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Plastic Forks
Plastic Forks is a book of dreamlike and sometimes disconnected action.
It takes place in an unspecified future in an institution devoted to shock and animal experiments. Experiments that are done with an almost apparent blindness, that in the context of the book becomes 'accepted'.
Doctors flounder about the institution in a mindless daze, as they go about their profession. These 'researchers' think they are in control of their experiments. The fact is, through no intention of their own, they set into motion something they cannot, nor do they seem intended, on controlling.
It takes place in an unspecified future in an institution devoted to shock and animal experiments. Experiments that are done with an almost apparent blindness, that in the context of the book becomes 'accepted'.
Doctors flounder about the institution in a mindless daze, as they go about their profession. These 'researchers' think they are in control of their experiments. The fact is, through no intention of their own, they set into motion something they cannot, nor do they seem intended, on controlling.
- GenresComics
300 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Ted McKeever
203 books31 followersTheodore Paul McKeever is an American artist known for his work in several comic book companies. McKeever has written and also fully painted many comics. He is known for his distinct graphic style.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 31, 2018
Once more Ted MecKeever's unabashedly ugly art style forges his 1990 offering, Plastic Forks. Prefiguring the Transgender mania of today, the initial topic of interchangeable gonads and genitalia swifts turns into a thriller of a biological nature riddled with clandestine operations. Despite the intro of sciency mumbo-jumbo (which is suspect at best) Plastic Forks remains in a similar vein to Metropol, surprisingly accessible and surprisingly enjoyable.
Just like art, and people in general, its always fun to see them grow and change and crazy Uncle Ted is no exception. All the great artists ranging from Picasso to Coltrane all have periods that demarcate periods of detailing new forms and new styles. Again, although Mckeever is most well known for his "grotesque" ethos, relatively normal illustrations are ensconced with equally orthodox paneling in this earlier period of his work.
Underneath this tale bubble forth fierce themes befitting of this modern day Frankenstein story with McKeever's warped hand behind it all. Well chosen tints and hues enliven the weirdo world in front of us. Odd effects and searing idiosyncrasies burn across the panels with fluorescent shades entailing thinly contained immediacy and potency.
When the experimenter becomes the expirimentee, a highly stylized yarn spools forth with an unchained camera zooming this way and that, capturing all the insanity and energy within from every conceivable angle. A strong balance of dialogue matches the gritty images within. Even though it's a product of the earliest of the 90's, it truly feels like its meant (as I did) to be read on a tablet which captures all the stunning details exceedingly well.
Subtle references stemming from Star Wars to Hitchcock connect a million dots in this uncompromising briolage of burning brashness. Although it builds upon other works, the collage-y intros suffused with magazine cut-and-pasted scraps of paper, thoughtful quotes, and original photographs give it a thorough Art-School project feel.
Early McKeever is at his finest and most primordial here.
Just like art, and people in general, its always fun to see them grow and change and crazy Uncle Ted is no exception. All the great artists ranging from Picasso to Coltrane all have periods that demarcate periods of detailing new forms and new styles. Again, although Mckeever is most well known for his "grotesque" ethos, relatively normal illustrations are ensconced with equally orthodox paneling in this earlier period of his work.
Underneath this tale bubble forth fierce themes befitting of this modern day Frankenstein story with McKeever's warped hand behind it all. Well chosen tints and hues enliven the weirdo world in front of us. Odd effects and searing idiosyncrasies burn across the panels with fluorescent shades entailing thinly contained immediacy and potency.
When the experimenter becomes the expirimentee, a highly stylized yarn spools forth with an unchained camera zooming this way and that, capturing all the insanity and energy within from every conceivable angle. A strong balance of dialogue matches the gritty images within. Even though it's a product of the earliest of the 90's, it truly feels like its meant (as I did) to be read on a tablet which captures all the stunning details exceedingly well.
Subtle references stemming from Star Wars to Hitchcock connect a million dots in this uncompromising briolage of burning brashness. Although it builds upon other works, the collage-y intros suffused with magazine cut-and-pasted scraps of paper, thoughtful quotes, and original photographs give it a thorough Art-School project feel.
Early McKeever is at his finest and most primordial here.
June 20, 2018
What happens when doctors decide that the betterment of mankind is more important than a handful of individuals? A modern-day Mengele happens. This story has an added bonus of action-movie violence and government conspiracies to go with it. The combination is a bit quirky and the sketchy, sometimes quite ugly, artwork enforces the simplicity of the story, but it's still somewhat fun. There won't be room for sequels on this one, some might say thankfully.
Dr. Henry Apt has developed an alternate reproduction device called the electro-pinealator that enables self-fertilization and does away with genetic defects. The procedure was successful on primates, but he and his lab partner dr. Finger aren't allowed a human subject and are separated to slow down their work. In his anger he accidentally injects one of his test subjects with a toxine. He scrambles to save the primate and is brutally attacked. He wakes up on a hospital bed, fully bandaged because of the damage the monkey caused. As he runs away from the hospital he discovers that the doctors used him as a human test subject for his own invention.
Dr. Henry Apt has developed an alternate reproduction device called the electro-pinealator that enables self-fertilization and does away with genetic defects. The procedure was successful on primates, but he and his lab partner dr. Finger aren't allowed a human subject and are separated to slow down their work. In his anger he accidentally injects one of his test subjects with a toxine. He scrambles to save the primate and is brutally attacked. He wakes up on a hospital bed, fully bandaged because of the damage the monkey caused. As he runs away from the hospital he discovers that the doctors used him as a human test subject for his own invention.
February 15, 2013
Excellent book. There are so many messages and morals in this book it is too hard to find them all: animal experimentation, birth control, selective breeding, etc. This book is full of great action and great art--an overlooked precursor from EPIC that set the groundwork for the Vertigo imprint from DC.
October 27, 2020
This is one of the most visually challenging graphic novels I've read in recent years but, hey, it was worth it.
Ted McKeever doesn't let the reader put the book down even for a minute.
It's all revolves around science, genetics, unbounded ambition, rage, courage and a particular course for human evolution.
Some visuals are a bit hard to interpret but not too much: they won't prevent the reader from understanding and following the narrative.
The story has a few twists and the pace never slows down.
Certain scenes really stand out and make it all worthwhile.
It's a strange tale about science (r)evolution and the need to rise to the occasion. No matter what.
Ted McKeever doesn't let the reader put the book down even for a minute.
It's all revolves around science, genetics, unbounded ambition, rage, courage and a particular course for human evolution.
Some visuals are a bit hard to interpret but not too much: they won't prevent the reader from understanding and following the narrative.
The story has a few twists and the pace never slows down.
Certain scenes really stand out and make it all worthwhile.
It's a strange tale about science (r)evolution and the need to rise to the occasion. No matter what.
March 22, 2018
I'm not sure what McKeever was going for with this - science run amok, I guess. A scientist's experiments go too far, so he sets out to save his wife from his crazed ex-partner, gains some unlikely allies, and blows shit up.
McKeever's wildly experimental art makes it go, but the script could've been better.
McKeever's wildly experimental art makes it go, but the script could've been better.
March 24, 2020
Great cinematic panels of amazing art assemble into a thrilling story or secrets, madness and murder. Page mood swings from poetic that almost reference iconic films to unapologetically nightmarish shots when the story calls for it.
Amazing book.
Amazing book.
October 12, 2025
Second time I try getting into McKeever and second time I bounce off hard.
May 26, 2016
La historia es bastante rara: dos científicos crean un aparato que permite a los seres humanos (sean del sexo que sean) concebir hijos por su cuenta, lo que eliminaría casi por completo los "errores" genéticos, pero los separan a ambos antes de que el proyecto esté terminado. Luego, después de un accidente, secuestran a uno de estos doctores, Henry Apt, quien será el protagonista, y quien desencadenará todos los hechos de esta historia. Se tratan, metafóricamente, o no, muchos temas jodidos, como la experimentación con animales, el "jugar a ser dios", etc., así que por ese lado el guión es jugado y oscuro, y resulta muy bueno. El dibujo es genial; por momentos, en los personajes más normales, me hace acordar (y acá se viene una bizarreada, pero la sostengo) a Fontanarrosa...digo más normales porque cuando aparecen en escena unos humanos monstruosos/cuasi cyborgs, la comparación se va al carajo. El color es una cosa de locos, lo que más me enloqueció: una paleta de colores re vivos, unos claroscuros tremendos, luces perfectas, cosas que se notan hechas a pincel, etc. Recomendadísimo.
January 7, 2014
One of the finest graphic novels I ever read..
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews