comics!
WARNING: there will be multiple 12-year old type, immature jokes throughout. Sue me. Or, stop reading now… if you scrolled down to this, I guess it’s too late. I hope you prescheduled your lobotomy, if not you’re welcome.
Please, do NOT feel me.
It is NOT okay for a 50yr old guy to use, “totes adorbs” — thankfully I’m only 48…
Note to Apple & Google: We need actual acorns and squirrels in these GD emojis! I’m tired of using chestnuts! I’ll put my nuts on your chest you tech-goons!!!
Glad to see these reviews and to see you pushing Kickstarter publishing as a viable form of distribution. The more new customers coming into comics through the KS platform, the healthier the industry overall. Just got my copy of the book myself and enjoyed it as well!
…I, ah, got here late again… who’s getting “lightning fast super crushing bunny hugs?” Did I miss them again? God John, keep me in the loop!
Well hugs aside, Charlie could not be more on point. This comic is of excellent quality and writing, and I am over 50 Charlie, what of it?
I quickly became a Thunder Bunny super fan and will be investing in #2 as soon as I’m aloud to!
(It’s not a restraining order, it’s just the KS hasn’t opened yet.)
John great work, I love it and everyone should read and support this great story!
-js