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Megg, Mogg & Owl #2
Megg & Mogg In Amsterdam
Megg the witch, Mogg the cat, their friend Owl, and Werewolf Jones struggle unsuccessfully with their depression, drug use, sexuality, poverty, lack of ambition, and their complex feelings about each other. It’s a laff riot! Megg and Mogg decide to take a trip to Amsterdam for some quality couple time, although the trip gets off to a rocky start when they forget their antidepressants. They need Owl to come and help them save their relationship. But why does he have a suitcase full of glass dildos? And what will they do when they realize that the housesitting Werewolf Jones has turned their apartment into a “f#@k zone”? Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam collects all of Simon Hanselmann’s contributions to Vice.com, the Ignatz Award-nominated short story “St. Owl’s Bay,” and other surprises that will add additional color and background for fans of Megahex.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2016
28 people are currently reading
1017 people want to read
About the author
Simon Hanselmann
80 books676 followersSimon Hanselmann is an Australian-born cartoonist best known for his Megg, Mogg, and Owl series. Hanselmann has been nominated four times for an Ignatz Award, four times for an Eisner Award, once for the Harvey Award and won Best Series at Angouleme 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 2, 2016
Dude! I just read the latest stoner comic, Megg and Mogg go to Amsterdam! This is by now a familiar comic trope: Hope and Crosby go to Mandalay (1940s, dude); Beavis and Butthead go to the . . . opera? National Lampoon Family Vacation: Europe Edition. The idea is to take a familiar set of comicically dysfunctional characters and put them in an exotic setting. As John Candy once said at The Academy Awards, staring out at the crowd, in horrified recognition, “Dude, we don’t belong here!” And in such movies, part of the frustrating fun is the hapless struggle just to get to the there to which they don't belong.
So in this 160 page raunchy stoner comic with lots of short stories, Megg, the green stoner drunk witch (our main character anti-hero) and her stoner drunk boyfriend Mogg, a cat, their friends Werewolf Jones and Owl, go to decadent Amsterdam, but—because they are stoned and drunk and only survive on pizza--take more than 120 pages to even get to Amsterdam and then they only go there to get stoned, duh. It happens much later in the book, and while longer, has very little to do with Amsterdam.
The first 120 pages of this volume are largely the same as the first Megg and Mogg book, they all drunkenly and dysfunctionally abuse each other and especially the stuffy Owl—He’s WE, we have moral and aesthetic standards, we would never do the stupid stuff Megg and Mogg and Werewolf Jones do—drinking Red Bull non stop, listening to loud music of various kinds, going camping to basically just get drunk, playing non-stop video games, walking around naked, “hanging out” (which is basically watching tv and getting stoned), having sex, fighting, and some things too disgusting to mention here that you will want to know about and reviewers like Karen and Arthur Graham will tell you about, I promise. Some of it is raunchier than the first volume of their stories, they really cross lines even for me. Megg’s friend Booger adds to the mix to complicate things. Relationship issues seem to abound.
In short, this is an urban apartment living thing, maybe basically early twenties, no apparent jobs, no sense of responsibility, just getting stoned and behaving badly. This is a Beavis and Butthead for a new generation, or if you are still just hanging out and getting stoned as you were when Beavis and Butthead came out, it is basically just more of the same. Bad behavior played for laughs. And I think this stuff, for what it is, if you see it in that light, is pretty funny, actually. Same ol', same ol'.
UNTIL!!! And I have to tell you or some of you will not read Megg and Mogg at all, because it sounds so far just too meh: Both Megg and Mogg are being medicated for psychiatric issues. Serious problems not played just for laughs! Until we find this out, it is ONLY a stoner comic, but when we find out--and the focus here is on Megg’s depression in particular—suddenly these goofily vomitous and drooling creatures become real, they enter a dimension most followers of this comic possibly did not anticipate, and by which Hanselmann might actually lose them—they become real “people” with problems.
When they do become real serious “human beings,” this comic, a New York Times bestseller to the college and lost Y generation crowd, might actually be seen as literature, as something deeper than just kicks, and sure enough, a rave review from no less than the literary standard The Paris Review actually on the back cover says as much. And they are right, these Paris Review types! Hanselmann is entering new territory! There is plenty to offend you here, trust me, which is a warning to those easily offended and encouragement to those who love the line-crossing dimensions of comics. Hanselmann is taking you to a different place; will you follow? I say pretty much yes. Because I sort of like the offensive bad behavior funny stuff (though I am not in the target audience for the humor, clearly) AND I like potential for the serious stuff even more! I was (almost) totally and (pretty much) happily surprised, dude.
