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The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre
A no-nonsense federal agent and a lone-wolf cop chase down a brutal drug lord in a flooded amusement park swarming with blood-crazed hippos and cutthroat mercenaries.
Disco Hippo Wonderland is the number one amusement park in Flamingo City. But few realize its corpulent owner, Jans M’jor Discau is about to release the most potent drug ever created: Coke45! Fortunately for humanity, Agent Clarke Nebraska is on the case! She’ll bring down Discau come heck or high water! That was the plan, until her undercover agent Tico Senecoza was captured! And before she can rescue him, Miquel—Tico’s sexy loose cannon of an older brother—beats her to the punch, storming into the park with bullets flying. Discau panics, dumping the Coke45 into the hippo enclosure and letting them lose on the park, before fleeing into wonderland’s tunnel network! Nebraska’s plans are totally off the rails, and things get worse when a marijuana-smoke-fueled hurricane drowns the park in torrential rain! Now it's up to Nebraska and Miquel to create an uncomfortable truce to bring Discau down before he escapes!
Disco Hippo Wonderland is the number one amusement park in Flamingo City. But few realize its corpulent owner, Jans M’jor Discau is about to release the most potent drug ever created: Coke45! Fortunately for humanity, Agent Clarke Nebraska is on the case! She’ll bring down Discau come heck or high water! That was the plan, until her undercover agent Tico Senecoza was captured! And before she can rescue him, Miquel—Tico’s sexy loose cannon of an older brother—beats her to the punch, storming into the park with bullets flying. Discau panics, dumping the Coke45 into the hippo enclosure and letting them lose on the park, before fleeing into wonderland’s tunnel network! Nebraska’s plans are totally off the rails, and things get worse when a marijuana-smoke-fueled hurricane drowns the park in torrential rain! Now it's up to Nebraska and Miquel to create an uncomfortable truce to bring Discau down before he escapes!
112 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 12, 2026
Some comics ease you into their world with atmosphere, careful exposition, and a polite introduction to the cast. The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre kicks open the amusement park gates, fires two pistols into the air, releases a herd of chemically enraged hippos, and screams, “Figure it out while running!” WEPA! Fred Kennedy and James Edward Clark know exactly what kind of comic they are making here, and subtlety was apparently left handcuffed inside somebody’s trunk.
Set inside Disco Hippo Wonderland, the number one amusement park in the already suspicious-sounding Flamingo City, this four-issue collection follows federal agent Clarke Nebraska as she attempts to stop corrupt park owner Jans M’jor Discau from distributing Coke45, an obscenely powerful new narcotic. Her undercover operative, Tico Senecoza, has been captured, but before Nebraska can execute a clean rescue, Tico’s hotheaded brother Miquel charges into the park with guns blazing. Discau responds with the kind of crisis management only a lunatic could admire. He dumps the drugs into the hippo enclosure, opens the gates, and runs for the tunnels beneath the park. Then a marijuana-smoke-fueled hurricane floods the entire joint. Because Florida, apparently.
Kennedy’s script thrives on escalation. Every time the situation appears to have reached maximum stupidity, and I mean that lovingly, another bizarre ingredient gets tossed into the gumbo. Federal agents raid the park. Armed employees scramble through collapsing attractions. Hippos crash through walls, rides, and unlucky human beings. Miquel and Nebraska argue while bullets fly. Bernice, a headset-wearing park employee with an endless supply of inconvenient hippo knowledge, somehow becomes one of the funniest and most valuable people in the book. The comic never stops moving long enough to become respectable. Thank goodness.
The heart of the story is the combustible partnership between Nebraska and Miquel. She wants procedure, control, and an actual plan. He treats every obstacle like it personally insulted his mother. Their constant friction gives the chaos a reliable center, even when the plot is sprinting through tunnels, exploding buildings, flooded roller coasters, mutant animal attacks, and a small army of increasingly desperate criminals. Their banter has the aggressive rhythm of a buddy-cop movie in which neither partner agreed to the assignment, and both are considering shooting the paperwork.
Kennedy also understands that a premise this wild cannot survive on random gags alone. The jokes work because the characters commit to the danger. Discau is not winking at the audience about how ridiculous everything is. He genuinely believes he is a criminal mastermind standing on the verge of narcotics immortality. Nebraska remains focused on her mission despite being trapped inside a psychedelic death carnival. Miquel keeps pushing forward because saving Tico matters more than federal authority, common sense, or basic self-preservation. That sincerity allows the absurdity to hit harder.
The pacing is relentless, sometimes almost too relentless. Across four issues, the book frequently moves from argument to gunfight, from gunfight to hippo attack, and from hippo attack to another argument without much breathing room. Certain middle sections begin to feel like variations on the same frantic chase through different sections of the park. A little more quiet time with Nebraska, Miquel, and Tico could have given the eventual emotional beats additional weight. Still, slowing this comic down too much would be like installing speed bumps on a roller coaster. Technically responsible, but nobody paid for that.
James Edward Clark’s artwork is where the entire production goes from amusingly deranged to genuinely distinctive. Clark draws the book like a lost grindhouse comic discovered underneath a stack of weather-damaged amusement park brochures. The chunky ink lines, faded paper textures, halftone patterns, lurid pastels, and exaggerated facial expressions create a visual language somewhere between underground comix, vintage advertising, pop art, and an animated Saturday morning show that somehow slipped past every network censor.
The visual storytelling has serious hustle. Clark constantly pushes figures through panel borders, turns gunfire into graphic design, and uses gigantic sound effects as physical pieces of the action. BAM, BONK, ROAR, and CHOMP do not merely describe what is happening. They invade the page. Hippos erupt from panels like they are trying to eat the reader, while bodies, vehicles, rubble, and carnival equipment fly in every direction. Even when the layouts become crowded, the momentum remains clear. You always know where the danger is coming from, usually because it has a giant purple mouth and no respect for architecture.
Clark also handles the lettering, and that matters tremendously here. The balloons, captions, sound effects, and explosive typography are knitted directly into the illustrations. This does occasionally create dense pages where dialogue competes with an already busy composition, but the handcrafted quality fits the comic’s sweaty, tactile personality. Becka Kinzie’s color work and flatting help maintain the sun-faded retro palette, giving the violence an almost cheerful brightness. That contrast makes every gruesome gag land with even more wicked charm.
The supporting cast is packed with visual lunatics, from terrified employees and federal troops to armed performers, corrupt scientists, and Discau’s increasingly unstable associates. Even background characters receive memorable reactions, outfits, and miniature comedy beats. The recurring television segments and outraged narration function like a sarcastic Greek chorus, recapping events while mocking sensationalism, censorship, moral panic, and anyone foolish enough to demand dignity from this production.
By the final issue, Kennedy and Clark have thrown nearly every remaining toy into the bathtub. The flooded park becomes a battlefield, family loyalties collide with criminal ambition, and the Coke45 hippos evolve from running gag into full-blown apocalyptic threat. The conclusion provides an actual payoff rather than simply relying on the title’s shock value, while leaving enough wreckage behind for another Laser Drug Force.
Set inside Disco Hippo Wonderland, the number one amusement park in the already suspicious-sounding Flamingo City, this four-issue collection follows federal agent Clarke Nebraska as she attempts to stop corrupt park owner Jans M’jor Discau from distributing Coke45, an obscenely powerful new narcotic. Her undercover operative, Tico Senecoza, has been captured, but before Nebraska can execute a clean rescue, Tico’s hotheaded brother Miquel charges into the park with guns blazing. Discau responds with the kind of crisis management only a lunatic could admire. He dumps the drugs into the hippo enclosure, opens the gates, and runs for the tunnels beneath the park. Then a marijuana-smoke-fueled hurricane floods the entire joint. Because Florida, apparently.
Kennedy’s script thrives on escalation. Every time the situation appears to have reached maximum stupidity, and I mean that lovingly, another bizarre ingredient gets tossed into the gumbo. Federal agents raid the park. Armed employees scramble through collapsing attractions. Hippos crash through walls, rides, and unlucky human beings. Miquel and Nebraska argue while bullets fly. Bernice, a headset-wearing park employee with an endless supply of inconvenient hippo knowledge, somehow becomes one of the funniest and most valuable people in the book. The comic never stops moving long enough to become respectable. Thank goodness.
The heart of the story is the combustible partnership between Nebraska and Miquel. She wants procedure, control, and an actual plan. He treats every obstacle like it personally insulted his mother. Their constant friction gives the chaos a reliable center, even when the plot is sprinting through tunnels, exploding buildings, flooded roller coasters, mutant animal attacks, and a small army of increasingly desperate criminals. Their banter has the aggressive rhythm of a buddy-cop movie in which neither partner agreed to the assignment, and both are considering shooting the paperwork.
Kennedy also understands that a premise this wild cannot survive on random gags alone. The jokes work because the characters commit to the danger. Discau is not winking at the audience about how ridiculous everything is. He genuinely believes he is a criminal mastermind standing on the verge of narcotics immortality. Nebraska remains focused on her mission despite being trapped inside a psychedelic death carnival. Miquel keeps pushing forward because saving Tico matters more than federal authority, common sense, or basic self-preservation. That sincerity allows the absurdity to hit harder.
The pacing is relentless, sometimes almost too relentless. Across four issues, the book frequently moves from argument to gunfight, from gunfight to hippo attack, and from hippo attack to another argument without much breathing room. Certain middle sections begin to feel like variations on the same frantic chase through different sections of the park. A little more quiet time with Nebraska, Miquel, and Tico could have given the eventual emotional beats additional weight. Still, slowing this comic down too much would be like installing speed bumps on a roller coaster. Technically responsible, but nobody paid for that.
James Edward Clark’s artwork is where the entire production goes from amusingly deranged to genuinely distinctive. Clark draws the book like a lost grindhouse comic discovered underneath a stack of weather-damaged amusement park brochures. The chunky ink lines, faded paper textures, halftone patterns, lurid pastels, and exaggerated facial expressions create a visual language somewhere between underground comix, vintage advertising, pop art, and an animated Saturday morning show that somehow slipped past every network censor.
The visual storytelling has serious hustle. Clark constantly pushes figures through panel borders, turns gunfire into graphic design, and uses gigantic sound effects as physical pieces of the action. BAM, BONK, ROAR, and CHOMP do not merely describe what is happening. They invade the page. Hippos erupt from panels like they are trying to eat the reader, while bodies, vehicles, rubble, and carnival equipment fly in every direction. Even when the layouts become crowded, the momentum remains clear. You always know where the danger is coming from, usually because it has a giant purple mouth and no respect for architecture.
Clark also handles the lettering, and that matters tremendously here. The balloons, captions, sound effects, and explosive typography are knitted directly into the illustrations. This does occasionally create dense pages where dialogue competes with an already busy composition, but the handcrafted quality fits the comic’s sweaty, tactile personality. Becka Kinzie’s color work and flatting help maintain the sun-faded retro palette, giving the violence an almost cheerful brightness. That contrast makes every gruesome gag land with even more wicked charm.
The supporting cast is packed with visual lunatics, from terrified employees and federal troops to armed performers, corrupt scientists, and Discau’s increasingly unstable associates. Even background characters receive memorable reactions, outfits, and miniature comedy beats. The recurring television segments and outraged narration function like a sarcastic Greek chorus, recapping events while mocking sensationalism, censorship, moral panic, and anyone foolish enough to demand dignity from this production.
By the final issue, Kennedy and Clark have thrown nearly every remaining toy into the bathtub. The flooded park becomes a battlefield, family loyalties collide with criminal ambition, and the Coke45 hippos evolve from running gag into full-blown apocalyptic threat. The conclusion provides an actual payoff rather than simply relying on the title’s shock value, while leaving enough wreckage behind for another Laser Drug Force.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre is exactly what the title promises—an absurd, over-the-top action comedy packed with coked-up hippos, shootouts, government agents, drug cartels, and nonstop chaos. Fred Kennedy fully commits to the B-movie premise, and I can appreciate that the creative team never tries to play any of it straight. The artwork is energetic, expressive, and perfectly matches the ridiculous tone, with James Edward Clark filling every page with visual gags and Becka Kinzie’s colors delivering pure neon mayhem.
Unfortunately, the humor just didn’t land for me. I found myself smiling at the premise more than actually laughing at the execution. Maybe I’m simply not the target audience for this particular strain of comedy. The book leans heavily into absurdity, anti-establishment satire, and rapid-fire jokes, but most of them missed me, and by the end I was more exhausted than entertained.
If Cocaine Bear crossed with an ‘80s action movie, cartoon violence, and Florida-man energy sounds like your thing, there’s a good chance you’ll have a blast. It simply wasn’t my kind of comedy. I admire how fearlessly weird it is—the jokes just never hit often enough to keep me invested.
Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and NetGalley for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, the humor just didn’t land for me. I found myself smiling at the premise more than actually laughing at the execution. Maybe I’m simply not the target audience for this particular strain of comedy. The book leans heavily into absurdity, anti-establishment satire, and rapid-fire jokes, but most of them missed me, and by the end I was more exhausted than entertained.
If Cocaine Bear crossed with an ‘80s action movie, cartoon violence, and Florida-man energy sounds like your thing, there’s a good chance you’ll have a blast. It simply wasn’t my kind of comedy. I admire how fearlessly weird it is—the jokes just never hit often enough to keep me invested.
Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and NetGalley for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Think Reefer Madness, but on steroids and told by a drug-crazed narrator. That narrator is none other than the First Lady , Mandy Laser, spouting about the evils of drugs infiltrating America while chugging from a bottle of booze and smoking up a storm. She then presents a tape of the "Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre" which leads to the creation of the Laser Drug Force to combat this evil scourge! Mind you the Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre is over the top with Agents Clarke Nebraska and Tico Senecoza leading the way with able assistance in the mayhem by Tico's brother Miquel! Add in the evil mastermind Jans M’jor Discau owner of Disco Hippo Wonderland and soon to be distributor of Coke45 and his wacky henchmen plus hungry, hungry hippos and you have a crazy Florida story in the vibe of Miami Vice!
Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for the chance to experience this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for the chance to experience this title!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The name of this is “The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre”. So why are you still reading this review. Have you purchased it yet? Why not? Like, seriously, why would you not buy it off the name alone. Plus, as the First Lady has asked us to do (in this graphic novel), we need to buy a copy to help spread the word of the war on drugs.
There is more cheesy goodness in this graphic novel than a block of Velveeta. This is a complete send up of the 80s, the Cold War fears, and Nancy Reagan’s war on drugs.
Listen, no matter what your feelings on all of those things and your political leanings, just buy this and laugh. It is so completely absurd that you have to laugh. And trust me, every laugh is completely earned.
Tip of the Devo style hat to the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
There is more cheesy goodness in this graphic novel than a block of Velveeta. This is a complete send up of the 80s, the Cold War fears, and Nancy Reagan’s war on drugs.
Listen, no matter what your feelings on all of those things and your political leanings, just buy this and laugh. It is so completely absurd that you have to laugh. And trust me, every laugh is completely earned.
Tip of the Devo style hat to the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Yowza! What the #$%^ did I just read !? My brain hurts, but mostly in a good way. For those who think there might be something deep or meaningful here, be advised that the title of this book pretty much says it all. So buckle up, hold on and enjoy this book as it celebrates and parodies the high eighties in all their beautiful and grotesque glory. For those who survived the eighties be advised that this book is nearly as traumatic and shocking as the first time around.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mad Cave Studios, for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mad Cave Studios, for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review.
July 11, 2026
The best compliment I can pay to this series is that I would absolutely pay to see it turned into a movie because it would be an incredibly good time (and I NEVER go to the movies).
A crazy ride that could only take place in Florida, it’s a madcap sendup of The War on Drugs, cocaine magnates and more than a few inferences to a current public figure. The title spells it all out for you and delivers on its promise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the opportunity to read and review.
4.5 stars rounded down
A crazy ride that could only take place in Florida, it’s a madcap sendup of The War on Drugs, cocaine magnates and more than a few inferences to a current public figure. The title spells it all out for you and delivers on its promise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the opportunity to read and review.
4.5 stars rounded down
July 7, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up. Welp, this graphic novel is about as insane as the title in a good way! I saw the title and knew this was something I must read.
The illustrations in this are incredible. The hair? Ridiculous. The bad guy? Looks disgusting. The crazy lady? Confirmed to be crazy! The women? Half dressed but makes total sense for this book!
The writing is fantastic. No spoilers here, but I did laugh out loud.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC; I had a great time.
The illustrations in this are incredible. The hair? Ridiculous. The bad guy? Looks disgusting. The crazy lady? Confirmed to be crazy! The women? Half dressed but makes total sense for this book!
The writing is fantastic. No spoilers here, but I did laugh out loud.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC; I had a great time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, that's a crazy comic. Its fun, wild, smart and amusing! It contains all the cazy and fun of a parody, the action of 80's movie and you just read it without expectations. The art, the letters font is so vivid and cool that fits the story. Its mature and ridiculously fun to read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an Unbiased review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an Unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If the kid from Axe Cop wrote another comic, this may very well be that comic. It's irreverent and incredibly over the top with a Nancy Reagan like First Lady introducing each issue. It's about a drug lord who also owns a hippo themed amusement park in Florida. The hippos get ahold of his cocaine and go on the rampage while everyone else diatribes for 4 issues.
Review of advance copy
A funny send up of the 80's: its movies, its futile war on drugs, its obsession with Communism etc. The story has a COCAINE BEAR meets JURASSIC PARK vibe. Other than that, I don't want to give too much away.
Review of advance copy
Gloriously, Brilliantly stupid. Written by a team that truly understands and appreciates the genre.
The only two things holding it back are: 1) it feels like there should be more Hippo action, & 2) there should be gratuitous nudity.
The only two things holding it back are: 1) it feels like there should be more Hippo action, & 2) there should be gratuitous nudity.
Review of advance copy
Its very one note and on the nose, but I can't deny anything that's as mental as this is. Love that art style too.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a wild ride, I'm still not fully sure what I read but I did have a fun time. It was chaotic and hilarious, and the art was perfectly done to match. I never knew what was going to happen next. This series is perfect for someone looking for a quick read and a good laugh.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews