The Pickup Pros

by Maria-Foteini Alevizou, Vlasios Papanikolaou

free to read at:
http://www.mariaandvlasios.com

"We all have heard of professionals in picking up women. But what happens with the rest of the professionals? How do they do it? How would a lawyer, an economist or a web programmer approach his "target"? The answer lies within this book! Have fun..."

This book is a humorous collection of 60 different male professionals trying to approach and seduce a woman in a 1-page 4-panel comic strip. Each strip shows only one character, "the Pickup Pro", speaking directly to the reader, as if the reader were the woman being seduced! The actual woman is not shown and her reactions are in most cases left to the reader's imagination (though sometimes they can be understood by the expressions or the words of the character).

The book is divided, according to the type of each profession, into the following small chapters: Science, Business & Technology, Construction & Arts, Celebrities & Fashion, Nutrition & Sports, Healthcare, Spiritual & Sex Professions, Law & Order, Government & Security. At the end, there is a bonus chapter called "the wrong guy group", with some of the guys that women should definitely avoid!

Genres: Humor, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2012

About the author

Maria-Foteini Alevizou lives and works as a physicist in Athens, Greece. In her spare time, she is a self-taught comic book creator, a well-being researcher and a learning addict. She is multilingual and she loves reading, acting and cooking.

She has co-created two humorous comic books, "the Pickup Pros" and A.H.A. the Alternative Hero Agency which she offers for free on her website:

http://www.mariaandvlasios.com

Reviews

[Nour · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea was so ingenious and new and lovely. I enjoyed this very much. I laughed out loud a couple of times. The illustrations were so vivid and the text was so mind boggingly accurate, I was really blown away. Thank you for the free version of this! I enjoyed it very much. Waiting for more works by the lovely couple.

[Siina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid three stars and actually fits the humor comic genre quite well. The approach of the guys talking to the reader was a great choice as it gives off an interesting semi communication situation. The art in itself isn't that miraculous, but oddly enough highlights the line of pickup pros well, as they are similar and their ways are similar too. In a way I'd say that this mass of similar guys makes this really real-life-like, since hey, the guys with the worst pickup lines? They all sound the same and who can even remember their faces..

Most of the jokes work and create this fun stereotype setting, but about a half kind of misses the point. Mostly I'd say this is because the professions of the guys are too similar to give them unique jokes. Also, putting the nerd to the "wrong guy" group I find somewhat offensive, since can you really put a psycho killer and a nerd on the same line? Either way, a good start - especially for Alevizou's first book.

[Melissa Herston · Rating 4 out of 5]

In compliance with FTC guidelines; I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This comic strip is mildly amusing with some clever and witty blurbs.

Some of the jokes are unoriginal but all are at least amusing. Some are even down right funny. I found myself laughing more then once while reading this comic strip.

The art is similar to the style you would see in a Sunday morning cartoon page in your local newspaper. It has clean lines and a simplistic concept of repetitive shapes.

I would certainly enjoy seeing more of these comics although a wide range of characters has already been covered. Perhaps a strip of women trying to pick up men in odd ways?

I would recommend this comic strip if you like clever comedy or as a joke book to share with friends who enjoy humour.

[Stephen Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because it sounded funny and light-hearted. I was not disappointed. The illustrations are great and the dialog is funny. My only complaint is that it was to short.

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out the complete review at WordPress Reviews

Various guys from various professions and types try out various pick up lines according to their professions ... and get turned down. This is one hilarious comic strip I have read. The pick up lines are non offensive and truly hilarious, even though they are really cheesy. Some are heard of, some are unheard of, some are notoriously funny.

The last chapter - the bonus chapter - is the one to look out for. It consists of the pick up lines you should definitely avoid, like the one from The Psychopath. It must have been a hilarious experience to even conceive such an idea and write about such things. I am truly glad I read it. Got some nice laughs

[Lisa Shiroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love comic books, so I may be a bit biased. But, this is a really cute and fun read. The humor is a little sarcastic and snarky without being mean. The drawings are clear and clean. The use of one, basic man image talking to the female is a genius symbol of what it often feels like to a woman in the dating world: it's like the same "non-Mr. Right" keeps showing up in various disguises. My only complaint is that I read it on an e-reader and I just don't like my comic books done that way! I like to have one laying around to pick up whenever I want a quick lift. Something to open at a random page and get a grin. Yes, it's possible to do that with an e-reader it's just cumbersome.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 'm glad I found out about this comic! I just read it and I have to say that the lines are hilarious!
I liked the Alien (5 times?? woo-hoo) better and enjoyed the Psycho Killer - "hey let me take you home with my van"
Nice humour as a result of connecting professions (not exclusively) with pick-up lines.. I would give a chance.. to.. uhm.. the Alien maybe? (don't judge-it's just that I like sci-fi)

I totally recommend it to whoever wants to read a "quickie" and a funny comic on his way home/work/wherever.

Note to the author: I had problems downloading (for free) the file and eventually Kindle for PC wouldn't open it. Androids do it better though ;)

[Flo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. I think all the secrets are out! Now that you, lady, know all the pick-up lines that a professional might use, you're safe. Or not, I don't know what you want.
Either way, this book has funny moments. I prefer books with a weirder/creepier sense of humor (that's not new). I would have preferred a geneticist with the head of an oyster and scissor-hands saying “the reverse could also happen!”, but then, that would be a whole different book. However, this one accomplishes its purpose: it entertains. And it made me think about the day when men finally realize how foolish they look while saying elaborated but ultimately lame pick-up lines. “Did it hurt? You know, when you fell out of heaven?” What the hell is that...
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of The Pickup Pros compliments of the author Maria-Foteini Alevizou. I appreciated the opportunity. This is a quick little dose of humor and it was easy enough to sail through it. It was not a laugh out loud book for me, but did place a few grins on my face. I was stumped by a few of the pages whereby I simply did not get the humor that was presented. In fairness, this is not truly my typical read and I am not a fan of comic style material. Also being married may of kept me from enjoying the humor that a single woman might be able to better relate to? The artwork was a fit for the dialogue presented. Overall 3/5 stars.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book the quotes are nice and in some of the cases really close to reality. The illustrations are pretty nice and I think that is a light nice reading. But as some of these comic books is quite short. It will be nice if the authors write a sequel with women answer's. They also have some stereotypes. Some people complain about the Stereotypes in their critics, but for me that is the funny part. We all know not everybody is the same. But we also need a laugh when we see common phrases....

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art greatly resembles the clean lines found in a newspaper comicstrip - not all that inspired but simple concept and style repetition in panels across the variety of "professionals." Some of the jokes are well used and not all that original, but some are take it to a new level and are really, really funny - some clever and witty stuff in this comic!

Like other reviewers before I also like the idea of continuing the comics focusing on women trying to pick up men.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, stereotypical comic strip centering around professional men attempting to pick up women! I found it humorous, but not in a laugh out loud way. It displayed perfectly on my tablet, using the kindle reader. Each profession had four panels, which were very nicely displayed in landscape mode, no need to zoom or scroll. Rather on the short side, but definitely a good read! Recommended!

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little comic book by a young physicist that seems to have had experience in the field she is writing. ;-) Though I didn't find myself rolling on the floor in laughter I can remember what it was like as a young woman. I think this might be even more fun in paper form, but on Kindle Fire or the Tablet it is visually entertaining. Try it, you might like it.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pickup Pros was a very entertaining, humorous comic book exploring the different ways men of different professions would try to pick up on a girl. Very comical and the artwork was fun and creative.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining take on career "professionals" attempts to pickup ladies using their workplace jargon/mindsets. Delivered in comic strip form, it was a quick read that brought a smile to your face.

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly a collection of 'comic' thoughts to make you at the very least smile and sometimes laugh, especially if you've experienced some of the pick up lines.

I would say well researched, if a little stereotyped.

Worth a look.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cartoon book of pick up lines used by a variety of personality types and job types.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing look at the various ways men pickup up women but based on a stereotypical career characteristic. Artwork was consistent and fun. Hope there is more to come in a second volume.

[Vojtěch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dat was quiet fun! :D

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Goodreads First Reads Giveaway****** I won this book and found it hilarious. I Passed it on to a friend who also thought this book was great!

[Shannon Broad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick fun read, anybody looking for something easy and fun to read will love this book. I enjoyed it even though it took me like 15 mins to read :)

[Caroline Bednar-roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Wasn’t overly impressed. Some pages were funny, and others were just … not.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. This is a very short book. Honestly, the idea--pickup lines for various professions and types of people--seems more appropriate as one of those lists of email jokes that used to circulate back in the early days of the internet. As a comic strip, it feels a little thin. That said, some of these are fairly amusing. The artwork isn't bad, just a bit on the bland side. I wanted to like this more than I did but it's just very mediocre. If the writing and/or the art were a bit more edgy or something ... but on the other hand, how edgy could one really expect a collection of pickup lines to be anyway? It's entirely possible I'm not the right audience to appreciate this. All I know is that it's short and unmemorable and I doubt I'll be rereading it.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it was not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny, I still had a smile on my face as I was reading it. It was a nice short read, but it might have been a little too repetitive reading it in one sitting. The main problem is that it felt much more like a web comic than something I would want to read in book format.

The art was cute. The characters were distinct and expressive, but I think the art would have felt less repetitive if there were a few more options for hand gestures.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of cute. Seemed to bet old half way through. Actually wanted some of the guys to win by the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Cheesy.

[Theda · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time, space, paper and ink.......

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I got this as a free download. Took me about 10 mins to read.

[Nanafewuphge9hgerhgeporghwpiwhv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and fun.