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The Curse
In 2009, cartoonist extraordinaire and internet sensation Mike Norton (Battlepug, Double Feature Comics: The Answer) took the "24-Hour Comic" Challenge and created the pug-tastic comic The Curse over the course of a single day! He returned with sequels spawned during "24-Hour Comic" events in 2010 and 2011. Now all three tales of pirates and pugs are available in print in this new collection.
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2012
23 people want to read
About the author
Mike Norton
561 books41 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Mike Norton has been working in comics for 10 years now, gaining recognition for projects such as The Waiting Place and Jason and the Argobots. In 2001, he became Art Director for Devil's Due Publishing where he drew the first Voltron mini-series. In 2005, he went freelance and has since made a name for himself working on books like Queen and Country, Gravity, Runaways, All-New Atom and Green Arrow/Black Canary.
He is also very, very tall.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Mike Norton has been working in comics for 10 years now, gaining recognition for projects such as The Waiting Place and Jason and the Argobots. In 2001, he became Art Director for Devil's Due Publishing where he drew the first Voltron mini-series. In 2005, he went freelance and has since made a name for himself working on books like Queen and Country, Gravity, Runaways, All-New Atom and Green Arrow/Black Canary.
He is also very, very tall.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 31, 2012
Just when it seems that most fictional monsters have been 'defanged' - emo vampires sparkle, werewolves help bring magical miscreants to justice, zombies open detective agencies - Mike Norton, happily, brings us a new threat - werepirates - one bite and the victim becomes a pirate, eye patch, peg leg and all. Scarey? You betcha! I mean, just the thought of thousands of one-legged werepirates baying sea shanties at the full moon is enough to shiver me timbers.
And, if that's not enough, there are some absolutely hysterical references to '80s cult film, Labyrinth, and its rock star leading man which are, well, huge and hugely funny.
So, for those of us who miss the good ol' days when monsters were monstrous and hair rockers wore codpieces, Mike Norton's graphic novel, The Curse, is the perfect antidote to wussie monster burnout.
And, if that's not enough, there are some absolutely hysterical references to '80s cult film, Labyrinth, and its rock star leading man which are, well, huge and hugely funny.
So, for those of us who miss the good ol' days when monsters were monstrous and hair rockers wore codpieces, Mike Norton's graphic novel, The Curse, is the perfect antidote to wussie monster burnout.
November 2, 2012
Reason for Reading: It sounded funny.
The first page (pg. 3) which has three speech bubbles has five vulgar words and at this point I was wondering what I was reading. By page six I'd read so much profanity I was disgusted and about to close the book for good but then came page seven. I have got to admit that when the pirate jumped out from the bushes and attacked the jerk boyfriend biting him on the arm and running away, I found this highly amusing and unexpected that I had to keep reading. Once I'd finished the first of three stories, it seemed pointless to stop reading an 80 page book now that I'd got this far. The second story was highly amusing with David Bowie's Labyrinth character as the main antagonist. I giggled when he was referred to as "Kajagoogoo" and "the chick from Duran Duran". Third story didn't do much for me. So, yeah, this was rather hilarious in parts but the language was most foul indeed and I'd never read anything by this author again. The publisher's recommended age is for teens but I'd never let any teen of mine read it unless I was OK with them talking like a hardened gang member. Honestly, there is absolutely no reason for the continuous vile language used in this book. Not very impressed, though I admit the humour tickled my funny bone.
The first page (pg. 3) which has three speech bubbles has five vulgar words and at this point I was wondering what I was reading. By page six I'd read so much profanity I was disgusted and about to close the book for good but then came page seven. I have got to admit that when the pirate jumped out from the bushes and attacked the jerk boyfriend biting him on the arm and running away, I found this highly amusing and unexpected that I had to keep reading. Once I'd finished the first of three stories, it seemed pointless to stop reading an 80 page book now that I'd got this far. The second story was highly amusing with David Bowie's Labyrinth character as the main antagonist. I giggled when he was referred to as "Kajagoogoo" and "the chick from Duran Duran". Third story didn't do much for me. So, yeah, this was rather hilarious in parts but the language was most foul indeed and I'd never read anything by this author again. The publisher's recommended age is for teens but I'd never let any teen of mine read it unless I was OK with them talking like a hardened gang member. Honestly, there is absolutely no reason for the continuous vile language used in this book. Not very impressed, though I admit the humour tickled my funny bone.
March 25, 2013
Well that was hilarious, inventive and just plain a lot of fun. No reason to hesitate reading this one - it's over before you even realise how screwed up this is going to make your mind, but you'll end up with a smile plastered on your now permanently-disfigured face.
The fact that this is the result of three stints at a "make-a-whole-24-page-comic-in-24-hours" event is a nice little kicker to put this into insta classics territory. No, not like classic/classy literature - quite the opposite of classy in fact. More like emphasis on the "insta" - it's reminiscent of Instant Cup-o-Soup - no nutritional value whatsoever but still fills a primal need that you'll feel guilty about later as you spill your regrets to your SuperEgo.
The fact that this is the result of three stints at a "make-a-whole-24-page-comic-in-24-hours" event is a nice little kicker to put this into insta classics territory. No, not like classic/classy literature - quite the opposite of classy in fact. More like emphasis on the "insta" - it's reminiscent of Instant Cup-o-Soup - no nutritional value whatsoever but still fills a primal need that you'll feel guilty about later as you spill your regrets to your SuperEgo.
August 8, 2012
This is not a graphic novel for children. With that said, this was a lot of fun to read. The characters are stupid and foul mouthed and the situations are ridiculous which makes this great fun. There are three stories centered around a pug that seems to be less smart than you’d think based on the fact that he’s the “hero”.
This is the utmost in juvenile potty sort of humor and you have to be rather savvy to pop culture to get all the references (which made it really funny). I’m not sure anyone younger than those who are well versed in the 80’s will get the second story but that just makes it more fun for us old people.
It’s a quick read but one you’d turn to again and again.
This is the utmost in juvenile potty sort of humor and you have to be rather savvy to pop culture to get all the references (which made it really funny). I’m not sure anyone younger than those who are well versed in the 80’s will get the second story but that just makes it more fun for us old people.
It’s a quick read but one you’d turn to again and again.
March 7, 2012
Mike Norton has challenged himself to a 24 hour comic event every year. This title is a compilation of years 2009 through 2011. The illustrations are fun and I just love the pug (maybe because my parents have one). How ever, the titles are bound together and while they do have a theme, they do not flow as well together as I think they should. Overall, not bad, but VERY adult. This is not a title to pick up for your kids.
January 23, 2012
Completely hilarious graphic novel about a pug who's also a pirate - a pugrate?
Short but funny stories and the artwork, while not fantastically well done, is still good. I mean, anything's better than the crap that would come from me. I like easy to read comics and this is definitely one, pick it up and give it a read. If nothing else, you'll get a good giggle.
Short but funny stories and the artwork, while not fantastically well done, is still good. I mean, anything's better than the crap that would come from me. I like easy to read comics and this is definitely one, pick it up and give it a read. If nothing else, you'll get a good giggle.
February 8, 2014
A curse, a pug, pirates, pirahnakeets, Labyrinth, ninjas, zombies, demons, vampires, the human centipug... This graphic novel had everything in it. I actually enjoyed the insanity of the story. Loved the cussing.
January 26, 2013
A collection of three 24-hour comics. The stories are (loosely connected), but mostly they are just silly. Plus, "Labyrinth" references!
October 28, 2013
I would've enjoyed this more if it was just the pictures. The dialogue was most foul, and not clever foul, just foul foul. The pug was awesome and adorable though.
December 29, 2016
So not BattlePug. The drawings were great, the first comic was interesting, the rest was not.
November 7, 2012
Ehhh, I just read this because of the pug on the front.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews