David Boswell: Reid Flemming, World's Toughest Milkman

David Boswell: Reid Flemming, World's Toughest Milkman

Somehow, people think that Evan Dorkin's Milk & Cheese was an amazingly original work of sheer chaotic destruction. Preceding Milk & Cheese by about 10 years, though, is another comic called Reid Flemming, World's Toughest Milkman, whose weird visual non-sequiturs, absurdist touches, and destructive main character garnered a fair cult following before it vanished in 1990. Suddenly, it's back, and being published more frequently than ever before. Flemming is a hero to the service industry. He bullies his customers—threatening one hapless old lady, "78 cents or I piss on your flowers!"—and drinks Owl's Root Rye whiskey on the job, and he religiously ducks out of his responsibilities so he can watch his favorite TV show, The Dangers Of Ivan. Creator David Boswell has created a world that follows none of the rules of logic to which we are accustomed. In one issue, Flemming is decapitated while shaving, but rectifies the situation by duct-taping his head back on. His favorite show consists of nothing more than one steady shot of car-crash victim Ivan lying comatose in a hospital bed for six seasons, but this doesn't harm the ratings. Boswell rewards attentive and regular readers with countless sight-gags (which are beautifully drawn with a meticulous cross-hatch style) and references to unimportant occurrences from previous panels and issues. On top of this, you get Reid Flemming taking guff from no one, beating the hell out of anyone who crosses his path, and coming up with elaborate revenge schemes for his nemesis, his manager Mr. Crabbe. Reid Flemming is a great dose of anarchic fun, and it's the most effective way to wash the bad taste of customer service out of your mouth.

 
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