So tales of my stupendous feats, read petty theft, to acquire the hard cover edition of Steve Purcell's rare "Sam & Max: Freelance Police" aside (seen disappointingly HERE), I've learned more from Sam & Max then from any graphic novel in years.

There is a magic that happens in these pages that is unique to comics. Bone has it, Peanuts has it, and Sam & Max both have it in spades. To tell the truth, I can't think of a series that has such rabid devotion for having one book behind it's name. The short-lived comic series spawned a cartoon television show, merchandise, and even a few hit video games. And over ten years later, the thought of this odd duo making a return still makes our collective geek hearts jump.

Here are twenty pieces of mind candy I pried from the yellowing pages:

THE ART

1) The art is hyper-detailed and visually arresting. You could read these pages endlessly and find new reasons to live.

2) CLEAR storytelling. On average only 4 panels are used on each page, allowing the reader to follow the story not a convoluted page design.

3) FRESH art. Freelance Police is a book that focuses on two characters for a few hundred pages but by the end you feel you are just learning about their adventures. Purcell frames Sam and Max from viewpoints, crops, and gimmicks to get a fresh perspective until the end.


THE STORY

4) In comics, TELL DON'T SHOW. You never really see Max go nuts but you believe he will because he constantly talks tough.

5) All dialogue is used to define Sam, Max, or their world. There is no generic dialogue used even once.

6) The humor is created from CONTRAST. A gap in expectation between sweet image and jarring text or vice-versa.

7) Have HEART. While the freelance police are willing to gun down the innocent they have a soft side too. This mix of love for classic americana versus insanity makes them oddly believable characters.

8) Simply BRUTAL. Needless creative violence is strangely alluring.

9) Keep it FAST and SHORT. Attention spans are so last year. Keep your story running and even if the audience is lost a steady stream of jokes will carry them to the next scene.

10) When in doubt, RANDOMIZE. Throwing in a curveball every few pages keeps life worth reading.

11) Your story SUCKS. It took me a few reads to understand what was happening in these stories because I was enjoying the ride and not even participating in the plot. I didn't even care that I had no clue what was occurring. It felt like being on a road trip with old friends. We should all spend less time polishing our 50 issue story arcs and try building a universe that we are sad to leave.


THE MEDIUM

13) Never take ANYTHING seriously. Not your story, characters or art. Just have fun and that fun will be contagious.

14) Multiple text jokes per panel. And then a visual gag for good measure.

15) Self-referential. Sam and Max mix each other names up. They know the artist isn't using reference. They don't want to be called cartoons. The fourth wall is broken and at just the right times.

16) Sequential art's strength lies in embracing the varied ability of a page. By squeezing different styles and story formats together in rapid succession Mr. Purcell created a classic graphic novel that deserves to be enjoyed by anyone looking for a vacation from adult life.