So in this 160 page raunchy stoner comic with lots of short stories, Megg, the green stoner drunk witch (our main character anti-hero) and her stoner drunk boyfriend Mogg, a cat, their friends Werewolf Jones and Owl, go to decadent Amsterdam, but—because they are stoned and drunk and only survive on pizza--take more than 120 pages to even get to Amsterdam and then they only go there to get stoned, duh. It happens much later in the book, and while longer, has very little to do with Amsterdam.
The first 120 pages of this volume are largely the same as the first Megg and Mogg book, they all drunkenly and dysfunctionally abuse each other and especially the stuffy Owl—He’s WE, we have moral and aesthetic standards, we would never do the stupid stuff Megg and Mogg and Werewolf Jones do—drinking Red Bull non stop, listening to loud music of various kinds, going camping to basically just get drunk, playing non-stop video games, walking around naked, “hanging out” (which is basically watching tv and getting stoned), having sex, fighting, and some things too disgusting to mention here that you will want to know about and reviewers like Karen and Arthur Graham will tell you about, I promise. Some of it is raunchier than the first volume of their stories, they really cross lines even for me. Megg’s friend Booger adds to the mix to complicate things. Relationship issues seem to abound.
In short, this is an urban apartment living thing, maybe basically early twenties, no apparent jobs, no sense of responsibility, just getting stoned and behaving badly. This is a Beavis and Butthead for a new generation, or if you are still just hanging out and getting stoned as you were when Beavis and Butthead came out, it is basically just more of the same. Bad behavior played for laughs. And I think this stuff, for what it is, if you see it in that light, is pretty funny, actually. Same ol', same ol'.
UNTIL!!! And I have to tell you or some of you will not read Megg and Mogg at all, because it sounds so far just too meh: Both Megg and Mogg are being medicated for psychiatric issues. Serious problems not played just for laughs! Until we find this out, it is ONLY a stoner comic, but when we find out--and the focus here is on Megg’s depression in particular—suddenly these goofily vomitous and drooling creatures become real, they enter a dimension most followers of this comic possibly did not anticipate, and by which Hanselmann might actually lose them—they become real “people” with problems.
When they do become real serious “human beings,” this comic, a New York Times bestseller to the college and lost Y generation crowd, might actually be seen as literature, as something deeper than just kicks, and sure enough, a rave review from no less than the literary standard The Paris Review actually on the back cover says as much. And they are right, these Paris Review types! Hanselmann is entering new territory! There is plenty to offend you here, trust me, which is a warning to those easily offended and encouragement to those who love the line-crossing dimensions of comics. Hanselmann is taking you to a different place; will you follow? I say pretty much yes. Because I sort of like the offensive bad behavior funny stuff (though I am not in the target audience for the humor, clearly) AND I like potential for the serious stuff even more! I was (almost) totally and (pretty much) happily surprised, dude.
May 4, 2016
I’d hoped Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam would be as funny as Simon Hanselmann’s first book, Megahex, but it turned out to be a big of a letdown unfortunately.
At the end of Megahex Owl decides enough is enough and he’s not gonna put up with the abuse from Megg, Mogg, Werewolf Jones, and everyone else - he’s gonna move out. But what I realised reading Amsterdam is that no changes actually stick in this series; it’s like a sitcom where everything resets back to their original setting with each new story.
So Owl never moved out and none of the developments in this book - Megg and Mogg breaking up, Werewolf Jones going to jail, Megg and Booger taking their friendship to the next level - never go anywhere which is a bit unsatisfying.
I liked the story where Megg gets sick of being around boys all the time, decides to hang with just the girls and gets sick of their feminine ways, realising she likes being coarse and slobbish. I’ve had female friends who’ve had similar experiences so it felt real as well as amusing. Megg’s gotten a lot nastier though since the last book - here she’s fucking on the floor of a carpark while eating a hotdog and taking a sneaky shit on the subway bench!
And, while I liked him a lot in the first book, I ended up loathing Werewolf Jones in this one. His torture of Owl was too much. We learn he has a couple of really fucked up kids - whom he gives drugs and pimps one of them out in cam-shows despite only being 10 - who smash up Owl’s beak twice; Werewolf Jones fucks up Owl’s room by turning his closet into a sauna; and he keeps the harassment up even when Owl moves out of the house into a hotel for some peace and quiet!
Werewolf Jones basically went from being outrageous and funny to sad and annoying to just being a loser fuckup who screws up everything and everyone around him and should kill himself immediately - not the best development of a character. That said, the only story I laughed out loud on was Qatar Felt Hat Expo when Werewolf Jones tries smuggling his kids onto a flight in black bags and loses it when he’s confronted by the TSA (“Cleanest pooper in the business”).
Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam is the longest story here and it’s also the best. Megg and Mogg have a terrible time in Amsterdam after leaving their antidepressants behind but Owl saves the day when he flies out to join them. Meanwhile back home a desperate Werewolf Jones breaks into their empty house and turns it into a Fuck Zone where he can spread his herpes! This one shows Hanselmann’s skill as a longform storyteller rather than someone who can just do one-page gag strips (which make up a lot of this book).
Otherwise, the majority of the stories here are just kinda meh. They’re not bad comics - Hanselmann is very skilled technically - but they’re unmemorable and unfunny. Art-wise, it’s more of the same of the first book. Grid-layouts, a blend of different colouring styles from pencils to paints, and the occasional trippy, visually interesting strip like when Mogg has a dream.
Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam and Other Stories is worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series or are into stoner comedy comics, and there are some really good stories mixed in amidst the majority of mediocre stuff, but don’t expect the same level of hilarity that was in Megahex.
At the end of Megahex Owl decides enough is enough and he’s not gonna put up with the abuse from Megg, Mogg, Werewolf Jones, and everyone else - he’s gonna move out. But what I realised reading Amsterdam is that no changes actually stick in this series; it’s like a sitcom where everything resets back to their original setting with each new story.
So Owl never moved out and none of the developments in this book - Megg and Mogg breaking up, Werewolf Jones going to jail, Megg and Booger taking their friendship to the next level - never go anywhere which is a bit unsatisfying.
I liked the story where Megg gets sick of being around boys all the time, decides to hang with just the girls and gets sick of their feminine ways, realising she likes being coarse and slobbish. I’ve had female friends who’ve had similar experiences so it felt real as well as amusing. Megg’s gotten a lot nastier though since the last book - here she’s fucking on the floor of a carpark while eating a hotdog and taking a sneaky shit on the subway bench!
And, while I liked him a lot in the first book, I ended up loathing Werewolf Jones in this one. His torture of Owl was too much. We learn he has a couple of really fucked up kids - whom he gives drugs and pimps one of them out in cam-shows despite only being 10 - who smash up Owl’s beak twice; Werewolf Jones fucks up Owl’s room by turning his closet into a sauna; and he keeps the harassment up even when Owl moves out of the house into a hotel for some peace and quiet!
Werewolf Jones basically went from being outrageous and funny to sad and annoying to just being a loser fuckup who screws up everything and everyone around him and should kill himself immediately - not the best development of a character. That said, the only story I laughed out loud on was Qatar Felt Hat Expo when Werewolf Jones tries smuggling his kids onto a flight in black bags and loses it when he’s confronted by the TSA (“Cleanest pooper in the business”).
Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam is the longest story here and it’s also the best. Megg and Mogg have a terrible time in Amsterdam after leaving their antidepressants behind but Owl saves the day when he flies out to join them. Meanwhile back home a desperate Werewolf Jones breaks into their empty house and turns it into a Fuck Zone where he can spread his herpes! This one shows Hanselmann’s skill as a longform storyteller rather than someone who can just do one-page gag strips (which make up a lot of this book).
Otherwise, the majority of the stories here are just kinda meh. They’re not bad comics - Hanselmann is very skilled technically - but they’re unmemorable and unfunny. Art-wise, it’s more of the same of the first book. Grid-layouts, a blend of different colouring styles from pencils to paints, and the occasional trippy, visually interesting strip like when Mogg has a dream.
Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam and Other Stories is worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series or are into stoner comedy comics, and there are some really good stories mixed in amidst the majority of mediocre stuff, but don’t expect the same level of hilarity that was in Megahex.
December 28, 2016
Megg the witch and her feline lover Mogg, along with their Owl roommate and squatter friend Werewolf Jones lead a bleak and depressing life of squalor, depression, drugs and empty sex. Not really much fun in the book, not really much fun to read. It reminded me of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers without the joie de vivre. The kind of read that leaves a taint on the brain that a shower can't clean.
June 23, 2024
As sad and disturbing as it is funny, it peels back the psychological layers of burn outs and all their apathy, addiction, sexuality, joy and its absence. The bestiality I’m still figuring out…
November 24, 2019
I never quite know how to describe Simon Hanselmann’s work. Megg is a witch, or at least dresses as one with the traditional black dress and black pointy hat and everything. Mogg is a cat. They're a couple. They share an apartment with Owl, who seems to be the only one of the group with a steady job. He’s probably a little too uptight for his own good, but with Megg and Mogg (and Werewolf Jones) around, anyone would seem uptight. Jones frequently barges in on them after being kicked out of his own place and/or just because he can. There's a lot of sex and drugs and other shenanigans that goes on, especially involving Jones whose appetite for hedonism is awesomely frightening. Except for the drugs and heinous behavior, it all reminds me of my student apartment days back in college and early adulthood--rundown apartments, tattered furniture, being shocked by a roommate's behavior, irregular sleep schedules, coming home from work to find a party in progress in the living room … that sort of thing.
Despite their often cruel behavior toward one another, Hanselmann’s characters do feel affection and loyalty as well. Their friendships may be dysfunctional, but they are nonetheless real. I find myself appalled by their behavior on one page, and touched by it on the next. Despite the sex and drugs and gross outs, it's not as juvenile as such material normally gets. I guess that what I’m trying to say it that it's better and more tasteful than it may appear at first glance. I’m constantly surprised by how much I like it.
Despite their often cruel behavior toward one another, Hanselmann’s characters do feel affection and loyalty as well. Their friendships may be dysfunctional, but they are nonetheless real. I find myself appalled by their behavior on one page, and touched by it on the next. Despite the sex and drugs and gross outs, it's not as juvenile as such material normally gets. I guess that what I’m trying to say it that it's better and more tasteful than it may appear at first glance. I’m constantly surprised by how much I like it.
July 22, 2016
A graphic novel (emphasis on graphic, at times) about a subculture who seem incapable of existing unless every craving is instantly satisfied, every hole is perpetually plugged, and every gratification is immediate. A modern take on the Freak Brothers, with apparent R. Crumb, Winnie the Pooh and Broom Hilda influences. Strangely intriguing, and at times was able to feel intense empathy for the characters. Can't stop thinking about it since I read it.
August 10, 2017
this is probably the most depressing thing I've ever read and my favourite book is the fucking BELL JAR so that is saying quite a bit. also there is a part where a witch gives a cat a rim job and that is not even the most upsetting thing that happens.
October 1, 2022
This is kind of a mixed bag. I'm a Simon Haselmann fan so it's always a treat to read Megg, Mogg and Owl misadventures and bad trips (literally to Amsterdam in this case); still this volume brings nothing new to table, some stories are fun, some are forgettable. They were published in zines and other forms so this collection is an anthology. Amsterdam, the main story, and Drama are by far two of the best tales in the book, both of them dealing with the complicated relationship of Megg and Mogg, things are falling apart slowly, they'll eventually get to a breaking point in Bad Gateway, so this is middle of the road material. Fun, but not essential.
January 30, 2020
A little inconsistent but still lots to like in this stoner comedy. I enjoyed Megahex a bit more.
January 31, 2024
Bojack Horseman meets Horny Centrelink
March 11, 2017
This is what Kelly thinks of everyone who does drugs and I don't know enough to know that he's entirely wrong. Like not everyone, but people who do lots of drugs.
Also if you think of Seinfeld as this with the drugs taken out I think it (Seinfeld) makes more sense.
Also if you think of Seinfeld as this with the drugs taken out I think it (Seinfeld) makes more sense.
March 6, 2023
There is not much about this books that appeals to me straight off - I don't love gross-out humor. I don't love drug humor. I don't love nihilism - but something about the humanity of these characters (ironic for them being a witch, a cat, a wolf, an owl, and a sort of booger golem) really draws me in. I can feel the existential fears, anxieties, and sorrows that draw them to these places. While - hopefully - I don't know anyone *too* similar to these characters, I can see bits of my friends and myself in how they interact. Anyone who has spent any time around drug or "alt" cultures will see a lot they recognize in these stories. Both the idiosyncrasies and deep pathology of these dead-end 30-somethings has a universal relatability, because Hanselmann depicts them with such realism. An eye for how people think and talk and react. A focus on small moments and tiny expressions, pauses, gestures, facial expressions that a lesser artist might miss when observing humanity.
On top of that, the art is clear, bright, and expressive. Hanselmann is always aiming his camera at the right spot, in the right direction, showing enough detail to make the story clear and make the world feel fully lived in. Even throwaway sight gags are thoughtful, and informed by the characters and the world.
Also, the book is just fucking funny. Despite being gross and druggy and a nagging feeling that it may indulge a bit in offensiveness-for-offensiveness' sake, Hanselmann is just good at goofs.
On top of that, the art is clear, bright, and expressive. Hanselmann is always aiming his camera at the right spot, in the right direction, showing enough detail to make the story clear and make the world feel fully lived in. Even throwaway sight gags are thoughtful, and informed by the characters and the world.
Also, the book is just fucking funny. Despite being gross and druggy and a nagging feeling that it may indulge a bit in offensiveness-for-offensiveness' sake, Hanselmann is just good at goofs.
November 19, 2018
El primer tomo de las aventuras de Megg, Mogg y Búho supuso para mí una revelación total, y reírme como un loco con cada viñeta. Luego vinieron dos entregas que además de tener un tono más profundo, creo que no eran tan frescos en su humor. Con “Melancolía” he vuelto a tener la carcajada tonta casi al nivel del primero, de reírme yo solo en el metro con estupideces supremas de estos personajes que alcanzan un nivel increíble de ser cafres. Este montón de historias cortas está entre lo más inspirado de Simon Hanselmann, que lo remata con una más larga e intensa pero que no baja el nivel.
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July 30, 2025Depression personified. When I first opened this book I thought very little of it. It starts out as a “ha ha dude weed!” book, but slowly transcends its obnoxious opening by use of a subtle reflection of depression and the environment of depressives. Now subtlety is not the first word that comes to mind when reading Meg and Mog with its abrasive presentation. Every character - excluding Owl - is a drug addicted, sexual nightmare. It’s abrasive in its appearance but holds a weighted subtext.
Most work I see that explores the workings of drug addiction and depression tends to inadvertently glorify it whereas Meg and Mog, with its front effacing portrayal, present drugs exactly as they are. As a way of avoiding the individuals who keep you in it. Avoiding your environment, your family, and your life. Bodies crumble under the weight of addiction as mood swings become the norm. Every feeling is a stranger and scary because you don’t have the tools to maneuver them.
While this book is one of many in the series I don’t intend to return to it. It’s garish and not good for the soul.
Most work I see that explores the workings of drug addiction and depression tends to inadvertently glorify it whereas Meg and Mog, with its front effacing portrayal, present drugs exactly as they are. As a way of avoiding the individuals who keep you in it. Avoiding your environment, your family, and your life. Bodies crumble under the weight of addiction as mood swings become the norm. Every feeling is a stranger and scary because you don’t have the tools to maneuver them.
While this book is one of many in the series I don’t intend to return to it. It’s garish and not good for the soul.
April 5, 2023
Second Printing = August 2016
It's so gross that, even though I've lived that sort of life for over a decade, I was disgusted. But in entertainment fashion- I enjoyed the gruesomeness and the accuracy in which he presented it because he has those mindsets down.
The art is perfectly suited!
It's so gross that, even though I've lived that sort of life for over a decade, I was disgusted. But in entertainment fashion- I enjoyed the gruesomeness and the accuracy in which he presented it because he has those mindsets down.
The art is perfectly suited!
January 3, 2018
This really wasn't what I was expecting. I'm not sure what I was expecting - it's just surprising that a collection of gross stoner strips has seemingly become Fantagraphics' flagship title.
This was my introduction to the ongoing antics of Megg & Mogg.
Simon Hanselmann's artwork is really nice. I didn't mind the varying qualities of the strips either. One of the stories was rendered in just pencils, and seemed unfinished. These were all collected from various publications, so it makes sense that the artwork would vary.
I typically enjoy stoner comedy, but I find it uneasy when it crosses over from fun-time, smoking pot to something a bit darker. Megg & Mogg certainly does that. It's very cynical and disgusting. In no way would anyone want to lead their lifestyle.
The book starts off with a few stories centered around Owl's relationship in the gang. He's the outsider - the one person in the group that seems to desire order, progress, and a little cleanliness. Unfortunately for him his only friends, Megg & Mogg just like to smoke weed, stay up all night and eat pizza in the early morning before bed.
The extended family includes the despicable Werewolf Jones, a father of two who's bullying of Owl crosses the line numerous times. I enjoyed the story where Jones's kids break Owl's beak. In another, Megg & Mogg are disturbed by the dog shit all over Jones's yard - poop from his two anthropomorphic puppies.
The titular story comes near the end of the book but is the single longest story, and the best developed one too. I think I would have preferred it if the whole book was a single story. The comic strip formula drags on after the first couple, to be honest. Megg & Mogg ditch Owl and go to Amsterdam, but they forgot their anti-depressents and end up being miserable until Owl arrives.
This was my introduction to the ongoing antics of Megg & Mogg.
Simon Hanselmann's artwork is really nice. I didn't mind the varying qualities of the strips either. One of the stories was rendered in just pencils, and seemed unfinished. These were all collected from various publications, so it makes sense that the artwork would vary.
I typically enjoy stoner comedy, but I find it uneasy when it crosses over from fun-time, smoking pot to something a bit darker. Megg & Mogg certainly does that. It's very cynical and disgusting. In no way would anyone want to lead their lifestyle.
The book starts off with a few stories centered around Owl's relationship in the gang. He's the outsider - the one person in the group that seems to desire order, progress, and a little cleanliness. Unfortunately for him his only friends, Megg & Mogg just like to smoke weed, stay up all night and eat pizza in the early morning before bed.
The extended family includes the despicable Werewolf Jones, a father of two who's bullying of Owl crosses the line numerous times. I enjoyed the story where Jones's kids break Owl's beak. In another, Megg & Mogg are disturbed by the dog shit all over Jones's yard - poop from his two anthropomorphic puppies.
The titular story comes near the end of the book but is the single longest story, and the best developed one too. I think I would have preferred it if the whole book was a single story. The comic strip formula drags on after the first couple, to be honest. Megg & Mogg ditch Owl and go to Amsterdam, but they forgot their anti-depressents and end up being miserable until Owl arrives.
December 20, 2025
I saw this on the shelf at a friends flat-warming party the other day. Her boyfriend caught me eyeing it, and immediately came over to sit on the couch with me and rave about it. Another friend joined us, just as we got to the page where Megg eats her cat-boyfriends asshole through a candy-wrapper. Truly a conversation starter.
I ended up getting a CBZ version, the print version was so tiny I felt like a boomer, holding the thing up to my nose mid party, cat ass eating only a minor aside.
Amsterdam is very 2016. I think that's what drew me to it right away. I recognised parts of the disaster stoner flatshare life Megg and Mogg were living. Who hasn't eaten their fourth frozen pizza of the week with a hand that smells of come? Whose employed flatmate hasn't wished them dead? Who hasn't hated their local leftist queer friend-group and their Feelings(TM)?
But as I read the whole thing today, in bed and on week two of my thousandth weed detox, my unemployment years faaar behind me (thank fuck), I noticed it's not a celebration of the lifestyle (as Adventure Time and other cartoons of this era so obviously are) but a harsh look at the reality of always being out of it.
No one is doing well in this friend constellation. I liked the DIY origin of it all and the rigid square panel structure, but boy, what a depressing story. Made me real glad to be on the substance-quitting journey, even if it's taking longer than I'd like.
Everyone in this comic is an asshole. I found none of the jokes that funny and the way they treat Owl is bullshit. But art was good, and it did capture a very specific stoner gothic mood.
I ended up getting a CBZ version, the print version was so tiny I felt like a boomer, holding the thing up to my nose mid party, cat ass eating only a minor aside.
Amsterdam is very 2016. I think that's what drew me to it right away. I recognised parts of the disaster stoner flatshare life Megg and Mogg were living. Who hasn't eaten their fourth frozen pizza of the week with a hand that smells of come? Whose employed flatmate hasn't wished them dead? Who hasn't hated their local leftist queer friend-group and their Feelings(TM)?
But as I read the whole thing today, in bed and on week two of my thousandth weed detox, my unemployment years faaar behind me (thank fuck), I noticed it's not a celebration of the lifestyle (as Adventure Time and other cartoons of this era so obviously are) but a harsh look at the reality of always being out of it.
No one is doing well in this friend constellation. I liked the DIY origin of it all and the rigid square panel structure, but boy, what a depressing story. Made me real glad to be on the substance-quitting journey, even if it's taking longer than I'd like.
Everyone in this comic is an asshole. I found none of the jokes that funny and the way they treat Owl is bullshit. But art was good, and it did capture a very specific stoner gothic mood.
December 6, 2019
This comic is preposterous and dirty.
This comic is very funny and witty.
This comic has great character development.
This comic is not for everyone.
All true comments.
This comic is very funny and witty.
This comic has great character development.
This comic is not for everyone.
All true comments.
August 7, 2018
Four stars, not because I liked it that much, but because Hanselmann managed to get me even more depressed than I already was. All because of the antics of a cat-fucking witch and her cat boyfriend.
Every single person is a scumbag. All users and abusers and enablers. Even the kids? Even the kids.
The art is beautiful. Soft lines, amazing colors. Subdued psychedelic. The dialogues are too realistic. You just know that there are people that live their lives like this. From meth bender to meth bender. It made me feel a lot of sad feels.
Every single person is a scumbag. All users and abusers and enablers. Even the kids? Even the kids.
The art is beautiful. Soft lines, amazing colors. Subdued psychedelic. The dialogues are too realistic. You just know that there are people that live their lives like this. From meth bender to meth bender. It made me feel a lot of sad feels.
September 23, 2016
sadly relatable and hypnotizingly addictive
August 3, 2019
This fever dream of a series is odd, but I can appreciate it. A witch and a cat have an extremely odd interdependent relationship, an owl with "normal" tastes is shamed for being lame, and lots of glutton-like behaviors. The illustrations were the reason I picked this up, and for that reason alone I wasn't disappointed - although I don't see myself reaching for more.
January 3, 2022
I am quite a fan of the Meg and Mogg stories and will read whatever Simon Hanselmann publishes with them. This collection is just not as strong as the other ones. I think it's mostly due to the stories being so short.
October 23, 2025
Amsterdam es una buena historia, pero tiene poco o nada que ver con Amsterdam...podría ser Miami, Desamparados o Kingston. No me fascina que las historias más pequeñas no repercutan en la grande, les resta importancia y peso.
Entiendo el sitcom reset, pero baja los stakes de las situaciones...en mi humilde opinion
Entiendo el sitcom reset, pero baja los stakes de las situaciones...en mi humilde opinion
March 1, 2019
ReRead 1 March 2019
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Wow, what a follow-up! Taking place during the events of Megahex, Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam brings the same punches to the gut, the same perverse blend of gross-out humor, casual misanthropy, and crippling angst as that first installment, while bringing to bear a more subconscious, lurking dread that pervades the action of both books.
Delving deeper into the "romantic" relationship between Megg and Mogg, Hanselmann makes abundantly clear that, though an immediate problem may resolve, and everything may return to "normal", that normal may not be the healthiest circumstance, and doubts may certainly remain, and eat away.
Is the content at times too extreme? Possibly. As with Megahex, there were moments when I found myself about ready to gag, brought on by retching visuals and ghoulish dialogue. But is it necessary? That, I couldn't say. These characters are vile, made vile by those same extreme actions. And yet . . . you find yourself relating to them, in small ways. I find myself relating to them, small ways. And would I be thinking as hard about this book if I didn't identify with characters that made me want to vomit? Again, for now, I don't know.
Make no mistake, however: this book is fun. With all this talk of disgust and ennui, Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam succeeds to engage and entertain. Whether this is despite its extreme nature, or because of it, I leave that up to your own tastes and discretion. Me? I can't get enough of the work of SImon Hanselmann, and we'll be reading this series, in its entirety, many times over.
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Wow, what a follow-up! Taking place during the events of Megahex, Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam brings the same punches to the gut, the same perverse blend of gross-out humor, casual misanthropy, and crippling angst as that first installment, while bringing to bear a more subconscious, lurking dread that pervades the action of both books.
Delving deeper into the "romantic" relationship between Megg and Mogg, Hanselmann makes abundantly clear that, though an immediate problem may resolve, and everything may return to "normal", that normal may not be the healthiest circumstance, and doubts may certainly remain, and eat away.
Is the content at times too extreme? Possibly. As with Megahex, there were moments when I found myself about ready to gag, brought on by retching visuals and ghoulish dialogue. But is it necessary? That, I couldn't say. These characters are vile, made vile by those same extreme actions. And yet . . . you find yourself relating to them, in small ways. I find myself relating to them, small ways. And would I be thinking as hard about this book if I didn't identify with characters that made me want to vomit? Again, for now, I don't know.
Make no mistake, however: this book is fun. With all this talk of disgust and ennui, Megg & Mogg in Amsterdam succeeds to engage and entertain. Whether this is despite its extreme nature, or because of it, I leave that up to your own tastes and discretion. Me? I can't get enough of the work of SImon Hanselmann, and we'll be reading this series, in its entirety, many times over.
August 22, 2018
Simultaneously compelling and disgusting, I’m glad (though surprised) to have found this from the #library. Although, you could argue, it’s a strong and ironic anti-drug message. Ha, ha.
On some level, you do like the characters enough to wonder what will happen to them, or what made them who they are today; they grow on you. The simplistic, stylistic drawings make it easy to read — pulls you in. I also thank the author for their brutal honesty; it may have been hard to read in parts, but a lot of it reminded me of people I’ve known (and a few things I was probably better off NOT knowing about them). It’s probably something we should know about members of society even if it doesn’t thrill us.
In a world where less and less is taboo, it’s hard to find ways to shock. If that’s your cup of tea, this author will hit the mark. What’s scary is that there’s more truth than fiction to it all! Yet, you may find it lacking, like the food from a convenience store that simultaneously fills your stomach and leaves you empty — craving more — assuring your return.
References to Seinfeld in the tale or comparisons to The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers aren’t remiss, though overly flattering. At the very least, though drugs and bodily fluid snafus made it repetitive, moments like Megg realizing she doesn’t fit in with modern female friendships/socializing, were refreshingly against the grain of most “outsider” material today.
So, overall, I’ll thank the book for one thing...it didn’t preach.
It led by “example”.
On some level, you do like the characters enough to wonder what will happen to them, or what made them who they are today; they grow on you. The simplistic, stylistic drawings make it easy to read — pulls you in. I also thank the author for their brutal honesty; it may have been hard to read in parts, but a lot of it reminded me of people I’ve known (and a few things I was probably better off NOT knowing about them). It’s probably something we should know about members of society even if it doesn’t thrill us.
In a world where less and less is taboo, it’s hard to find ways to shock. If that’s your cup of tea, this author will hit the mark. What’s scary is that there’s more truth than fiction to it all! Yet, you may find it lacking, like the food from a convenience store that simultaneously fills your stomach and leaves you empty — craving more — assuring your return.
References to Seinfeld in the tale or comparisons to The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers aren’t remiss, though overly flattering. At the very least, though drugs and bodily fluid snafus made it repetitive, moments like Megg realizing she doesn’t fit in with modern female friendships/socializing, were refreshingly against the grain of most “outsider” material today.
So, overall, I’ll thank the book for one thing...it didn’t preach.
It led by “example”.
June 4, 2016
The caveat for this review is that the book is completely disgusting. It's a druggy punk comic (punky drug comic?) about pansexual supernatural beings, and their exploits. There are some nice passages of color and drawing in the endpapers and a nighttime camping scene, but it's mostly story-driven talking heads advancing a tale of misbehavior and ennui.
Megg's performance as the depressed witch who flees a pizza- and weed-befuddled couchbound existence to Amsterdam, unrealistically expecting a hassle-free Panacea, is heartbreaking. Werewolf Jones constantly steals the show with his insatiable twisted "seize the day" attitude and personality disorders. Owl serves as a moral compass, but has secrets of his own. Megg's cat, Mogg, will make you question your assumptions of feline hygiene.
I didn't expect any uplifting story arcs, but spoiler alert: there may be one here concerning the power of friendship, or the family one chooses.
Megg's performance as the depressed witch who flees a pizza- and weed-befuddled couchbound existence to Amsterdam, unrealistically expecting a hassle-free Panacea, is heartbreaking. Werewolf Jones constantly steals the show with his insatiable twisted "seize the day" attitude and personality disorders. Owl serves as a moral compass, but has secrets of his own. Megg's cat, Mogg, will make you question your assumptions of feline hygiene.
I didn't expect any uplifting story arcs, but spoiler alert: there may be one here concerning the power of friendship, or the family one chooses.
August 12, 2019
It's an amazing feat to depict the scuzzy lives of some scuzzy people where their humanity shines through. Megg, Mogg, Owl and Werewolf Jones are hindered by depression, hobbled by self-medication and too fucked up to back away from bad choices they make. To keep reading is a testament to Hanselmann's investment in the stories and characters he created. I wanted to beat them up for being so stupid and unnecessarily cruel to each other, but the moments of self-recognition are so harrowing I pause and think, "How the hell can I help them? Can I even help them from where I am? [outside the frame in this three-dimensional space?]" Even the detestable Werewolf Jones becomes sympathetic—and he's pretty detestable.
Megahex was a rough but rewarding ride. This volume shows more complexity in the relationship between this co-dependent gang of weirdos. Hanselmann's characters continue to be trainwrecks but much has been salvaged along the way.
Megahex was a rough but rewarding ride. This volume shows more complexity in the relationship between this co-dependent gang of weirdos. Hanselmann's characters continue to be trainwrecks but much has been salvaged along the way.
August 8, 2016
There's some gorgeous art in here, especially the covers and endpapers, and it's funny and always entertaining, but as a whole this is not as good as Megahex, Hanselmann's first book with Fantagraphics. M&M in Amsterdam is a collection of old work, mostly short strips from VICE magazine, with a couple of newer, more fully developed stories like the title piece added in to anchor everything. This feels like a placeholder between more fully-developed books—nothing wrong with that, as it's a thoroughly enjoyable read—but hoping with the next volume Hanselmann will move the saga forward (can you call Megg and Mogg a saga?). The strip is always at its best when the stories get to ramble on a bit. BTW, I can't decide if I want more or less of Werewolf Jones—he's a thoroughly repulsive character, but in the last story here he was flat out hilarious. 3.5 out of 5.
February 12, 2018
2.5 stars -- The "Megahex" series has potential, but the sheer meanness and shocks-for-the-sake-of-shocking seem to ensure that these aspects will be best remembered after closing the book. There are some really cool, thought-provoking images in this series (like those of Megg's battle with depression) and some genuinely laugh-out-loud lines ("I don't want ketamine OR hats! I just want a nice quiet, clean house!")
This collection was mercifully free of any sexual assaults, so there is that.
I can appreciate intoxication humor and gross humor ("Ren & Stimpy" was a favorite of mine), but I don't think I ever again need to see "relations" between a witch and a cat, even in cartoon form.
This collection was mercifully free of any sexual assaults, so there is that.
I can appreciate intoxication humor and gross humor ("Ren & Stimpy" was a favorite of mine), but I don't think I ever again need to see "relations" between a witch and a cat, even in cartoon form.
April 26, 2019
I don’t really think I can read these anymore.
The things that I loved about megahex were the moments where shit actually seemed to matter. Megg going to therapy, Owl moving out. Where they finally realize this isn’t working and has never actually worked. This volume had some of that but it was never extended the same weight, and it just felt obligatory. I don’t actually like gross comics about drugs and unhappy sex. I just want to see some bitches grow as people, ya know?
The things that I loved about megahex were the moments where shit actually seemed to matter. Megg going to therapy, Owl moving out. Where they finally realize this isn’t working and has never actually worked. This volume had some of that but it was never extended the same weight, and it just felt obligatory. I don’t actually like gross comics about drugs and unhappy sex. I just want to see some bitches grow as people, ya know?
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