Oh, good, Zeb Wells is back for more “hilarious” cut-ups with everyone’s favorite character, Frog Man. At least he’s paired with a returning Duncan Fegredo this time. I feel like you can tell when this book just needed to get an issue out as opposed to presenting some big get like Darwyn Cooke or Garth Ennis because Zeb is called upon to do multiple issues during its run. Little does he know as he’s doing this trench work how it will pay off for him in the future. Fegredo colors his own work this month, which is very cool.
We last saw the father & son Frog Man team in action in TAC 185, and you’ll be amazed to know they haven’t been in anything since. Yes, way back in 1991 was the last time we saw Vincent and Eugene PATILLO, and the fact that Wells is leaning into continuity so hard and somehow doesn’t even know their last name is bizarre. Granted, I didn’t remember it, I saw it looking up their last appearance, but, like, did Wells not read those comics to write this one? Also, Fegredo’s Frog Dad looks more than a little like Charlie from the last 3 issues, although that has to be just a coincidence. Well, Eugene’s friend Jerome suddenly appears in the room, and they discuss whether the return of Eugene’s father will once again make him a punching bag at school. Jerome thinks “no,” Eugene thinks “yes,” reminding Jerome that it took years for the kids at school to stop making fun of him for his dad. He’s talking about how hard it’s been to get past the embarrassment of his father as his father walks in.
The next day, Eugene is bullied about his dad by some standard jock cliches until Jerome comes in with some brutal commentary on how awful their dads are and whisks Eugene away. We learn Eugene asked a girl to Homecoming and was obliterated with Frog-Man jokes, but he’s still determined to try to fit in. Later, Eugene comes home and asks his dad why he chose to be a villain and not a hero, and Victor says he needed money, and heroes don’t steal money. Then someone knocks at the door.
Spider-Man hasn’t been this much of a jerk since Len Wein was writing him. Does Wells not know Eugene was Leap Frog? How could he decide to do this and not know that?
I can’t believe this. Wells doesn’t know about Leap Frog. The last time Spider-Man saw either of these guys, they were both trying to help him stop White Rabbit’s stupid gang. Being heroes. Now Spider-Man doesn’t know Eugene was Leap Frog and doesn’t remember Vincent was trying to go straight. And why was Vincet back in prison, anyway? Why would you not do any research for this? This is crazy. It’s also very much in keeping with the 21st Century “who cares?” approach to continuity. Which has always frustrated me, but after reading 30+ years of Spider-Man, it’s exceptionally frustrating. Well, obviously, the next day, they’re dissecting frogs in Eugene’s science class, because how could they not, and even the teacher joins in making fun of Eugene for having a Frog Dad.
This… this is too much. Is this supposed to be a remake of Leap Frog’s origin or something? That was in MTU 121… Wait, Vincent was Leap Frog, Eugene was Frog Man! He’s swapped the name! When Eugene gets home, he learns his dad has gotten a job putting on his frog suit as “Frog Face” and getting beaten up in a used car commercial for trying to raise prices. His dad thinks this is great, but Eugene is mortified. He goes outside to sulk, and a car full of kids drives by to throw all the dead frogs from biology at him, which seems… not at all legal.
This really is crazy. Eugene goes out on patrol to fight crime, but can’t find any, so he decides to go to the gas station where teens are known to loiter. In classic DeMatteis Komedy fashion, he tries to leap at them and crashes to the ground.
What was this? Was this Frog Man: Year One? Eugene suddenly called his Dad’s persona Leap Frog there. I am deeply confused. I suppose this could’ve happened before MTU 121, technically, but… man, what was this?