The classic comic book series is like a lost art these days. Unless it’s aimed at kids or paired with a serious story, there aren’t too many popular or mainstream comics that are just a bunch of funny jokes executed with a wacky premise or a group of main characters. I’m so excited to read Super psychic police strip Because the first volume does seem to embody this idea. The style is simple and the character designs have a subtle retro charm that pays homage to the hilarious comics of the past. The premise is simple: a cynical cop with psychic powers, and much of the story is told through his new partner Nao, who plays the upright man. Then a series of mischief ensues. There’s not really a story here, but a bunch of different characters colliding with each other in extreme ways. There are even times where I forget that Meguru Chojo has psychic powers because it doesn’t always fit the situation.
Reading this article feels like watching a Saturday morning cartoon, each chapter presents a unique problem that needs to be solved in relation to the actor’s police duties. There’s an overarching theme with the character of Chojo, who really does fall into the quintessential badass with a heart of gold archetype. However, everyone has a different, extreme personality or reaction to how they handle different situations. These situations may be as simple as dealing with gangsters or playing games with children, or they may be larger, such as taking down a criminal syndicate. The presence of psychic powers is the least surprising thing in a story of this type. There’s a creepy ex-partner who knows too much about Chojo’s personal life, Nao has super strength despite her innocent demeanor, a supporting character who’s drunk all the time, and more. Most of the cast are involved, there are some throwaway mysteries, and, dare I say it, one or two lovable characters who constantly remind us that they have real feelings, even if they all act like assholes in some way, shape, or form.
I have a lot of respect for this series, but I’m not sure how long it can keep the joke going. Many seeds have been planted that could help it grow into other genres in the second half of the year. However, the first three volumes focus heavily on the comedy-of-the-week format, which is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. There is nothing new or innovative about this comic. Nearly every trope, punch line, or setup here will be familiar to anyone who has experienced the Punch series, but may be new to younger viewers. This is a story for those who crave old-school, simple comic strips or who have never read a comic before.
Some chapters are obvious parodies or references to older media, while others feature characters simply participating in similar real-world scenarios. Sometimes I think to myself, “Oh, this is the chapter they’re going to copy Yu-Gi-Oh!” or “Oh, they’re going to do a Super Sentai parody this chapter.” Sometimes the novelty is seeing how some of these specific characters handle a problem or situation, like these adult characters acting like kids on the playground half the time. But by the end of the first volume, it’s easy to predict exactly how it’s all going to end. Nao Always disappointed or disgusted by what she saw; Chojo always acted like a jerk until something really important happened; the little police robot was never taken seriously; when a joke becomes too predictable, it stops being funny, and if a funny series stops being funny, what’s left of a funny comic to do?
This series is not one that people will want to revisit. There were plenty of scenes that made me smile and chuckle, but nothing that made me laugh out loud. I loved the art style and the comedic timing was strong as all the characters really had impressive chemistry with each other. But many imitations are very simple. Plus, the archetypes each character belongs to are pretty standard, so it’s easy to spot jokes before they happen.