Joost Blog

In the immortal words of Master Shake, "I was not put on this Earth to listen to meat!" He's right — listening only to meat would be unbalanced and irresponsible. Listening to meat, french fries and a milkshake — now that's a well-balanced cartoon.

I don't know anybody who's only seen a few episodes of the adult swim series Aqua Teen Hunger Force — you've either seen one or you've seen them all. When I saw the first episode a few years back, the one where the Force unites against the evil Rabbot (you know, a robotic rabbit), I thought, "It's about time this story was told."

Allow me to introduce the high-calorie, New Jersey-based ATHF. Master Shake is a tax-evading, squirting milkshake; Frylock a computer-savvy, goatee-clad box of fries; and Meatwad, an underage, hip-hop loving wad of meat who plays with dolls. The "Hunger Force" part is pretty self-explanatory, and I suppose it's Meatwad who adds the "Teen" element. Don't ask me about the "Aqua" ... you think it's because they spend so much time wading in their neighbor Carl's pool?

I guess Superman's cool and Spiderman's all right, but don't forget that Clark Kent and Peter Parker are saddled with day jobs. The Aqua Teen Hunger Force, albeit chronically poor and lacking ambition, are the first superheroes I've seen who don't need to "fit in" or "make a living."

As Master Shake teaches us, oh so sagely, "Playing is for pleasure."