Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, David Lieto, entertainment, Gregory Wright, The Squeeg, Tom Grindberg

The Squeeg Wipes Up Crime In Cincinnati – An Indie Graphic Novel Finally Makes It To Print

By Cameron Hatheway

When washing my parent's cars growing up, there was no better tool to finish the job than a squeegee. With just a quick flick of the wrist, those windows were spotless. I used to try and finish the job with a shammy, but there would always be some sort of residue left behind, no matter how hard I would wring the cloth out. The squeegee saved me so much time and patience when I was younger, that I felt like a hero doing a job well done by the end of the day.

Speaking of heroes, you know what kind we haven't yet seen? One who gains their powers from a squeegee. Sounds ridiculous, right? Well in the case of The Squeeg by David Lieto, Gregory Wright and Tom Grindberg, it's supposed to be.

The series first started roughly five years ago, and I remember doing a review on the first and second issues for the video podcast I hosted at the time because the concept and art really intrigued me. Several years passed before the final issues were released, but at that point the series unfortunately fell way off my radar. Lieto, the brainchild behind The Squeeg, ran a Kickstarter to make the graphic novel a reality, and even though it failed, the graphic novel is finally here and available to the hungry masses.

Jake Green wants to die, pure and simple. His wife Tina was killed by the mob because he wouldn't play ball, and he's wrecked with grief because of it. After several failed suicide attempts, a homeless British man by the name of Simon intervenes and helps Jake go on living.

While living on the streets of Cincinnati, Jake finds new meaning in his life and wants to help better those around him. So he spends his time cleaning windows of cars for change, eventually coming across a squeegee in the dumpster that helps make him bigger tips for a job well done. A rival homeless man obsessed with the occult named Schmutz takes notice of the squeegee, and is determined to take what he sees as rightfully his.

After a brawl in the streets for the squeegee is about to turn deadly, both men are hit with a magical bolt of lightning, transforming their bodies as well as their destinies. Schmutz melts away into the sewers below, as Jake gains fantastic powers. While wielding the squeegee, Jake has the powers of magnetism, flight, and teleportation, all involving bubbles. Think Nightcrawler bamfing, only with lots bubbles instead. Jake goes by a new name now: The Squeeg. He plans on fighting crime and restoring order with his newfound powers, while his new nemesis has some other arrangements in mind.

Schmutz is now a giant oozing muck monster, who has the ability to turn people into mindless zombies with a simple touch of his finger. He amasses an underground army of ghouls to do his bidding, with the sole intention on taking over the city of Cincinnati. The Squeeg on the other hand, is determined to make sure that doesn't happen.

Before the graphic novel, there was a screenplay. Lieto originally wanted The Squeeg to be a movie, and got help from legendary artist Grindberg to help make an ashcan to help entice investors. That obviously didn't pan out, but what did instead was a thing of beauty.

This comic looks amazing, and that's because of Grindberg's touch. Like Neal Adams? Then you'll love Grindberg's style. While the premise is silly, Grindberg still brings his A-game to the characters who occupy this world, and because of it we get some spectacular action sequences throughout the novel. You soon forget the absurdity that the hero wields a squeegee, and have a rockin' good time tearing through the pages. Schmutz goes from two-bit thug to a terrifying monster, and you can tell Grindberg had a blast playing around with the character.

While Lieto came up with the story, Wright wrote the scripts for each issue. Wright made sure it remained a fun, lighthearted, action-packed superhero story that was self-aware and even poked fun at itself at times. While The Squeeg's quips weren't exactly on par with Spider-Man, it still made him come off as charming and funny. You don't have to be a regular comic reader to enjoy The Squeeg, for its genuine fun no matter what your experience with the medium is.

The first volume does leave room for a possible sequel, but given how long it took just to get four issues out, I wouldn't hold your breath for a second trade anytime soon. Regardless, The Squeeg is definitely worth your time and money, for it's an absolute treat for the eyes…

The Squeeg (Amazon) is by David Lieto, Gregory Wright, and Tom Grindberg and is
108 pages, B&W.

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner and Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Sonoma State STAR. You can use a squeegee to wipe that annoying grin off his face on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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