The Amazing Screw-On Head

Watching this smart and beautifully, but darkly, animated show was a refreshing change from crude and simply drawn fare, like South Park and most Adult Swim shows. The Amazing Screw-On Head relies on wit and brains for its humor, and the top-rate cast plays the jokes just right. Sometimes the story and dialogue required me to back up my TiVo to catch what was happening. But other than that, watching The Amazing Screw-On Head is highly enjoyable.

The Amazing Screw-On Head has the look of a somber and gothic story, like an Edgar Allan Poe tale come to life. But The Amazing Screw-On Head is actually a send-up of dark and twisted stories, like those of Lovecraft.

From Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy, The Amazing Screw-On Head stars Paul Giamatti as Screw, a bodiless spy employed by President Abraham Lincoln. When arch-fiend Emperor Zombie, played by David Hyde Pierce, steals an artifact that will enable him to threaten all life on Earth, the task of stopping him is assigned to Screw-on Head.

Along the way we meet Patience, played by Molly Shannon. She was Screw's love until she died and became the undead girlfriend of Emperor Zombie. There's also Screw's multitalented manservant, Mr. Groin. Apparently there have been a long line of manservants, all done in by Emperor Zombie in his attempt to get to Screw-On Head.

A lot of storyline is packed into this cartoon, along with multi-faceted characterization and fun humor. If you enjoy old science fiction and horror novels, you will more than appreciate The Amazing Screw-On Head. Mignola uses those old devices, such as returning from the dead and talking animals, to turn the genre on its head.

Occasionally I had to rewind to catch a clever piece of dialogue. But it was well worth the extra time to fully immerse myself in the style of the show.

I wish The Amazing Screw-On Head was a series, at least one with a small order of episodes. I want to know more about the history of these characters, and see more play between Screw and Emperor Zombie. All this means The Amazing Screw-On Head did its job well: Always leave 'em wanting more.