"Joel, I Turned Around and My Life Was Over" 

"The Cartoonist Thinks: 'When do I start to feel successful?'" 
 
 
This wasn't my first exposure to TMCM (the Web cartoons were), but this my first exposure to TMCM the comic.  And I wasn't disappointed in the least. 

Too Much Coffee Man, tired of living in an imperfect world, sets out to "perfect" the world when he's granted omnipotence ... to disastrous results; a man named Joel bemoans the twists his life has taken; and a cartoonist muses over success. 

My favourite strip was easily the first one.  Seeing TMCM go around and kick the world into shape was a hoot. 

"Disliking everything is *not* the same as having an opinion !" 

"I hate my government when they *lie* to me. I hate my government when they tell me the *truth*." 

"I've destroyed *everything*.  It's *all* gone.  It was *fun* !!" 

And the bottom of page 5 was just brilliant.  Seeing things from the criminal's side was very interesting and worked extremely well. 

"Suddenly, for not apparent reason, Too Much Coffee Man is hit by lightning, radioactivity or something and becomes omnipotent." 
Heh. 

TMCM's method for electing government officials was also brilliant.  Makes me think that we ought to bring in guys off the street ... 

Finally, TMCM's unsuccessful attempts at suicide were hilarious. 

*** 
Joel's story was a cynical, bittersweet and peppered with humour, too.  Like a 
lot of good writing, really. 

And the references to the non-existing #s 6 and 7 was pretty funny. 
*** 

The third story was pretty good, too, but didn't have the humour the first (and to some degree, the second) had.  However, it was still interesting, if only for a look into the cartoonist's (obviously, Wheeler himself) psyche and his doubts and fears. 

All in all, I think my first venture into the world of TMCM (the comic, anyway) was a swell one.  Nothing really spectacular, but some very funny bits, too. 
 

Score:  B   
  

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