Sam & Max: Surfin’ the Highway (TPB) – Review

By Steve Purcell (written & illustrated)

Since the release of the first game on the PC, I’ve always wanted more Sam & Max. I didn’t even know that there was a comic book or a cartoon TV series. Eventually, I found out about all this stuff, and the collected edition of the comics that was released around 1995. I really wanted to get my hands on this sucker but the book was just too hard to find, not to mention ridiculously expensive. Then came Telltale with “Sam & Max Season One” – an episodic series of adventure games. After the successful and acclaimed return, they compiled and re-released the previously sold out TPB, adding a few more new pages and some extra color.

The book is about a cop dog and a rabbit who fight crime in an unorthodox way. The humor is hit and miss; if you played the game and didn’t like it, don’t even bother with the comic – it’s not on par with it. I’m not saying that it’s bad – it’s still wacky, sarcastic and funny, but it’s just not on the same level as the game. Also included are some cartoons that where made to promote LucasArts games: Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Full Throttle. The pinup gallery is a great extra, too.

I know there is more material to add to this book (especially new stuff), but for some reason it wasn’t added. I’d love to have some kind of bimonthly Sam & Max comic, but who knows if that’ll ever happen. Like Sam says: You crack me up, little buddy. (Grade: B)

-Daniel Yanez