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The Goon #1
The Goon, Volume 1: Nothin' But Misery
It all starts here! Dark Horse is proud to re-present the beginning of Eric Powell's acclaimed Goon saga, with a lavish new cover and redesigned to match the swanky "Goon Year" collections. The Goon's unique mash-up of horror, mob intrigue, and the sickest sense of humor in comics is an instant classic, one of the true breakout hits of the '00s. With new volumes of The Goon hitting stores throughout the year, this is the best time ever to find out what you've been missing!
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2003
15 people are currently reading
1351 people want to read
About the author
Eric Powell
498 books282 followersEric Powell has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD Magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, the Avengers, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and Action Comics.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 14, 2015
I don’t know how I’ve done it but I’ve read the entire Goon series without ever reading the first volume! Anyhoo, it’s a fairly easy title to follow as most of the time it’s Eric Powell telling loopy horror stories with a heavy dose of black comedy - and I love it!
Nothin’ But Misery follows that same zany approach as the best Goon volumes - or rather establishes it given this is Volume 1! Goon and Franky take on some fish fishermen (you heard me), investigate a haunted house, draw battle lines with the Zombie Priest (who has discovered the secret behind Labrazio), learn the origins of Buzzard, and save some poor kids from Santa’s demented elves. Also, Franky shows a sandwich who’s boss.
Given that they’re both published by Dark Horse, you could easily compare Goon with Hellboy as they’re both tough protagonists who punch monsters within the framing of horror comics, and they are similar in that regard. Except Mike Mignola isn’t anywhere near as hilarious as Eric Powell is, whose comics are peppered with random sketches and gags that are so damn funny!
Fake ads appear in the middle of stories - “Billy Lobotomy Kit - all heads taken from convicts and soulless heathens!” and “The Atomic Rage”, a parody of DC’s Firestorm character - as well as one pagers like “Stepping Over with Edward Johns”, a jab at fake TV psychics like John Edwards, and “The Psychic Seal phoneline!”
And the Conan parody is utterly silly but brilliant for it’s one liner - “Kronan, what is best in life?!” “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women.” “WRONG! You! What is best in life?!” “Pie.” “YEAH!” That page has got nothing to do with anything but it made me laugh.
Amid establishing characters and story arcs for later books here, Powell tells entertaining stories driven by action and horror but soaked in his dark humour and as a result his comics are totally unique - any comparisons to other titles are gone within pages of reading a Goon book. The comics are so well written, so beautifully drawn, it’s why I’ve read some 15 volumes of this title and will read 15 more (assuming Powell keeps going).
The Goon is an excellent series and so is this first volume, which gives you a good idea of the delightfully chaotic delirium that awaits the reader going ahead. Take a trip to Lonely St., one of the funniest places in comics, you won’t regret it!
Nothin’ But Misery follows that same zany approach as the best Goon volumes - or rather establishes it given this is Volume 1! Goon and Franky take on some fish fishermen (you heard me), investigate a haunted house, draw battle lines with the Zombie Priest (who has discovered the secret behind Labrazio), learn the origins of Buzzard, and save some poor kids from Santa’s demented elves. Also, Franky shows a sandwich who’s boss.
Given that they’re both published by Dark Horse, you could easily compare Goon with Hellboy as they’re both tough protagonists who punch monsters within the framing of horror comics, and they are similar in that regard. Except Mike Mignola isn’t anywhere near as hilarious as Eric Powell is, whose comics are peppered with random sketches and gags that are so damn funny!
Fake ads appear in the middle of stories - “Billy Lobotomy Kit - all heads taken from convicts and soulless heathens!” and “The Atomic Rage”, a parody of DC’s Firestorm character - as well as one pagers like “Stepping Over with Edward Johns”, a jab at fake TV psychics like John Edwards, and “The Psychic Seal phoneline!”
And the Conan parody is utterly silly but brilliant for it’s one liner - “Kronan, what is best in life?!” “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women.” “WRONG! You! What is best in life?!” “Pie.” “YEAH!” That page has got nothing to do with anything but it made me laugh.
Amid establishing characters and story arcs for later books here, Powell tells entertaining stories driven by action and horror but soaked in his dark humour and as a result his comics are totally unique - any comparisons to other titles are gone within pages of reading a Goon book. The comics are so well written, so beautifully drawn, it’s why I’ve read some 15 volumes of this title and will read 15 more (assuming Powell keeps going).
The Goon is an excellent series and so is this first volume, which gives you a good idea of the delightfully chaotic delirium that awaits the reader going ahead. Take a trip to Lonely St., one of the funniest places in comics, you won’t regret it!
March 26, 2016
An homage to/pastiche of everything from 30s gangster movies to 40s film noir to 50s EC comics to Conan the Barbarian to b-movie horror and sci-fi, The Goon: Nothin' but Misery should be right up my alley. I even like the book's cartoony yet detailed visual style, with its dynamic page compositions and crisp coloring (that reminds me of Laura Allred's). My only complaint is that I just don't find the book all that funny. And being funny clearly is the main objective here, as the plotlines themselves are formulaic and paper-thin. I don't know, most jokes seem to be of the "ha ha, he stuck a fork into the fish dude's eye, awesome" variety. Just not my thing, I guess.
July 15, 2024
Part horror, part dark comedy. The Goon channels the humor of Ren and Stimpy and Looney Tunes in a 1940's setting. The Goon and Franky fight rival zombie gangs and fish people while saving children from being eaten by Santa's elves. I'd love to peer inside Eric Powell's head. There's some strange, dark thoughts in there. If you like your comics weird and humorous with fantastic, moody art, it's time to jump on The Goon train.
February 6, 2017
I didn't think I would enjoy this at all. In fact I thought I'd hate it. Turns out it's a fun read and really crazy out there. It feels like the kind of comic you find in the garbage pale kids section back in the 80's along with some whacky 2000AD comics and the Viz.
I'm going to keep going but I don't sense an improvement. Enjoying the art and another beautiful book from Dark Horse.
I'm going to keep going but I don't sense an improvement. Enjoying the art and another beautiful book from Dark Horse.
November 17, 2024
Zombies on Lonely Street!
May 25, 2016
Well shit, I haven't ever laughed this hard at a comic. It's terribly violent, non-PC, darkly satirical, Looney Tunes wacky, and downright bizarre. I haven't seen something this weird and funny since Ren & Stimpy or Rocko's Modern Life, but really never this much of a hodgepodge of genres and characters. There are even fully illustrated fake ads for a severed head lobotomy kit, fat burning pills, a wacky Golden Age super hero, and a psychic seal. And sometimes the story gets interrupted just because it can, like by a puppy who trips the cord to the television. I'm not making this up. And if Eric Powell's writing isn't entertaining enough, his artwork is damn near flawless and captures the insanity like probably no one else could.
Somehow The Goon and Franky are lovable characters. They're gangsters who focus primarily on extortion, keeping up the neighborhood, and doing odd jobs. They're rough but generally good hearted, Goon has his demons, Franky has his girlfriend, and they have each other's friendship as well as that of their favorite bartender Norton. They have a rivalry with the local Fish Gang (actual fish people) and the Zombies (actual zombies). But the Nameless Man, an evil magician, controls zombies and is the classic villain who dreams of finally taking out The Goon. Muahaha!
With ghosts, zombies, fish people, magicians, gambling spiders, 40s gangsters, werewolves, cannibals, cowboys, Santa Claus, and a foul mouthed psychic seal, what's not to love? "The Seal is legit!" So I think I'll go look for an omnibus now...
August 6, 2008
Do you like retro comic strips like Lil' Abner but wish they had more Lovecratian Demons, Mindless Zombie Hordes, Insane Ultra Violence, Hard-boiled Mob Heroes, and that very special blend of rotgut moonshine Southern Gothic?
Do you also find the fact that they appear that they weren't drawn by Robert E. Howard on loan to EC Comics during a Mescaline Induced Panic Attack to be a disappointing detriment at best?
Have you ever wanted to see an angry hillbilly beat the ever lovin tar out of Ebenezer Scrooge?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then please go to your local book shoppe post haste and buy The Goon. The Most Batshit Insane thing I've had the pleasure to come across since I started reading comics again.
EDIT: Honestly buy this book. It's worth it for the saga of The Atomic Rage alone. Told over three pages and three panels, it tells the story of "The Finest Superhero of the Atomic Age" A man with an atomic Brain and a panache for threatening to rape his antagonist's mouths, until he is waylaid by a foe he can't defeat... Testicular Cancer.
It's violent, tasteless and kind of awesome. In short just like The Goon.
"Only a pantywaist sissy would read any other comic magazine." indeed.
It's not every comic where a deformed Christmas Elf vomits up the children he's just cannablized before begging Santa to "Please don't stretch us on the rack and grind shards of Broken Glass into our Eyes"
Do you also find the fact that they appear that they weren't drawn by Robert E. Howard on loan to EC Comics during a Mescaline Induced Panic Attack to be a disappointing detriment at best?
Have you ever wanted to see an angry hillbilly beat the ever lovin tar out of Ebenezer Scrooge?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then please go to your local book shoppe post haste and buy The Goon. The Most Batshit Insane thing I've had the pleasure to come across since I started reading comics again.
EDIT: Honestly buy this book. It's worth it for the saga of The Atomic Rage alone. Told over three pages and three panels, it tells the story of "The Finest Superhero of the Atomic Age" A man with an atomic Brain and a panache for threatening to rape his antagonist's mouths, until he is waylaid by a foe he can't defeat... Testicular Cancer.
It's violent, tasteless and kind of awesome. In short just like The Goon.
"Only a pantywaist sissy would read any other comic magazine." indeed.
It's not every comic where a deformed Christmas Elf vomits up the children he's just cannablized before begging Santa to "Please don't stretch us on the rack and grind shards of Broken Glass into our Eyes"
November 4, 2015
After second read I decided to give it 5 stars instead of 4.
July 26, 2008
This is an almost perfect comic for comic fans. Eric Powell thoroughly nails the convoluted yet compelling continuity, the stylish art, and frequent absurdity of comics. He knows how to tell a joke and a good story.
I really like his introduction of The Buzzard, a living guy who eats the flesh of the undead. What could have been a throwaway character (like Psychic Seal) gets a beautifully sketched, heartbreaking pages-long introduction that invests you in the character.
I also like how Fishy Pete returns, and the constant fake-ads for the made up hero The Atomic Rage. Powell had a lot of fun making this book, and it's a lot of fun to read.
I really like his introduction of The Buzzard, a living guy who eats the flesh of the undead. What could have been a throwaway character (like Psychic Seal) gets a beautifully sketched, heartbreaking pages-long introduction that invests you in the character.
I also like how Fishy Pete returns, and the constant fake-ads for the made up hero The Atomic Rage. Powell had a lot of fun making this book, and it's a lot of fun to read.
May 19, 2018
The Goon is a goofy, stylized, a-typical comic.
It feels like a Dark Horse published comic and some of you will understand what that means right away. The art feels different, the tone feels unique, it doesn't hang on the cannon of an old/established character.
It's really enjoyable because it is it's own thing.
...also zombies and gangsters.
It feels like a Dark Horse published comic and some of you will understand what that means right away. The art feels different, the tone feels unique, it doesn't hang on the cannon of an old/established character.
It's really enjoyable because it is it's own thing.
...also zombies and gangsters.
April 22, 2014
I found this while looking at someone's blog about sketching. They had been to a sketch night where the models followed a "Goon" theme. Hmmm…What is a "Goon" theme? I wondered. I looked it up on Amazon and found this comic. Wow. I thought, that must have been some sketch night and this is definitely something i could get into. What a cool comic. I loved every page. I will be reading more of these volumes. The art is really cool and the story telling is fun. It is like Noir meets horror/sci-fi. Did I mention that it also has zombies and it is funny like the horror comics I remember from my childhood. I have been more into drawing than reading lately, and this was a fun easy read with cool art to inspire me, plus I have been in a comic book mood lately. This was just what the doctor ordered. It ended up on the best reads pile.
August 11, 2010
**3.5**
Powell's The Goon: Nothin' But Misery is an entertaining enough tale of neighbourhood thug vs. zombies (and more). Through 30s and 40s pastiche, Powell creates a character who's probably more bad than good by our modern standards. He runs a protection racket, buys shipments of stolen goods off the docks, and flattens anyone who doesn't pay his debts on time. However, in a town where zombies roam free, ghosts hold people captive, and little green men make children into snacks, the Goon serves his purpose. He protects the regular folk from the less savory elements lurking in the shadows; from the amount of respect he's shown, he must be very good at his job.
The stories collected in this volume are extremely episodic. There are a few running themes, such as the zombie priest, but overall any one of them could be read out of order without losing the general thread of the piece. Mostly it's the Goon and his pal Franky meeting something formidable and getting knocked about a bit, then the Goon triumphing and teaching the baddie a lesson. It made for a quick read, and though I enjoyed the set-up for my introduction to the series, I hope later volumes include more details on the Goon himself and perhaps an overarching plot. I always derive more enjoyment from piecing together drawn-out mysteries as opposed to reading about the monster of the week.
