Haha #1 features the smart existential storytelling weve come to expect from writer W. Maxwell Prince, paired with phenomenal artwork by Vanesa Del Rey and Chris OHalloran. Its an exciting start to a new anthology series, one that fans of the format should consider a must-read. Read Full Review

A series that demands to be read, Haha is dark, depraved, and humorous. This first issue is as thought-provoking and unsettling as it is entertaining; don't miss it. Read Full Review

Full of pathos, pitch perfect art, and literary maturity, this story has the markings of a true classic. Read Full Review

Captivating story, wonderful art, and altogether a memorable issue. Read Full Review

Prince's brilliant writing in HAHA #1 combines elements of drama and horror in this engaging one-shot story. Read Full Review

W. Maxwell Prince and today's collaborators Vanessa Del Rey, Chris O'Halloran and Good Old Neon spin a tale about a down on his luck clown, and how much you can lose before you aren't lucky anymore. Or maybe it's about how little you need to keep in order to continue seeing yourself as lucky? Well, what's important is, a story about a slightly pathetic clown has no right to be this good. Read Full Review

Vanesa Del Rey does some brilliant work with the art in this issue. Not only does the colorful nature of Bart in his clown garb contrast with the gritty reality of the rest of the world, but there are some great visual moments added after the bank robbery that reflect the new physical and psychological changes the character is experiencing. Read Full Review

Haha is an exciting new series launch from W. Maxwell Prince that takes a steady and serious look at how a single person can break under the pressures of an unfair world. This is a story about alienation into ourselves when a broken and terrible world becomes too overbearing. Somewhat more sadly, it's a story many will relate to and connect with. Read Full Review

I am not exactly sure what to tell you about Haha #1. The story is a strange one, something that I just can't quite put my finger on. It is one of those stories that, after you put it down, still kind of sticks with you for an odd reason. Not for the normal reasons, just because it is so odd and that, for me, I keep coming up with different reasons for what Prince may have been going for. Read Full Review

When all is said and done, Haha #1 provides readers with a curious look at a terrible day. What it ultimately says may be up for a measure of interpretation, but there is never anything wrong with that. Read Full Review

The opening installment in W. Maxwell Prince's clown themed anthology kicks off with the ridiculously dark story of an amusement park clown whose marriage is falling apart. Prince is able to squeeze an amazing amount of emotional depth into these 24 pages. Absolutely brutal, shamelessly funny. I'm here for it.  Read Full Review

It's hard to ignore any comparisons a reader might initially make between Haha and the many other clown characters in pop culture, and while the initial premise might mirror iconic trajectories, readers will surely be won over by what looks to be a more nuanced and sophisticated exploration of Bartleby's desperation that won't have to rely on gimmicks or gags to delight its audience. Read Full Review

Princes script deserves credit for being as restrained as it is, prioritizing a mood over gratuitous violence (which there is some of) or a statement of arent clowns creeeeeepy? (YMMV) that you might expect from the material. Its also less of an origin story, and were not meant to glean that Bart pivots into a life of crime because of what happens to him, regardless of what may or may not unfold after the final page. You could very easily see this story continuing as its own series, but I always respect when creators leave a little something to the imagination–suggesting to the reader that their subjects will continue existing whether or not we see what happens next. Read Full Review

A really interesting opening issue packed with emotion and heartache. A comic book telling a story about someone's everyday struggles in love and life. Read Full Review

Prince had a tough job. It's what every fastfood company did when McDonald's came up with the Big Mac. They had to come up with their own copy. The Joker inundated us last year in both comics and the cinema. This is a case where we need to change the lyric and “Send OUT the Clowns”. Read Full Review

Wow!!!

I am astounded about Prince’s capabilities. The mix of complexity, psychology and straightforward genre storytelling reminds me of the best moments of Vertigo in its heyday. And Whenever I think I got Prince worked out, he surprises me anew. Must be the most exciting author working in comics today. Just wish he would expand beyond then anthology format and would start a long form series.

Holy crap. I dont know how to take that but it was really interesting and well done. What a story.

This is on par with Ice Cream Man so that's good.

I liked this!

HAHA
Issue: 1
“Bartelby Rejects The Premise”

Publisher: @imagecomics
Writer: @wmaxwellprince
Artist: @vrdelrey
Colorist: @chris_oh_colours
Cover: Vanessa Del Rey
Letterer: Good Old Neon

This new anthology series brings us to the world of clowns. In this debut issue of HAHA, we meet Bartelby the clown who desperately desires a stable life and live the American dream. However, his line of work is not exactly lucrative nor does it gain any respect from his family or others. Bartelby’s day from start to finish just gets worse by the minute but he always seems to stick to his motto, it could always be worse.

This was an impressive first issue of a series I knew nothing about and only picked up because of the cover and my fear of clowns. I honestly had no idea what to expect but I truly enjoyed this issue. It really gives us a serious look at how a single person can break under the pressures of a cruel unfair world. Bartelby had such emotional depth, you can’t help but feel bad for him. One of my favorite parts of this issue was the narration by Bartleby as the bullet enters his brain is some of the most chilling stuff I’ve read in a long time. Another part of this issue I really enjoyed was the paper boat sailing down the curb towards the gutter. It was definitely a nod to the movie IT and it was a nice touch. This issue was absolutely brutal yet shamelessly funny and the artwork was fantastic. Haha is definitely added to my pull list and I suggest you do the same.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Reviewed by: @mcruz2189 of The Comic Book Club of Instagram
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finally an original idea