Repo is 25

1984 was a good year for lowbrow cinematic entertainments, but the shining light of independent off-the-wall filmmaking would probably have to go to anarchist punk sci-fi flick Repo Man. This was the debut film for maverick writer/director Alex Cox and still stands out as his most popular film (although his next film Sid & Nancy has also achieved a following). It was also Emilio Estevez's debute as leading man and remains his most memorable role (despite the efforts of Breakfast Club fans). It is also the place of one of Harry Dean Stanton's seminal performances.

Repo Man came out at the right time, just before the VHS revolution. Nowadays this sort of movie would go straight to video after an obscure run at some minor film festivals (where people with wine can nod about it). Instead it got launched like a mainstream slacker comedy and freaked out almost everybody who went to see it. Enough were freaked out in a good way and thus the legend was born.

So you'd expect a sequel or remake, right? Well, a sequel by Alex Cox hasbein talked about for some years. And supposedly, Repo Chick is in the can but I know little more than that. Cox tried to make a sequel before which continued the adventures of Repo Man's protagonist but the powers-that-be, namely those who own the rights, were not simpatico to Cox's vision. It didn't help that Emilio didn't want to do it. That version may never be filmed, but that doesn't mean you can't see it ... and read it.

Gestalt Comics very cleverly turned Alex Cox's unmade screenplay into a graphic novel. For all intents and purposes Waldo's Hawaiian Holiday is the sequel to the original Repo Man. Otto is back, now named Waldo (for legal and artistic purposes) and he has to deal with the post-punk mess of a world it is today.

Gestalt Comics is a Perth based independent company that has produced a good quality piece of work. Nicely illustrated by Bones and Randall, finely laid out, beautifully produced. I'm sure Alex Cox is happy with the result. It's an Alex Cox film on paper. So if you are one of the old and new Repo Man fans, I recommend Waldo's Hawaiian Holiday while we listen out for further news on that other sequel.