The artwork depicts a treacherous, urban landscape that perfectly reflects the darkness the Goon battles. The areas inhabited by zombies are even worse off, as if the buildings themselves are decaying at the same pace as the undead. Powell's color palette reinforces the idea of illness and death through muted tones of sickly green and broad strokes of grey.
When it comes to flashbacks, Powell changes his style. One transition from present to past is particularly memorable: The Buzzard's background story begins in ink but quickly changes to sepia-toned pencil work, highlighting not just the difference in time period, but also the change in landscape and a switch to a more sober tone. I was impressed by the skillful changeover and look forward to seeing more of it from Powell.
Another fun touch comes between the stories. Scattered throughout the volume are advertisements done in the same 30s and 40s style as the rest of the comic. My favorite of these is the advert for the Billy Lobotomy Kit (contains one human head, one medical saw, a suture kit, and a manual entitled “Removing the Vile Minions of Satan Through Cerebral Dissection“). I imagine this could provide hours of fun for the whole family!
All in all, Nothin’ But Misery was amusing and twisted enough to keep me reading, and the unique characteristics and possibilities of Powell’s world warrant a further look-see.
Powell's The Goon: Nothin' But Misery is an entertaining enough tale of neighbourhood thug vs. zombies (and more). Through 30s and 40s pastiche, Powell creates a character who's probably more bad than good by our modern standards. He runs a protection racket, buys shipments of stolen goods off the docks, and flattens anyone who doesn't pay his debts on time. However, in a town where zombies roam free, ghosts hold people captive, and little green men make children into snacks, the Goon serves his purpose. He protects the regular folk from the less savory elements lurking in the shadows; from the amount of respect he's shown, he must be very good at his job.
The stories collected in this volume are extremely episodic. There are a few running themes, such as the zombie priest, but overall any one of them could be read out of order without losing the general thread of the piece. Mostly it's the Goon and his pal Franky meeting something formidable and getting knocked about a bit, then the Goon triumphing and teaching the baddie a lesson. It made for a quick read, and though I enjoyed the set-up for my introduction to the series, I hope later volumes include more details on the Goon himself and perhaps an overarching plot. I always derive more enjoyment from piecing together drawn-out mysteries as opposed to reading about the monster of the week.
The artwork depicts a treacherous, urban landscape that perfectly reflects the darkness the Goon battles. The areas inhabited by zombies are even worse off, as if the buildings themselves are decaying at the same pace as the undead. Powell's color palette reinforces the idea of illness and death through muted tones of sickly green and broad strokes of grey.
When it comes to flashbacks, Powell changes his style. One transition from present to past is particularly memorable: The Buzzard's background story begins in ink but quickly changes to sepia-toned pencil work, highlighting not just the difference in time period, but also the change in landscape and a switch to a more sober tone. I was impressed by the skillful changeover and look forward to seeing more of it from Powell.
Another fun touch comes between the stories. Scattered throughout the volume are advertisements done in the same 30s and 40s style as the rest of the comic. My favorite of these is the advert for the Billy Lobotomy Kit (contains one human head, one medical saw, a suture kit, and a manual entitled “Removing the Vile Minions of Satan Through Cerebral Dissection“). I imagine this could provide hours of fun for the whole family!
All in all, Nothin’ But Misery was amusing and twisted enough to keep me reading, and the unique characteristics and possibilities of Powell’s world warrant a further look-see.
February 19, 2017
Kdo je Goon?
No přece "hňup", hulvát a nájemná mlátička. Je to ten, co připravil Rybího Péťu o ruce i nohy. Svalové hmoty má asi tolik jako já (a já jí mám tolik jako Pepek Námořník a ještě trochu víc!), zuby jak z reklamy na zubní pastu, slovník ... hmm, když ho naserete, bude vám nadávat do špinavých psích vejcocuců. On a jeho parťák Frank si žijí, no, jako v akčním comicsu!
Připravte se na krutopřísné množství zelených zombíků, zombíků jiných barev, odporných stvoření, úchylných i neúchylných duchů, Santu santovsky sprostého a pekelnou dávku monstrózního killingu. JouJou.
Goon. Comics, který opravdu CHCETE přečíst.
Upozornění: Obsahuje reklamy. Skvělé reklamy.
No přece "hňup", hulvát a nájemná mlátička. Je to ten, co připravil Rybího Péťu o ruce i nohy. Svalové hmoty má asi tolik jako já (a já jí mám tolik jako Pepek Námořník a ještě trochu víc!), zuby jak z reklamy na zubní pastu, slovník ... hmm, když ho naserete, bude vám nadávat do špinavých psích vejcocuců. On a jeho parťák Frank si žijí, no, jako v akčním comicsu!
Připravte se na krutopřísné množství zelených zombíků, zombíků jiných barev, odporných stvoření, úchylných i neúchylných duchů, Santu santovsky sprostého a pekelnou dávku monstrózního killingu. JouJou.
Goon. Comics, který opravdu CHCETE přečíst.
Upozornění: Obsahuje reklamy. Skvělé reklamy.
June 7, 2021
This feels like kind of a weird throwback to Dick Tracy comics with the larger than life criminals and outlandish plots. involving ghosts, zombies and other monsters.
I figured this was like a gritty reboot of a character from the 1930s, but it turns out Eric Powell was just heavily influenced by those old school comics.
The artwork is grotesque and hilarious in equal measure. I enjoyed it, but not sure if I'll keep reading. There wasn't quite enough here to leave me wanting to see what happens next.
I figured this was like a gritty reboot of a character from the 1930s, but it turns out Eric Powell was just heavily influenced by those old school comics.
The artwork is grotesque and hilarious in equal measure. I enjoyed it, but not sure if I'll keep reading. There wasn't quite enough here to leave me wanting to see what happens next.
March 30, 2020
(4 of 5 for thugs, zombies, unbridled violence, dark humour and for some reason censored swearing)
I like the Goon. He's good-hearted but a bitter thug with surprising wits and the strength of a giant gorilla on steroids. This combination somehow makes him weirdly likeable and human. I like Powell's style of storytelling. He created the setting, set some basic origins and then he decided to tell some short random stories, somehow chronological and fitting the setting (and main "story"). I like his humour, with all that grave humour, humiliation, racism, etc. But it's all set into context - that douchebag deserved a brutal beating, this one is being racist but he's also a massive prick. It works and even if it's not PC, it's also not harmful. Goon is fun. Horror-ish violent fun.
I like the Goon. He's good-hearted but a bitter thug with surprising wits and the strength of a giant gorilla on steroids. This combination somehow makes him weirdly likeable and human. I like Powell's style of storytelling. He created the setting, set some basic origins and then he decided to tell some short random stories, somehow chronological and fitting the setting (and main "story"). I like his humour, with all that grave humour, humiliation, racism, etc. But it's all set into context - that douchebag deserved a brutal beating, this one is being racist but he's also a massive prick. It works and even if it's not PC, it's also not harmful. Goon is fun. Horror-ish violent fun.
June 14, 2012
Hilarious and irreverent, this is now one of my new favorite comics. A touch of Lovecraft (fish people!), a little old-fashioned (G-man!), and a bit of insanity (ARK! ARK! ARK!), I can't recommend this graphic novel enough. While the overarching story (involving the whereabouts of the Goon's boss) is sprinkled like breadcrumbs through various issues, the fact that it isn't the main plot of the book isn't a drawback. Instead, each issue is a standalone story that builds an outlandish world just enough like reality to almost wish it was real.
October 13, 2019
A fun read if you're in a Halloween mood.
August 15, 2023
Great art, love the 30s & 40s aesthetic. Funny to boot.
August 9, 2018
You might think this is a weird book to review in late August (okay, it's the 9th, but for those of us who look forward to summer's end, "late August" is a VERY relative term), but it's around this time of year I start thinking Halloween.
Why? Because Halloween is the best, that's why.
And when I'm thinking about Halloween, it's not too long before I start thinking about The Goon.
The Goon is a book that exists in its own world. Maybe a little Hellboy, maybe a little Atomic Robo, but it's so unique and fun that I hate to tie it down, even if what I'm tying it down to is great stuff like Hellboy and Robo.
The very basics, The Goon is about a guy, known as "Goon" who spends a lot of time punching his way through the undead, the re-animated dead, necromancers, giant creatures, and even something that looks a little like the gorilla with the diving helmet head from that movie Robot Monster.
If you're a classic horror fan, love those old cheesy movies, or if you're a 70's/80's horror fan, you'll dig this book.
Oh, and I don't think I mentioned it's pretty to look at. I mean, as pretty as it can be to look at a giant spider in a derby sitting inside a dive bar. "Pretty" might be the wrong word, I'm learning. Let's just say the art is super good.
~Peter
Why? Because Halloween is the best, that's why.
And when I'm thinking about Halloween, it's not too long before I start thinking about The Goon.
The Goon is a book that exists in its own world. Maybe a little Hellboy, maybe a little Atomic Robo, but it's so unique and fun that I hate to tie it down, even if what I'm tying it down to is great stuff like Hellboy and Robo.
The very basics, The Goon is about a guy, known as "Goon" who spends a lot of time punching his way through the undead, the re-animated dead, necromancers, giant creatures, and even something that looks a little like the gorilla with the diving helmet head from that movie Robot Monster.
If you're a classic horror fan, love those old cheesy movies, or if you're a 70's/80's horror fan, you'll dig this book.
Oh, and I don't think I mentioned it's pretty to look at. I mean, as pretty as it can be to look at a giant spider in a derby sitting inside a dive bar. "Pretty" might be the wrong word, I'm learning. Let's just say the art is super good.
~Peter
September 29, 2022
I thought this was interesting and unique, but ultimately boring. I think I just don't vibe with it.
August 4, 2011
Eric Powell's The Goon is a cult media amalgam that infuses zombies, Lovecraftian fish monsters, brawny back-alley toughs and lots of fist fights. It's the anti-pop, purposefully avoiding pop culture references and mash-ups for it's satire and instead relying on the mind of Eric Powell, which is a time capsule of 50's and 60's cult fanaticism, to conjure up a completely original book out of a number of derivative concepts.
I'm surprised to see some people liken it to Lil' Abner comic strips with zombies, but that I haven't so far seen anyone compare it to old Tales from the Crypt comic books, or anything from EC. And that's really what it is, both an homage and a spoof of those old horror comic books.
Never mind that the book has little to no continuity. Never mind that the stories make little sense. That isn't the purpose or point of this book. It's entertaining because of it's incongruous nature. For it's madcap hilarity. For it's brilliant cartooning.
Just read it. Don't pick apart the stories. Don't criticize the plot. Those things are inconsequential. What really matters is the Goon. And nothing else.
I'm surprised to see some people liken it to Lil' Abner comic strips with zombies, but that I haven't so far seen anyone compare it to old Tales from the Crypt comic books, or anything from EC. And that's really what it is, both an homage and a spoof of those old horror comic books.
Never mind that the book has little to no continuity. Never mind that the stories make little sense. That isn't the purpose or point of this book. It's entertaining because of it's incongruous nature. For it's madcap hilarity. For it's brilliant cartooning.
Just read it. Don't pick apart the stories. Don't criticize the plot. Those things are inconsequential. What really matters is the Goon. And nothing else.
June 22, 2010
The Goon is a Rando Hatton-lookalike brute who loves to kill zombies, these zombies his former neighbors who have sold their souls to a rogue preacher. If that sounds silly it's okay, the stories are terrible, but Eric Powell's such a cool artist you won't even notice that the stories make no sense whatsoever. Like bad Tarantino it drops countless trash culture references (Spider Baby, House of 1000 Corpses, Night of the Living Dead, etc.) What they lack in logic they make up in atmosphere, and the artwork is great to look at.
June 13, 2016
As good as I remember. Zombies. Hillbilly's. Unrestrained violence. Everything a growing girl needs. Better than a self defense class, forget the taser girl needs to pack an axe.
August 11, 2016
Hilarious but also heartfelt. What took me so long to jump on this bandwagon????
January 3, 2021
Love the art, love the darkness. I'm totally there for the Goon and Franky but I want to see the stories expand just a little bit beyond the quick gag and punch-a-zombie glibness. I will definitely pick up more of these, if I can come by them at reasonable prices as they are gorgeously presented, but, so far, they remain nice-to-haves rather than essential purchases.
January 27, 2025
This was a pretty good read. This really strikes me as a story that I'll like and appreciate more on re-reads, which is fine with me. I really liked the goofy supernatural world we live in where we're friends with werewolves and the main villains are zombies. I just wish my copy had all the pages in it. I lost half the last story and a three pager, had to look them up online.
July 16, 2022
Was not expecting to enjoy this the way I did. I love this 40's vibe and The Goon is a great character!
February 12, 2024
Would recommend for those who enjoy loony cartoons 😌
June 4, 2022
obsessed with psychic seal. i gotta have the psychic seal unravel the divine course of my life for only $1.95 per minute if I call 1-800-555-SEAL. The seal's legit!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews