Madman: The Oddity Odyssey

Madman Comics

by Mike Allred

The original series in one snazzy collection! Feature some of Mike Allred's earlier works on Madman, before there was even color! Also features flip action corners!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Humor

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Michael 'Doc' Allred (Also Credited as M. Dalton Allred) grew up in the 60's and 70's and was surrounded with the best in pop culture and a steady diet of music, movies and comic books including the three B's: Beatles, Bond and Batman to the point of obsession.

So it should come as no surprise that he keeps a hand in film and music (He's the lead singer and guitarist for The Gear), but comic books have always been a seminal source of joy for Mike and that joy remains the main ingredient in most of his work.

Allred first tasted success in the comics field with his wildly popular MADMAN series, which is currently being developed for a live action film with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. His earlier work from GRAFIK MUZIK was turned into the cult hit movie G-Men from Hell directed by Christopher Coppola (featuring Robert Goulet as the Devil). Other work includes Red Rocket 7, his history of Rock and Roll told in the context of a sci-fi adventure storyl the Madman spin-off THE ATOMICS and his magnum opus, THE GOLDEN PLATES, where he's illustrating the entire Book of Mormon.

Mike counts the secret to his success to be his wife, and creative partner, Laura Allred, who is is considered to be one of the best colorists in the business.

Reviews

[D.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give comics 5 stars, especially when they're just enjoyable superhero books, but Madman is special. I can't pinpoint what it is that has given this book such a lasting appeal to me, but I love it as much now as when I first read it nearly 20 years ago. Allred's art had, by this point, long since surpassed his cod-Nagel style that first attracted me to his work. By now, he'd found his own unmistakable style and this was its showcase.
Allred's Grafik/Graphique Muzak/Musique hero Frank Einstein has moved on past the G-Men From Hell story arc, and finds himself utterly rudderless and in a strange uniform. Einstein's musings are the sort of thing that a 20-something would find deep, but just what I'd expect a groundless adult orphan to be thinking as he tries to find himself.
While we couldn't have known what we were missing without his wife Laura's superb colouring, the blue-tint monotone shading adds to the off-kilter effect of a noticeably left-of-center book. The writing was here still just short of what would become his more distinct hand, but that 'keen and neato, gee whiz' charm is already there in spades.
Though it's not for everybody (I could not, in good conscience, let my 3-year-old see the eyeball-devouring scene), The Oddity Odyssey is an all-around superb book, and so much more than just a guy in a stupid costume.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 20 years since I first read these comics...and on re-reading them I like them even more than I did back then. From the very beginning, Allred was an assured comics creator, both a great and thoughtful writer and a unique artist. This first Madman story (following one or two short Frank Einsten stories) is weird, fun, dark, odd, thrilling and full of entertainment. It's not as balls-to-the-walls as we get with later Madman stories, and it's probably a bit darker, but this is a great start to the universe we'll get as the series progresses.

In a lot of ways, I actually prefer Allred's art from this period -- it's just slightly rougher but in some ways that adds something to it -- plus the black-and-white-and-blue art gives this story a great noir atmosphere. Laura Allred's colors are such an essential element of Mike Allred's later work, but this story stands out and presents the roots of what is to come.

[Keith Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madman is the story of an amnesiac young man in what looks like a homemade superhero costume. He is pursued by gangsters and is connected to a pair of mad scientists who perform bizarre experiments on themselves. As he tries to help the scientists and fight the gangsters he has philosophical speculations about the nature of life and the universe, and he vaguely remembers loving a beautiful girl named Joe. The character lives in a world in which the mundane and the insane mix freely.

Mike Allred has one of the most unique styles in comics. His work is always dynamic and surprising, mixing the beautiful with the grotesque. Anyone who enjoys Madman should check out his work on X-Statixs, The Atomics, and FF.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this years ago when it was fresh and new. It was creative and interesting, but it just didn't suck me in like I'd hoped. There's a Mike Allred documentary on Kickstarter right now, and I thought it would be good to finally check out his work. I think I have the Superman/Madman crossover around here somewhere, but I don't think I've read that, either. Everyone seems to think this is the penultimate Madman story, so should I check out the other Madman stuff?

[Kristina Mlynarova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly didn’t understand the plot until the very end, when Frank fights Mondstadt and defeats him, saving the knowledge of eternal life to the doctors who brought him back after his tragic accident. Madman is a cool superhero, a sort of mix between Spider-man and Frankenstein, but I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite. The art was phenomenal, but the story didn’t have me hooked like some other comics.

[Reyel2107 · Rating 5 out of 5]

the pop madness begins !!!!

[Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Mike Allred's magnum opus of his work in my opinion.

[Zachary King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonkers and fun, pure comics with an exuberance that is almost unparalleled in modern comics. Within ten pages, I was hooked!

[Al McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This paperback from 1993 paperback brings together the 3-issue Tundra mini-series that introduced the world to the strange world of Frank Einstein, before his color splash in Madman Comics. It's super-ginchy!
Been holding on to this thing for 27 years. I still enjoy it's wackiness and heart.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rileggere le prime storie di Madman non ha cambiato la mia opinione di qualche anno fa: surreali, caotiche e sì, giovanili. Però fu un buon inizio. 3 stelle scarse.

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the all-time classics.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very weird but fun.

I like Mike Allred's art better on his own characters than on mainstream comics.

[Aerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! Light, fun, witty, very well written and illustrated! Not too funny to where it’s a joke book, but with enough to not take itself too seriously.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para além de um argumento intrigante e de ser umas das melhores coisas a sair da DC nos últimos tempos, o comic iZombie introduziu-me ao traço deslimbrante de Michael Allred. É uma explosão de cor com uma mistura de estilos retro e pop em partes iguais, que nos remete para o estilismo dos anos 60. Como se os estúdios Hanna-Barbera de Scooby-Doo colidissem com Andy Warhol. Madman é graficamente mais restrito, operando num registo monocromático mas mantendo a notória veia pop art de Allred. A narrativa faz jus ao título, um conjunto alucinante de peripécias que esconde uma mal velada homenagem à ficção científica de série B. Criminosos, cientistas de sanidade duvidosa, alienígenas, viagens no tempo, sensuais assistentes e um herói com mais do que um leve toque de criatura de Frankenstein.

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars does not mean that I thought this comic was bad. I rate based on the tooltips which says two stars is okay. Now I can certainly see why this comic is loved by many, but it just didn't do it for me. The artwork was good, but plain, and the story had excellent potential. I am certainly a fan of using a yo-yo as a weapon, but there is so much going on that you don't get to know about. The story is short, and though it doesn't necessarily feel rushed, it certainly doesn't feel complete. You don't really get to know the characters as well as you would like, which is a shame because I would like to know more about many of them.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great debut. It seems that Michael Allread didn't quite know what he was going to do with the character yet, but he established some fantastic stuff here. It remarkably walks between earnest silver age, goofy slapstick, and dark moody unsettling moments. The art, of course, is magnificent. The far-out disconnected quality to the writing is grounded by his simple bold plastic lines. This sets the stage beautifully for what is to come. If you are into the whole "what am I reading?" quality to it, you will be in for a treat with the upcoming trades.

[David Forrest]

Madman is not your ordinary superhero. In fact, Madman's kind of an antihero. However, he is formidable. He has a yo-yo and the slingshot as his main weapons, and he's psychic through touch. He wears a strange outfit, which people comment on and wonder why, and even he doesn't really seem to know what his costume means. In spite of his eccentricity or perhaps because of it, Madman is oddly compelling.

[Johnnycakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best comic ever in my opinion. The story and art are wonderful. Allred is an incredible humorist (perhaps why he auditioned for the role of Pvc. Joker in Full Metal Jacket?). I first read Allred's work in DC's "The Geek" from the Vertigo line of comics and loved his style. Back then I fancied myself a future comic artist and I desperately wanted to be Mike Allred. Yep.

[Tye · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more beautiful things you can put in your eye. And don't let this newfangled cover fool you. The book's in three-tone black/white/blue. Grovers Corners meets Frankenstein meets '50's scifi movies. One of my favorite things.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

my honey introduced me to madman. we actually just met the author and his wife at a recent comic con....they were super nice and like baked goods.
this is a fun, intelligent, quirky read and a great into to graphic novels!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The re-imagining of classic horror tropes was a lot of fun. The flip book corner earned this an extra star.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Madman.

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange comic about an insane super hero.