The Sleeze Brothers was a comic booklimited series published by Marvel'sEpic Comics imprint, between August 1989 and January 1990 (UK release dates), lasting for 6 issues. A collection of the six issues were later released in 1990, along with a final extended issue in 1991.
Creation and publishing history
The Sleeze Brothers was written by John Carnell, with art by Andy Lanning. The characters were spun off from a Doctor Who comic strip by Carnell entitled "Follow That TARDIS!", published in Doctor Who Magazine #147 (April 1989). Many pointed out the clear similarities between the characters and Jake and Elwood Blues from the hit movie The Blues Brothers; Carnell instead claimed the characters were based on Lanning's cousins, Phil and Pete Carmichael, as well as Laurel and Hardy.[1] The book was reputedly commissioned in response to Marvel president Jim Galton challenging Marvel UK to produce a title for mature readers.[2]
El' Ape and Deadbeat Sleeze, two private eye brothers, are dysfunctional orphans who grew up in an orphanage for unwanted "boil in the bag" test tube babies. In a futuristic Earth rife with extra-terrestrials, pollution, crime and corruption they ply their trade in the seedy underbelly of a city called The Big Apple. They use amoral and often underhanded methods to get the results demanded by their eclectic clients.
The comic has been met with a negative reception. Reviewing the first issue for Amazing Heroes, Gary D. Robinson hoped there wouldn't be a second, scorning the series' derivative characters, poor jokes and comparing it negatively with garbage.[4]The Sleeze Brothers #1 was Marvel's second-lowest selling title of September 1991, ahead of only ALF #47, and behind the 11th issue of both of the company's licensed Barbie titles.[5]
