Another book I'm surprised we haven't seen yet, but I may remember why...

Although I just grabbed another from the dollar bin, this may have been my first First comic, marked down at a Hastings in Great Falls, Montana. From 1989, Badger Goes Berserk! #1, written by Mike Baron, art by Spyder (Neil Hansen) and Jay Geldhof, Denys Cowan and Malcolm Jones III, Denis Kitchen, Steve Epting, and Jill Thompson.

This was my introduction to Badger, and this limited was a highwater point for the character, a four issue jam with a ton of great artists used to often devastating effect. While there's still some jokes, this was also far more serious than Badger usually was, in more ways than one. In Madison, WI, after smashing a black man's radio (for playing it too loud) Badger gets into a fight with three of them, beating them handily. Which impresses Larry no end: Badger had often in the past called anyone 'Larry,' seemingly a bizarre affectation; but here we meet the genuine article, his stepdad. Shocked and more unstable than most realized, Badger faints dead away, which doesn't impress his new 'stepbrother' Jesse, a dickhead from his past.

After a disturbing flashback to the abuse Badger suffered as a child, we check in with his supporting cast, including his boss, the wizard Ham. Badger had been MIA for a few days, which wasn't uncommon for him, but Ham wanted him to investigate a number of dogs that were being delivered around the country for unknown reasons. Badger's new bride, Mavis, consults with his doctor; who advises that while Badger's multiple personality disorder may appear to be integrated, the odds of that were extremely unlikely.

At a kennel, Larry and Jesse dump a bucket of water on Badger, to wake him up and let them in on their plan: 'white' dogs, trained to attack non-whites, to stir up a race war that the All-White Brotherhood figures think will wipe them out. (Sadly, this part isn't completely fictional, see here.) Larry knew Badger could talk to animals, and thought he would be a big help; Badger wants no part of them. Jesse chokes him out, triggering another flashblack, to a beating he give young Norbert around high school. Another persona surfaces, eight-year-old Emily: unsure what to do with him, Jesse suggests throwing him in with the dogs, to train them...or not. Sink or swim time. The dogs don't attack 'Emily,' and later another personality takes over, Gastineau, who uses the dogs to fight his way out and escape...

Denys Cowan and Jill Thompson were great from day one, man; and I always liked Neil Hansen, wish he had done more. This may hit different for other readers, because I don't think you see this as often anymore: there are a lot of slurs in this book. I don't think Badger was often concerned with political correctness, though. Also this issue: Mike Baron eschews talking about Badger, to tell us about dinner with Jackie Chan instead. He didn't need to talk up Badger, this issue made me a fan, of the character and Baron. And I love Badger's pal Riley's description of him; reminds me of an old friend: