The Martlet

The long road is over, my friends. The sun has risen and the light in the tunnel has grown to a glorious glow. It is finally here.

The first new Tank Girl graphic novel written by series creator Alan C. Martin in over a decade has arrived. And things have changed, but for the better. Visions of Booga is complemented by beautiful art by well know graphic artist Rufus Dayglo with occasional touches reminiscent of that of original artist Jamie Hewlett.

This is elevated yet again with colouring by Christian Krank, with the shades and tones changing with the surroundings of the characters.

The story is a protracted flashback. Starting with an explanation of how things are going well for Tank Girl and Booga now, it shows that there was a time when things were not quite so “creamy.”

It gets so bad, Tank Girl sells her tank to put the money on a horse that eventually comes in last.

Next, Tank Girl and Booga hire themselves out to the Australian mafia. Things go bad and a cross-country chase ensues in the tradition of Billy Wilder. Our intrepid pair attempt to find safe haven with Booga’s long lost brother, from whom he has received an opportune invitation to the West Coast.

Meanwhile, the Daniels Brothers try to stop them.

The storyline has more depth and nuance than ever before and shows Martin’s affinity for the Beat Generation with loving but self-deprecating references to Timothy Leary and the “power” of beat literature.

It seems Martin has softened a bit with age.

The book, available for $17.99 from IDA publishers, isn’t nearly as violent as Martin’s earlier work. It puts more emphasis on plot and character development than the Tank Girl we’re used to seeing.

The final battle is grueling but more comical than gory or gratuitous and ends with Tank Girl actually showing some sadness for the loss of life.

This newfound maturity has not affected Martin’s sense of humour, with all the goofy slap-stick humour, one-liners and cultural references (the latter including the appearance of a Sesame Street Monster on a Prison Bus), still being intact.

While the latest work is different in some ways from the old school Tank Girl of the late-80s and early-90s, Visions of Booga is an indication that the best of the series is yet to come.