The Webcomics Weekly is back in your life AND READY TO JOURNEY TO HELL. We’re about a week out from the spookiest day of the year and thanks to the good people at Grovertoons, I have an advanced review of their newest webcomic and, wouldn’t you know it, it’s going live in seven days time. So you’ll have seven days to wait with baited burger breath for a taste of “Hamburglar Goes to Hell.”
Descend with me, won’t you?
Hamburglar Goes to Hell
Updates: Completed (Live October 31 at the link above, just not yet)
By Michael Grover
Coded by Andrew Jensen
Orchestrated by Eric Michael Richardson
Reviewed by Elias Rosner
Is there nothing better than saying aloud the title of GroverToons’ latest epic “Hamburglar Goes to Hell?” That’s a rhetorical question. There is nothing better. It’s a beautiful turn of phrase that properly conveys the seriousness of this work of art and its commentary on the McEmpire.
It’s also funny as McHell.
Much like Grover’s previous work, “Deeply Dave,” “Hamburglar” is a slightly animated collage of 2D illustrations and 3D models set to a moody soundtrack that dynamically adjusts as you scroll down, down, down. A truly internet-y approach that leverages the DIY, cobbled together, clash of tone and taste nature of this space to feel native to its bits and bites rather than imposed upon it. This time it’s to tell a decidedly more…odd tale about one man who only says “robble robble.” That’s right, everyone’s favorite(?) WcRolnads mascot is finally getting his just deserts for crimes against Burgerkind and sent to deep fry in McHell.
The story of “Hamburglar Goes to Hell” is fairly straightforward and all you need to know going in is in the title. Honestly, I’m hesitant to even discuss the comic here because I don’t want to ruin any of the fun of encountering this work fresh. Spoilage is not the worry – as I said, the story is pretty simple – but the fun of “Hamburglar” is in the earnest absurdity with which Grover presents the material. Effortless It is a true commitment to the bit, hilarious and moving in equal measure because of it.
Email me when you see The McDevil.
Yet I can’t resist poking one aspect of “Hamburglar” a little. See, “Hamburglar” is a Harrowing. As someone who is very much not Christian, it’s a type of story I’m only familiar with in passing thanks to works like Evan Dahm’s “The Harrowing of Hell.” Still, I clocked it pretty early on. In a harrowing, a character (originally the Big J) travels through hell on their way to resurrection. This isn’t quite that, there are flavors of “Dante’s Inferno” and the Hamburglar is clearly no Big J, but biblical imagery (Quarter Pounder with Angel) and the structure of the comic supports this reading.
Why tell a Harrowing of the Hamburglar? I honestly don’t know. I’m not very familiar with the history of these corporate mascots, having grown up without their constant presence on the boob tube. I am damn glad we got one though.
So grab yourself a fountain beverage of choice, fry up some tubers, and settle into a booth to experience a well-cooked, just right sized hodgepodge so skillfully assembled as to craft a visually fractious yet tonally whole project about corporate mascots and the power of redemption. And a burger with a propeller beanie.
