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Buddy Bradley #6
Buddy Bites the Bullet
Throughout the 1990s, Peter Bagge's award-winning comic book series Hate chronicled and ridiculed the life and times of young slacker Buddy Bradley as well as the zeitgeist of Gen. X/slacker culture. Now collected into six stand-alone "Buddy" volumes, readers can enjoy the timeless quality of Bagge's humor -- his dialogue and characterization remains unparalleled in comics, and Matt Groening's Simpsons owe a clear debt to Bagge's extended Bradley family.
120 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
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About the author
Peter Bagge
330 books166 followersPeter Bagge was born on December 11th, 1957, and raised in Peekskill, New York, about 40 miles north of New York City. While enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1977, Bagge discovered underground comics, and the work of R. Crumb in particular turned what had initially been only a vague interest in cartooning into a passion.
In the early '80s Bagge co-published three issues of COMICAL FUNNIES (1980-81), a New York-based comic tabloid which saw the debut of Bagge's dysfunctional suburban family, The Bradleys. Bagge broke into R. Crumb's legendary magazine, WEIRDO, and Bagge took over as managing editor of that magazine from 1983 to 1986.
Bagge started his own comic book series, NEAT STUFF, for Fantagraphics Books, producing 15 issues from 1985 to '89. Buddy Bradley, the Bradleys' alienated and pessimistic teenage son, emerged as Neat Stuff's most engaging and fully-realized character. In 1990, NEAT STUFF evolved into a new title, HATE, which exclusively followed the foibles of the semi-autobiographical Buddy Bradley. Hate became the voice of the twenty-nothing slackers as well as being hailed by critics for its brilliant characterization in its complete chronicle of the 1990s. HATE and Buddy Bradley continue to appear in print, albeit less frequently, under the title HATE ANNUAL.
Since 1999, Bagge has worked on many other comic-related projects, including writing an all ages comic book for DC called YEAH! (drawn by Gilbert Hernandez). as well as the short lived humor series SWEATSHOP, also for DC. He also wrote and drew a one-shot satire of Spider-Man for Marvel, and has done the same with Marvel's The Hulk, though the later title has yet to be scheduled for release. Other projects include a 2 year stint writing and drawing a weekly comic strip about "Bat Boy" for THE WEEKLY WORLD NEWS, and a series of illustrated essays for the now defunct website Suck.com, which led to his becoming a current regular features contributor to the political and social commentary magazine REASON.
Most recently, Bagge has been working on a 6 part mini-series for Dark Horse called APOCALYPSE NERD, which should be complete in 2007.
Bagge's exaggerated and distinctively in-your-face illustration style has also appeared on many record and CD covers, and in magazines as far ranging as HUSTLER, MAD and the OXFORD AMERICAN. He's also had a hand in several animation projects, most notably the online "Rock & Roll Dad" cartoon series he co-created with Dana Gould for Icebox.com.
Peter Bagge has lived in Seattle since 1984. He resides with his wife Joanne, and daughter Hannah, and three darned cats.
In the early '80s Bagge co-published three issues of COMICAL FUNNIES (1980-81), a New York-based comic tabloid which saw the debut of Bagge's dysfunctional suburban family, The Bradleys. Bagge broke into R. Crumb's legendary magazine, WEIRDO, and Bagge took over as managing editor of that magazine from 1983 to 1986.
Bagge started his own comic book series, NEAT STUFF, for Fantagraphics Books, producing 15 issues from 1985 to '89. Buddy Bradley, the Bradleys' alienated and pessimistic teenage son, emerged as Neat Stuff's most engaging and fully-realized character. In 1990, NEAT STUFF evolved into a new title, HATE, which exclusively followed the foibles of the semi-autobiographical Buddy Bradley. Hate became the voice of the twenty-nothing slackers as well as being hailed by critics for its brilliant characterization in its complete chronicle of the 1990s. HATE and Buddy Bradley continue to appear in print, albeit less frequently, under the title HATE ANNUAL.
Since 1999, Bagge has worked on many other comic-related projects, including writing an all ages comic book for DC called YEAH! (drawn by Gilbert Hernandez). as well as the short lived humor series SWEATSHOP, also for DC. He also wrote and drew a one-shot satire of Spider-Man for Marvel, and has done the same with Marvel's The Hulk, though the later title has yet to be scheduled for release. Other projects include a 2 year stint writing and drawing a weekly comic strip about "Bat Boy" for THE WEEKLY WORLD NEWS, and a series of illustrated essays for the now defunct website Suck.com, which led to his becoming a current regular features contributor to the political and social commentary magazine REASON.
Most recently, Bagge has been working on a 6 part mini-series for Dark Horse called APOCALYPSE NERD, which should be complete in 2007.
Bagge's exaggerated and distinctively in-your-face illustration style has also appeared on many record and CD covers, and in magazines as far ranging as HUSTLER, MAD and the OXFORD AMERICAN. He's also had a hand in several animation projects, most notably the online "Rock & Roll Dad" cartoon series he co-created with Dana Gould for Icebox.com.
Peter Bagge has lived in Seattle since 1984. He resides with his wife Joanne, and daughter Hannah, and three darned cats.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 10, 2020
This volume is a lot more grim than the previous ones. There is still humor, but it's not as prominent, and it is overwhelmed by the tragic events, - putting aside whether or not it was accidental. Interestingly, the cover and title are misleading, hinting at scene that never appears in the book, i.e. an actual wedding of Buddy and Lisa, and I am left wondering if the title "... bites the bullet" is actually an oblique reference to the aforementioned death. The final page of the book might be after the marriage, but it is not made clear. No rings on fingers, or specific statement that it happened. The final panel is particularly puzzling, in which Buddy says "...why, it's a magic whistle!"; I have no fucking clue what that means. Is it some kind of reference I should know? I found no help on the internet.
Some people may have found a glimmer of hope at the end, in that Buddy and Lisa decide to have a child, and get married. There might be a sense of relief that Buddy is finally growing up and settling down. My viewpoint is a bit different, in that I think these two have no business spawning, and they are just going to perpetuate the awful behaviors they exhibit as fucked up offspring of their equally fucked up parents, and so the cycle continues. But then, that's just like the real world. Parenthood is not contingent on being a potentially good parent, or being adept in any particular skill.
Bizarrely enough, Bagge managed to eke out a bit of sympathy from me for the asshole brother Butch. His mentally unbalanced mixing of sexual fantasies with memories of was a particularly gut-wrenching single page. This book is still filled with trashy, obnoxious, and fascinating characters, and a paragon of underground comics.
Some people may have found a glimmer of hope at the end, in that Buddy and Lisa decide to have a child, and get married. There might be a sense of relief that Buddy is finally growing up and settling down. My viewpoint is a bit different, in that I think these two have no business spawning, and they are just going to perpetuate the awful behaviors they exhibit as fucked up offspring of their equally fucked up parents, and so the cycle continues. But then, that's just like the real world. Parenthood is not contingent on being a potentially good parent, or being adept in any particular skill.
Bizarrely enough, Bagge managed to eke out a bit of sympathy from me for the asshole brother Butch. His mentally unbalanced mixing of sexual fantasies with memories of was a particularly gut-wrenching single page. This book is still filled with trashy, obnoxious, and fascinating characters, and a paragon of underground comics.
December 15, 2021
4.5/10
Peter Bagge has clearly developed his own comics idiom, a recognisable caricatural style.
But this book was strangely verbose and lacking humour. Which is...well, the inverse of what I was expecting?
Peter Bagge has clearly developed his own comics idiom, a recognisable caricatural style.
But this book was strangely verbose and lacking humour. Which is...well, the inverse of what I was expecting?
November 12, 2023
Collects Hate 26-30
Hate 26 Lets Start a Crackhouse
Butch and Jimmy Foley want to make some money. Leonard "Stinky" comes to town! He grew up in New Jersey too. Buddy isn't too happy about it.
Hate 27 Buddy Cleans House
Leonard accidently shoots himself in the head while goofing off with Butch at a shooting range area. Butch is worried he'll get accused of murder so decides to hide the body instead of calling the cops. Buddy finds out about it as well as Butch's friends Jimmy Foley and Jake. Now Buddy finds himself having to keep this secret with these 3 goons.
Hate 28 A Day in the Life of Buddy Bradley
Buddy now lives at the shop after buying Jay out of the business. He's a wreck now and seems to have turned into an old man overnight.
Hate 29 The Single Life
Buddy tries to go on dates! He goes out with Babs friend but gets rejected. Later he goes out with a very domineering professional woman. He's also getting essentially harassed at work by a younger woman who works at the next door Starbucks. Buddy's mom is moving and Lisa comes to town to grab some of the stuff she left there and bumps into Buddy.
Hate 30 Lets Get It On
Buddy meets up with Lisa and they "Get it on". Lisa is getting fed up with Elizabeth who is more controlling than Buddy ever was. Lisa reveals that she's pregnant and not going to get another abortion. Buddy takes this in stride and they decide to get married and raise the child together!
Hate 26 Lets Start a Crackhouse
Butch and Jimmy Foley want to make some money. Leonard "Stinky" comes to town! He grew up in New Jersey too. Buddy isn't too happy about it.
Hate 27 Buddy Cleans House
Leonard accidently shoots himself in the head while goofing off with Butch at a shooting range area. Butch is worried he'll get accused of murder so decides to hide the body instead of calling the cops. Buddy finds out about it as well as Butch's friends Jimmy Foley and Jake. Now Buddy finds himself having to keep this secret with these 3 goons.
Hate 28 A Day in the Life of Buddy Bradley
Buddy now lives at the shop after buying Jay out of the business. He's a wreck now and seems to have turned into an old man overnight.
Hate 29 The Single Life
Buddy tries to go on dates! He goes out with Babs friend but gets rejected. Later he goes out with a very domineering professional woman. He's also getting essentially harassed at work by a younger woman who works at the next door Starbucks. Buddy's mom is moving and Lisa comes to town to grab some of the stuff she left there and bumps into Buddy.
Hate 30 Lets Get It On
Buddy meets up with Lisa and they "Get it on". Lisa is getting fed up with Elizabeth who is more controlling than Buddy ever was. Lisa reveals that she's pregnant and not going to get another abortion. Buddy takes this in stride and they decide to get married and raise the child together!
August 9, 2024
The previous volume demonstrated Buddy's slow descent towards ruin, and here we see the culmination of all the shit he's gone through thus far. Buddy's failing business with Jay, his tumultuous friendship with Leonard/Stinky and his awful relationship with Lisa all come to a head here, with Buddy presented with some tough choices along the way. I can't say for sure he makes the best decisions here, but it is clear that Bagge wanted to have Buddy mature along the way and here there are some payoffs with Buddy finally taking more control of his life. There's a semi-happy ending despite all the bleak stuff included in here, but one can easily perceive this as being somewhat bittersweet. Nonetheless, Bagge ends HATE strong, and though he will return to the world of Buddy Bradley in the form of nine annuals, one can easily stop right here and have enjoyed a great comic series from start to finish.
Individual chapter reviews:
"Let's Start a Crack House"
"Buddy Cleans House"
"A Day in the Life of Buddy Bradley"
"The Single Life"
"Let's Get it On!"
Individual chapter reviews:
"Let's Start a Crack House"
"Buddy Cleans House"
"A Day in the Life of Buddy Bradley"
"The Single Life"
"Let's Get it On!"
September 6, 2009
The end of the series. Sad, and not super hopeful... But still hopeful in it's own way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews