Review: Napoleon Dynamite Valentine's Day Special

The measure of any comic based on a film property lies in not only understanding in representing a natural extension of the characters, but in evoking the tone and spirit of that world. Napoleon Dynamite is a particularly difficult property in this regard as taking the characters into complex plots and setting up massive conflicts will ruin the comic aspects of the character. At the same time it is all to easy to create a comic which is basically a parody of this world.

Megan Brown and Christine Larsen here show a deep understanding of the world and characters of Napoleon Dynamite. The characters respond just as we’d expect and treat the conflicts as deeply important, even as readers can see they ultimately lack importance. Napoleon as a character does absolutely everything wrong and yet all ends well for himself and his friends.

This is every person’s dream Valentine’s Day, where the worst efforts are enough to produce romantic harmony. Napoleon begins his Valentine’s week by drawing Deb a heart. He draws an actual bleeding heart before decrying Valentine’s in the cynical terms that most readers share. He then recounts his family giving him the absolute worst advice possible before diving into an incredibly self-centered plan for his day with Deb. He then spends much of the issue simply ignoring Deb and shutting down her efforts to speak.

The most entertaining aspect of the issue involves Napoleon giving Pedro the exact wrong relationship advice. This persists of shooting down all of Pedro’s simple idea to draw the attention of Susie. In it’s place Napoleon wastes Pedro’s time chasing one improbable Valentine’s scheme after another. This also joyfully includes a visit with Tina who is just as unenthused as she should be.

By the time Pedro simply follows his original instincts it’s too late. Similarly once Deb is able to communicate with Napoleon she reveals what readers have been able to see the entire time, that his Valentine’s plans had never addressed any aspect of who Deb is and how she wants to spend the day. Rather than join Deb in her chosen activity, Napoleon spends Valentine’s exactly as he wanted to.

In spite of Napoleon doing whatever he can to center the day around him, the relationships are saved through the actions of Deb and Susie. This could all fall into the trap of making Napoleon represent the failure of men on Valentine’s, but given the kindness and heart of all the characters the story instead is one of relationships which are stronger than the mistakes made on a single day.

Throughout the issue Megan Brown injects all of the characters with a sardonic simplicity and Napoleon with kind delusional self-centeredness. Megan Brown instinctually understands people and the easy ways we can ignore what others want in favor of what we believe they need. Christine Larsen has an expressive animated artistry perfect for this property. The characters clearly are the same that we saw on screen, but the comic still has a look and feel of its own.Â

It remains to be seen if Napoleon Dynamite is a viable comic book property. This special may be the most effective use of the property, a one-shot removes the need for complex cliff-hangers, conflicts or extended dialogue. Megan Brown and Christine Larsen create a entertaining, interesting and surprisingly thought-provoking piece on the mistakes characters we love might make on Valentine’s Day, and the heart it takes for relationships to turn those small mistakes into small victories.

Writing Score: 4 of 5 stars
Art Score: 4 of 5 stars
Colors: 5 of 5 stars

Overall Score: 4 stars

Writer: Megan Brown
Art and Colors: Christine Larsen
Design and Letters: Christa Miesner
Publisher: IDW

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.