Mellick III, Carlton. Ultra Fuckers. Portland: Eraserhead Press, 2008. 108 pp. $8.95. ISBN 1933929669.

Off the Ultra-Well-Beaten Path

In one of his most recent works, the aptly-titled Ultra Fuckers, Bizarro boss Carlton Mellick III presents another vivid look into the humdrum, monotonous future of humankind. Probably the shortest work of Mellick’s career so far, this book packs a powerful punch in 108 pages.

The herd mentality within the minds of so many people is an epidemic of disastrous proportions. Mellick proposes that through our own apathy, or fear of being different from the crowd, our lives are systematically becoming mundane and indistinguishable from one another. Perhaps we are just imitating life because innovative thinking hurts.

This work of fiction explores the very real and quite parasitic outbreak of suburban housing development and design. Married-couple Tony and Tammy try to find an address to a party in suburbia—while passing dozens of streets each having a modifier added to the name “Pueblo”—ending with hilarious results. The banter between husband and wife is entertaining yet disturbingly poignant. Tony becomes determined to take charge of his life and the world, hopefully making both better places to inhabit.

Mellick creates an intriguing parable: one man against the world, with all odds stacked against him, yet he continues to persevere. Tony embodies the qualities of what makes a true heroic leader. He is consistently challenged, but he refuses to conform. Nietzsche said it best when he wrote: “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” Both authors recognize the hardship and anxiety linked to what many would believe to be idiosyncratic behaviour. It is difficult to go against the grain, but it is also a test of your confidence and ability to think for yourself.

Ultra Fuckers is my newest favorite from CM3. It echoes elements of his successful work from the past, but provides an extraordinarily inspirational theme. I enjoyed this aspect of the book because it’s precisely what Mellick intended. He shows the reader that the truly redeemable characters in the story are the ones who don’t conform to trends simply because everyone else does.

So don’t be a “Chachi”—check out this ultra-cool book.

—Richard Nicol