The Goon, Volume 9: Calamity of Conscience

The Goon #9

by Eric Powell

Multiple Eisner Award-winning creator of The Goon Eric Powell teams with acclaimed colorist Dave Stewart to bring this tale of humor, horror, and heartbreak to a close. Prepare for the usual weirdness, as only Powell and The Goon can provide: the living dead (children, priests, and pretty ladies), pretty living ladies, gypsies, backwoods children . . . "dogs" . . . crazy-weird cats, pimps peddling animal love, animals on the receiving end of said animal love . . . evil Shredded Wheat-men, more-evil undead burlesque-house owners, guys with tails, a woky (a woky?) . . . and more!

* The Goon Volume 9 collects the final installment of Goon Year (issues #28-#31)!

* " . . . mobsters and zombies in a world that looks like Sin City channeled by E. C. Segar's Popeye universe." -Los Angeles Times

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Humor, Fantasy, Fiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Eric 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.

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and gorry

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Goon/Labrazio storyline comes to a fightin’ end with Mr Wicker and Labrazio teaming up to take down Goon and Franky while Buzzard takes the blinded Zombie Priest out to Horse-Eater’s Woods to a remote house guarded by a demon of hell where the corpse of a witch needs to be despatched for the dead to rest easy.

“Calamity of Conscience” has Eric Powell at his best combining taut storylines with masterful artwork to create an excellent book. I’m glad this storyline was dealt with in this book instead of being strung out indefinitely as I wanted to see it all done in one book. The fight scenes all look awesome and there’s a revelation for Goon from his lost love, who returns one last time, and which hints at future storylines, as well as the usual wackiness such as mule prostitutes and werewolf kids.

The tone of the book is much darker with characters being killed left and right and old debts settled, but it all makes for a richer book as the characters become more fleshed out. Goon, Franky and Buzzard are left with anywhere to go at the end of this book and for my money, Powell’s set himself up nicely to do even more interesting things in future books. “The Goon” continues to be Dark Horse’s best series going and “Calamity of Conscience” is a brilliant book. Highly recommended for fans of Goon and if you’re not a reader, go back to “Nothin’ But Misery” and find out why this series is so amazing.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goon fights Labrazio and Mr Wicker. Buzzard and the Zombie Priest warp up their conflict. My issue with The Goon Year continues here. It's a bit of a mess, lots of action and different conflicts with serious tones, goofy tones. Mostly serious in this volume with lots of fighting and we get a conclusion to the stories that got introduced in Chinatown.

Overall I found volume 7-9 to a be a step-down in quality. Great artwork but a really messy storyline that didn't quite hook me.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powell is the only Writer/Artist to increase in quality that is already at the top of any book.

[Geoff Derks · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Volume 8 (Those That Be Damned) falling just below my expectations, Volume 9 hits it out of the park. Eric Powell's best writing since Chinatown!

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4 of 5 for a standard portion of high-quality Goon)
This book is again more serious, there are more action and drama. The art - that's great as usual Power is a great artist and with Steward's colours it looks just perfect. The story is as usual so nothing surprising happens in means of how it's composed and told, but it still works fine. I don't know what else to point out. Did'ya liked that Goon? Here! More of that Goon!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say what hasn't already been said - by me or by youse others who read this book series?

I can't get enough of the Goon - not just the humorous sidebars and exaggerated staging in the fight scenes, but the surprising pathos we see building in our hero.

I'm jumping right into book 10 next.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply love the Goon. While many series can become tiresome to me after five or six volumes, the Goon is always hilarious and emotional. I always want more!!!

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review won't be simply for this, volume nine in the series, but for the entire Goon series. Rest assured, the entire run deserves all five stars. The series defies comparison and description. The best statement that fits both qualifications that I ever ran into was (paraphrasing), "Sin City filtered through Popeye." Each volume is such a perfect mix of humor, horror, and drama that I could never before have imagined being done right. Volume 9 is supposedly the end of the series; but, with and ending as fittingly inconclusive as it had, I'm hoping that there is more Goon in my future.

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun is gone, serious stuff is happening now. Echoes of the events from previous book still lingers around. First two or three chapters it looked, like nothing is really happening and story will not stick together, but ending is amazing, true calamity. Old character returns, and sadness is dripping from each page, pushing Goon further into the torment... Although I'm missing the fun part and all that one liners, serious depressing tone also works well.

[Dax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, the Goon is just the worst with dames. The interesting thing about them is the fact that they leave but always come back. Come back to heap chaos, guilt, soul wrenching sadness, and show just how messed up Goon's life is. He should of chosen happiness. Everyone should of left that god forsaken town.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labrazio has been resurrected and has gathered some powerful allies that hate the Goon. The Buzzard uses the priest's name to command him to help Goon and Labrazio is defeated, but a few people from the Goon's side are lost in the struggle.

This arc has a truly sad ending. It seems that no matter what he does, the Goon is stuck in a circle of destruction that he can't escape.

[Adam Šilhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mám na Goonovi rád to míchání vážného s vtipným. Když tam vtipná složka není, tak je prostě slabší.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirna and Isabella meeting each other for the first time goes as poorly as we should have expected. What would that photo have awakened in Goon? I guess we'll never know. The momentum continues in this issue and it continues to be very serious.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Goon: Calamity of Conscience (volume 9) was an entertaining read, not only because it was an Eric Powell graphic novel, but because of the writing and art. The storyline is a continuation of the previous Goon graphic novel, where the Goon claims war on Labrazio. An epic battle ensues between the Goon and Labrazio, which, supposedly, ends with Labrazio's death. The Buzzard also takes on a woky; the kids from The McGregg Home for the Illegitimate, Wayward, and Homicidal also add a new member to their ranks, a boy who's a werewolf; the Goon once again battles the Wicker Man; Bella returns; and so much more happens in this exciting graphic novel. Looking forward to reading the next Goon graphic novel in the series, The Goon: Death's Greedy Comeuppance (volume 10).

[David Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid Goon and a nice end to a storyline. The usual craziness is here of course - sometimes a bit overdrawn, the kiddy bullies arc is a bit meh and I did not smile once during it. The "serious storylines" are a mixed bunch: I really liked the part with Nameless Priest and Mother and ancient demons and whatever, Goon´s was really too fast and basically had no development or really interesting characters, being just one massive fight with a lot of people running around and giving cryptic hints. Felt maybe even rushed.

However, did I feel good after reading? Oh hell yeah. Goon is still so unique mix of weird, scary and crazy that I loved it.
(also, very much looking forward to reading the rest of it in Library editions. Missed the oversized art a bit)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this volume since I enjoyed the other 8 so much, but I found this one very underwhelming. There are 3 stories going on at the same time, yet not much happens. It felt like there were a lot of fluff panels (action with no impact on the story). I literally flipped through it in 20 minutes because the dialog was so sparse, and not in a "wow the images tell the story" kind of way. I feel that 9 volumes in, there should also be a little summary or "The story so far..." because there are plot lines referenced in this volume that I just can't recall.

The art is very nice as always, but the story is just not there.

[Jarlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

considering how flat out BRILLIANT volumes 7 and 8 were, this last volume of the Return of Labrazio saga was....a bit underwhelming. the story moved a head at a faster pace, dramatic moments were quick and emotionally/dramatically rushed, and the ending/wrap up was arbitrarilly started and wrapped up too quickly. it still held a great amount of eeriness and modern mythology, but it got the sense that Powell was kind of over telling this story and wanted to move on to a less epic, more classic Goon stories. that attitude has made me over the Labrazio saga as well. what a shame.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powell's artwork is consistently amazing, but I don't have much to say about the Labrazio storyline covering volumes 7 through 9 of The Goon. It feels like Powell wanted to take another whack at characters he introduced earlier in the book when his storytelling wasn't quite as polished, but was much funnier.

[Jonathan Schildbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the stuff I love from 'The Goon'--even if it is rather involved with numerous backstories, along with multiple resurrected characters in various forms. It's the dark, disturbing vein of the comic with mob violence, monsters, lost love, vengeance, and the occult--although not necessarily in that order.

[Chris Lins · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

I did not like how they treated merle's kid. I miss the other swamp lurk.

Things webt sour in this issue and dont like that. Im sure it is good for the story, ad its leading up to a good climax, but i didnt like it.

I trust powel. But i didnt like it.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this--very twisted, funny and oddly touching. Great old school vibe. This is the third part of a trilogy and I have not gotten the others but I enjoyed this anyway.

[Hanussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Další emočně i akčně vypjatý Goon, u kterého si člověk nevydechne, dokud ho nedočte.

[Dingle (Joker) McShimwad · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's wild how miserable and horrific these comedy books are

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for 15 volumes binged over three days

I don't know how I missed this during it's initial run, but - small favors - now I got to enjoy it with no waiting.
For such a long run there is surprisingly little difference in quality, occasionally dipping to excellent from exceptional and dragging - as most tales do - when it moves away from the episodic and into an ongoing tale.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Labrazio story comes to a crushing end. These last few volumes continue to get pretty dark. Hopefully some more humorous days are ahead and we can mix some laughter in with the crying and heartbreak. Regardless, I still dig this book and plan on jumping right into the next one.

[Seb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Chinatown story but I wouldn't say the romance is the strongest thing about it, so I wasn't particularly invested here

[Orrin Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I said it before, but it's true here as well: I like the Goon as well as the next guy, and the first few books are the top of the heap, but ever since Chinatown things haven't been the same, and I just don't feel like the Goon can really support this weighty narrative arc thing that it's been trying to do.

Powell's art is still good enough that I'll keep reading, and hopefully now that the "Return of Labrazio" storyline is done things will pick back up, but these last few volumes have been let-downs for me.

[Arlomisty · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was Ok... wasn't too impressed by the storyline... I picked it up at the library and was just curious... I kind of like the art style, but the problem was I needed to read the previous books to figure out what was going on. I didn't realize that this was volume 9...I will probably try and pick up the first couple volumes to see if I like it any better.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

More goon-ish-ness. Mayhem and madness and messiness.