If you were a child of the 90’s and visited a comic shop, you probably had to notice these two cute and stern looking creatures in a bizarre series called Milk and Cheese. Part dairy, part Eugene Levy and filled of mischief, Milk and Cheese were two anthropomorphic dairy products that were looking for a good time. Milk, a crazy talking carton of milk, and Cheese, a equality crazy talking wedge of cheese, were prone to bouts of anger, alcoholism and stupid attics. These were not wholesome magical entities that came alive to help people. More like, they would kick down the door, steal your beer and set our car on fire. In a time when the comic industry was releasing an increase of family friendly content, having two drunk misfits causing mayhem was refreshing to read.
Created in 1989 by Evan Dorkin, Milk and Cheese first appeared in a strip for Greed Magazine, and later more strips were published through independent comics and magazines over the years. Evan Dorkin presented Milk and Cheese as a satirical take on politics, hate speech, pop culture and unchecked consumerism. Milk and Cheese cared for the simple pleasures in life and loved to cause anarchy. Usually they had good intentions to do something, but their interpretations to do something good always ends in chaos. Proving that no matter what you buy, believe in or subscribe to, two crazy misfits can smash it away.
The original Milk and Cheese series lasted on and off until 2010, with editions of the complete collection later published. This latest edition contains the comics, strips and cover art for all the publications of Milk and Cheese, and the artwork from the official Milk and Cheese trading card set. The comic artwork is stunning and a visually detailed. From the shading of Milk and Cheese’s smiling mouths, the funny spurs of blood, and the crackling of glass bottles over human heads, Evan Dorkin brings to life destructive scenery brought by such small packages of milk products. Aside from a few dated references, this nearly 30 years old series is still pretty relevant today. Evan Dorkin was a visionary to make fun adult humor in a time when people did not consider comics as fine art. Milk and Cheese have dealt with oppressive figures, hate groups, greedy capitalists and mindless youths, all things that are still (sadly) here today! However, instead of solving problems with peace, Milk and Cheese prefer to burn everything to the ground. So maybe not the best role models to handle those kinds of situations. The series has a dedicated cult following and definitely strikes a chord with more maturing audiences. Comic fans that haven’t experience the crude and graphic humor of Milk and Cheese should not miss out.
