Goofyfoot Gurl Highly recommended

Publisher
Realbuzz
Writer
Realbuzz Studios
Artist
Allison Barrows, Drigz Abrot
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2007

Goofyfoot Gurl Volume 5

By David Rasmussen
7th Jun 08

When the original 4 volume set came out last year I said this was one of the two things that showed off the power of Realbuzz Studios’ potential, and it’s seriousness in being a powerhouse of it’s genre (faith based comic/manga/AmeriManga/OELManga) (the other being, of course, Serenity). Well it’s 2008 and the second wave of titles are here.

Sorry once again to my expectations of a launch of Hits & Misses, once again that has been delayed (again) until a 2009 launch date (though this seems to not be the only launch of 2008 as word has it there are going to be two Goofyfoot Gurl volumes this year, meaning we’re due a third wave from Realbuzz this year). So then, since we’re just twiddling our thumbs (or maybe it’s just me) let’s take a look at two thirds of the second wave that has just graced our presences this time out.

Besides the return of Serenity (Serenity Volume 7 to 10, a thing to put on my slowly growing long “to review list” of Realbuzz Studio titles) we have the return of Goofyfoot Gurl with Volume 5 (reviewed here) and brand new fourth title (third seeing how original third title Hits & Misses has been pushed back to 2009) Couplers.

As for Goofyfoot Gurl? It seems we really do have abit of catching up to do as it seems Suki has gone and gotten herself a boyfriend between the original first review and now! If you remember back to Volume 1 you remember the cameo by the mysterious shadowy wheelchair youth, right? Seems he is a former surfing pro crippled by an accident nicknamed Zip (I‘m sure he‘s not nicknamed that because of his wheelchair), and now (as of this volume) they’re slowly becoming an item… so what could possibly go wrong and derail THAT (besides the fact one of Suki’s male pals from Volume 1 may be fostering a crush on her that may or may not have been resolved between Volumes 2 and 4... Hmm… all the more reason to do my homework on those I guess).

This Volume it’s an all girl road trip as Suki, Pooja (she of the occasional Bollywood Musical mindset) and Chardonnay (no relation to the alcohol of the same name) hit the road to surprise a friend in Miami who needs some serious cheering up.
So after getting all the parents OK (and surgically separating annoying brother Vikram from Poona -- oh, yeah, Vikky, go on and talk about sex after trying to hoist your sister off to a geeky New Dehli tech nerd as his trophy wife slash sex partner! Hypocrite!!) the trip is so on… so what could possibly be amiss. Oh, I don’t know… maybe Suki suddenly has a “long distance” relationship on her hands when she was just getting used to having a relationship to begin with.

But it’s not like they’re in constant con… oh, wait, they are.
Acting as the girls long distance roadmap, he walks them through the trip via cellphone and a lot of computer guided assistance. Which of course means there’s lots of time to begin to worry about the just beginning relationship (especially since it looks like Pooja and Chardonnay have their own relationships to talk up during the trip with Suki about) , even as Suki begins to have doubts that Zip (doesn’t help that a small series of circumstances during the volume ultimately leads Suki possibly astray with the whole cliffhanger cellphone ending and all). Oh, and while we’re at it abit of story about Joplin thrown in to eat up time along the way.

So then has my feelings changed for the title since the last review?
Nope. If I was even the slightest bit concerned about Volume 1 being a fluke in it’s presentation and deliverance of story then this proved me wrong right off the bat. It seems the title is consistent, and thus consistently strong, earning it’s cred once again.
A few things of note.

One : It looks like the art team has changed between the first and fifth volumes, and while I don’t mind the new art styling of the title I do have to admit that I miss the original Goofyfoot Gurl Artist from before. Won’t demote the title any on points, but still I do miss the original art style all the same.

Two : Out went Drigz Abrot (from Volume 1), in comes Siya Oum. I’m pretty certain this is the artist swap I just mentioned, because if this is an artist change I really didn’t notice much in the way of change in writing.

Three : New cover artist as well. Again not as great as the artist from the first four volume run, but not something to nitpick over.

Overall Goofyfoot Gurl remains consistent. Despite the changing of the guard in the artistic department I have nothing bad to say about the title (and am looking forward to the resolution of this cliffhanger later this year with Goofyfoot Gurl Volume 6).

5 Seatings of the Vikram (SIT DOWN VIKRAM!!) out of 5.

-- David Rasmussen 7th Jun 08