The current public craze for superheroes has pushed the publisher Soleil, via its elegant Metamorphose collection, to resurrect Mini-VIP and Super-VIP, a fraternal duo of the genre in parody mode, which was already talking about him in Italy in the 1960s…
On an outrageously polluted Earth (we are talking about a story of pure science fiction), the VIP brothers, from a long line of superheroes since prehistoric times ensure… Well, actually, not much! The security of the planet is for the moment put aside because Super-VIP, the authentic superhero with super-powers, is depressed, his fiancée having tackled him. His brother, Mini-VIP, is a little gringalet without any power, except that he is smarter than his mountain of fraternal muscles and invents crazy devices. Fate and action will come knocking on their door when a wicked and tyrannical alien creature living on a faraway planet decides to use Earth to raise its hideous offspring.
The story is completely burlesque, so the humor is omnipresent, or at least, is intended as such. Because we must admit that despite the light atmosphere developed throughout the story, we sometimes smile, but we never laugh. However, the reading is entertaining and the size of the album allows you to take the time to immerse yourself in the world of the Mystery of the Comings and Ings.
As for the graphic aspect, if the drawing is very reminiscent of the aesthetics of some cartoons of the 1950s-60s, it is not surprising since originally there is an Italian animated feature film by Bruno Bozzetto released in 1968 entitled VIP, my superman brother, which is also referred to directly by the characters of the album, addressing the reader directly. This copious volume with a luxurious presentation will delight above all the youngest or the few people who already knew the characters resurrected this year by this adventure, not always convincing it is true, but which can be read.
Mini-VIP and Super-VIP is an album far from essential, but which finds its vocation in the unpretentious entertainment that will not fail to taste lovers of parodies and superheroes. We may wonder if it was wise to publish an album with finery perhaps a little too vintage, but as always, everything is a matter of taste.
