Bonecheck is an indie comic I’ve been wanting to cover for a long time. Before the Covid pandemic, I found this title at C2E2 and got solid entertainment out of it. The only other comic I could get this feeling with in recent times was Chelsea Cain’s Man-Eaters volume 4. I believe I may know why, it’s a little something called Dada. But, not many people can find Camron Johnson’s masterpiece unless they’re at conventions. Why is that all important, pay attention and find out.
Bonecheck Productions
In a quick interview with creator Camron Johnson, Bonecheck began as a printer sketch exercise. What’s that non-artists? Printer sketching is essentially doodling that can be very meditative; a stain can become a cartoon character or in Johnson’s case everything in his subconscious comes out. A smiling shadow that comes out to vent cartoony violence eventually leads into a full comic. For Johnson, this comic’s only purpose is pure brain numbing experiences that leave a sense of satisfaction.
This is very much the essence of Dadaism, an avant-garde philosophy against high art. Whereas most artists try to look intelligent and evoke humanist feelings for some kind of profit, dada rejects conventions. It’s purely instinctive and puts a bunch of random thoughts together in ways that make bizarre sense. Instead of immersion, this style is more comedic and absurd, almost parasitical.
What’s So Special About It Then?
Bonecheck follows the smiling shadow in the form of an unnamed mercenary. He has a lot of nicknames, so we’ll just call him Bounty Hunter. He wanders around the world in some sort of drunken limbo because some ancestor of his has a bar tab. So the Barkeep of the Saloon sets him up for jobs to “equalize the mortal realm”. The jobs this shade takes range from hits to retrieving objects of great power. Does this sound like Cuphead but with crazier visuals?
With how surreal these jobs get, the Barkeep gives the merc some appropriate gear. Only this gear can get just as absurd as the sacrificial cults or monstrous clowns. There’s one drink with a snake emblem that has an effect so bizarre, explanations would be heresy. Johnson states that tools that give a “WTF just happened?” effect on the reader is one of his goals. This ensures that the title is never boring, and that’s the worst thing an indie comic can be.
But what’s in it for the bounty hunter anyway; why it’s the titular and negotiable payment. Between his half-drunken persona and all the fun he’s having getting that fat cash, he doesn’t seem to mind any implications. And you know what neither does the reader.
Where Is This Thrill Ride?
Every grotesquely surreal bits of this art house theme park ride is a sight to behold. Reality is all but an illusion to the over-the-top moments that leave people enthralled in the moments. I couldn’t stop amusing myself as I recalled every scene. For one who hasn’t wanted to be the one to tell evil clowns that their park is getting closed down. Okay so that scene is scary in some context, but the expressions are so grotesque you can laugh at them.
Alright, alright, Bonecheck is great stuff; where do we find it?!
Here’s the thing, this comic was originally published by Broken Icon comics. On a search engine, you can even find the store page. Here’s the kicker though, there’s no content on that page! As Johnson explains, he parted ways with Broken Icon after getting into licensed work. Unlike most comic creators I speak with, Johnson’s one of the few to do all of the work on his content. Which means he’s the only one you can get Bonecheck from, mostly from conventions. So yeah, it’s physical only, that Facebook “Shop On Website” button is as empty as Broken Icon’s page.
Future of Bonecheck
Bonecheck Volumes 1 and 2 were mainly Johnson’s learning experiences in professional publishing. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be coming back to it. Johnson just wants to keep his IP under his own label with other hopeful titles. That’s what’s happening on a new publisher, Legends Publishing with equally as insane titles. But right now he only has this new volume in three issues. Doesn’t make it any less of a wild ride of course.
Until then, the ink’s not dry yet. To stay in-tune with Camron Johnson’s developments, feel free to visit his website or his preferred social media Instagram. Because as of now, this series gets 9/10. Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.