Review - Buddy Cops (One-Shot)

I can see it in your eyes, I can see it in your smile, you're all I've ever wanted, (and) my arms are open wide. 'Cause you know just what to say, and you know just what to do and I want to tell you so much, I love you. That about sums up Buddy Cops one-shot from Dark Horse Comics.

The title is written by Nate Cosby, illustrated by Evan Shaner and lettered by Rus Wooton.

Dennis was an intergalactic space cop who got demoted to the NYPD, where he goes by the name Uranus. T.A.Z.E.R. (Tactical Android Zoned for Efficient Resolution) is a police robot accidentally rebooted by a janitor. One brings the funk and ruckus (Uranus) while the other brings the order and planning (T.A.Z.E.R.). Together, they're one of the most unstoppable duos out there, fighting all manner of alien, robots and other various crimes.

After reading the one-shot, the first word that comes to mind is wow. Buddy Cops (One-Shot) more or less steams over you like a freight train, leaving you wondering what it is exactly you read. And that's nothing but praise for Cosby's story. He's managed to write something so outlandish and politically incorrect that it reads quite brilliantly, pulling no punches and saving room for no apologies. The buddy cop dynamic isn't original by any means, but Cosby manages to make it feel new.

Uranus blurts out some great phrases as well, making sure you know he's usually drunk on the job. T.A.Z.E.R. is such the polar opposite as a methodical, calculating robot who tries to find the best approach to a situation, but is often undermined by the spontaneity of Uranus. Their dynamic is one of the buddy cop duos at its finest and makes the book nothing but a guilty joy to read.

Shaner's work gives the book that 70s cop serial feel that adds to the atmosphere. Some of Cosby's "criminals" are truly crazy and inventive and Shaner is up to the task of putting physical representations of them to the pages. The panel layouts are fairly standard, but this isn't a book that relies on crazy panel designs. No, it relies on mammoth, nuclear infused monks praying to carry the adventures.

If you're looking for something fun and completely outlandish to read, then Buddy Cops (One-Shot) is what you need to pick up. It's a ridiculous duo placed in even more ridiculous situations, with lots of vulgar language, shoddy police work and a slew of crazy cases. There's actually a few stories in the one-shot, helping the whole thing feel fresh and exciting. Frankly, it's a lot of fun to read.

Buddy Cops (One-Shot) is available in stores March 13.

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