Juice Squeezers #3

Released by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: March 5, 2014

Feeling a lot like Monster Squad Meets Starship Troopers in both subject matter and tone Juice Squeezers features a storyline of adolescents fighting oversized bugs underneath their town.

This issue introduces new kid Billy to the group as the old farm he and his dad live on is apparently on top of a huge well/hole to “bug central.” The titular group start training him and giving him what info they have, meeting during school hours as the “Basket Weaving Club.” Led by Mr. Kettleborne and with some chemical warfare assistance of Dr. Silva the kids are small enough to fit into these bug tunnels. Once in them they map them out and put out a sort of tracker system that'll alert them to the bugs' movements. They also kill them - a lot of them.

During one excursion, though, leaving Billy up top to keep watch but on a headset so they can all still communicate, the rest of the group reveals that they encountered a talking bug. This puts Billy at silent odds with the majority as they're only concerned with working out youthful aggression rather than trying to figure out why these bugs are bigger and doing what they are.

He's joined by Lizzy who apparently met him but didn't give up the group's info right away when she found that he was investigating these bugs on his own. But with his own smarts he, Lizzy and another ally named Charly go down the huge well/hole at Billy's place via his makeshift elevator. But once they're attacked by the leader “potato” bugs, they find themselves stuck there, all on their own, and no closer to finding the truth.

Brisk and fun the series isn't afraid to tackle teen issues at its heart, namely around identity and relationships. It's easy to see the group dynamic story here on a similar level as author David Lapham's work on adapting The Strain. His artwork style here is much more playful and engaging in a bright, fun way as well. Just a plain fun little series going on here.