Serial Killer

Read Em and Weep #1

by Pat Mills, Kevin O'Neill

A rotten childhood. A comic book crime spree. One last chance to get his killer reputation.

London, 1975. Dave Maudling escaped his rotten childhood by losing himself in comic books. Now an editor for the same comics that served as his escape, he uses his window into the minds of youth to hide dangerous clues in his most popular strip. But when his pipe bomb instructions reach the wrong demographic, Dave takes his plot to a whole new audience …

The 1970s – a dangerous time for kids. An even more dangerous time for adults.But when a suspicious reporter gets in the way of his sweet retribution and the fur-draped phantom of his dead mom nags him from beyond the grave, he has no choice but to think outside the panels. If he fails, he'll never salvage his reputation as a comic genius and a killer.

Written by Pat Mills (creator of Action and 2000 AD) and Kevin O’Neill (2000 AD’s art editor). Pat and Kevin also created the cult-classic superhero hunter, Marshal Law (Marvel and D.C. Comics).

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2017

About the author

Pat Mills, born in 1949 and nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since.

His comics are notable for their violence and anti-authoritarianism. He is best known for creating 2000 AD and playing a major part in the development of Judge Dredd.

Reviews

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether this novel (first in the READ 'EM AND WEEP QUADROLOGY) is a lesson in "Be careful what you wish for," or in "Don't look for the Wizard behind the curtain." Middle-aged Dave is a candy-guzzling Peter Pan with a fur fancy who never outgrew his traumatic and odd childhood. Editor of a comic, he tries to put his readers out of their misery (or his), but instead his readers take their lessons to heart and turn on the problem adults in their lives. Very snarky and twistedly tongue-in-cheek.

[Stephen Maddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this really shows the diversity of the writer Pat Mills. After being a fan of Slaine and ABC warriors etc this is something else! Sick and twisted, everything you would expect from a serial killer (something you're not telling us Pat?) :) Without a doubt Pat uses his own life experience in this as we learn of the exploits of the Caning Commando which takes us back to 50s/ 60s/70s children's English comic book era. Not being from that era I wasn't sure what was real and what was not. I was left thinking that about the whole book by the end, scarily real!
A great read for those with a need. Very impressed with Pat's creative writing ability .....if he's not a serial killer with a fetish for fur :)

[Fiachra Delea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If, like me, you grew up reading the likes of the Beano, Dandy etc or just have any interest in comics in general this is a must read. Mills and O'Neill use their experience of the industry to craft the darkly funny fictional account of Dave Maudling, a deeply troubled man who edits the comic "The Spanker" but hates the readers so puts dangerous scenarios into the stories in the hopes that the kids will copy them and end up killing themselves or others. Highly recommended and looking forward to the next book in the series

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read,darkly funny,the beginning reminded me so much of my childhood and the dank,dark corner shop I used to get sent to,to pick up mams cigs. Well worthy of a place on any shelf....and a must for any 2000AD fan. Read it and Weep....with joy.

[Jen-Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover is what drew me to this book, plus comic's and serial killers, I had to have it! I went into this knowing nothing about the writers' other works so I wasn't sure what I was going to get myself into.

Through part one I thought that this book was interesting but wasn't for me but I decided to keep going and I'm so glad I stuck with it. This is unlike anything I've read before and I loved it! I've never read a dark humour book before and I'm so scared to pick up another because my expectations are so high for them now.

I can't really describe just how much I loved this. I so enjoy finding these sort of gems with unique characters, plus one is scottish so it made it even better. Look, I'm not good at reviews but it you need a break from the usual stuff and themes that you read I'd highly suggest this book if you want something different.

[Rehan Mirza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darkly funny murder mystery set in a comic publishing company in the 70s. It's an engrossing and funny novel with some well drawn characters.
Apparently it's a roman-a-clef based on the authors experience working on comics in the 70s. If that's true and with the bizarre sequences in the novel I worry for the authors!

[Hannah Berry]

If you’re after a satirical, quasi-fictional look at the birthplace of the infamous 2000AD, you won’t find better than the story of Dave Maudling, ‘The Liquorice Detective’: the lazy subversive of Fleetway - sorry - Fleetpit publishing. Murder, mystery, peculiar perversions, puns and witty one-liners aplenty in this cheeky and extremely quotable first instalment of the Read Em and Weep series.

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo, román od TOHO Pata Millse (Sláine, Requiem, ABC Warriors) a TOHO Kevina O´Neilla (Liga výjimečných)! V poslední době jsem četl několik anglických komediálních románů, ovšem tohle jim dává s přehledem na frak. I když Millsovi táhne na sedmdesát, má to neuvěřitelný drajv, je to zvrácené, černohumorné, nápady se valí ze všech stran a člověk čeká, s čím dorazí v příští kapitole.
Děj se odehrává v sedmdesátých letech, v redakci komiksového časopisu nakladatelství Fleetpit (ehm). Hlavní hrdina je redaktorem časopisu The Spanker, určeného mladší generaci. Magazínu jehož nejúspěšnější sérií je válečné Rákoskové komando, což jsou příběhy školního ředitele, který je pro své zkušenosti s tělesnými tresty povolán do armády, aby pomocí svých schopností provedl na skopčácké prdele kobercový nálet. Jeho "Ukem" je lehce retardovaný a ustavičně zneužívaný žák Alf Mast, který nemá moc zkušeností s opačným pohlavím a veškeré ženy považuje za "hrbolaté muže". (Nádherné označení, myslím, že by zasloužilo prosadit i u nás.)
Hlavní hrdina románu Serial Killer není tedy o moc lepší. Miluje kožichy (sexuálně) nenávidí svou práci a ještě víc nenávidí své dětské čtenáře. Má ale plán. Snaží se do komiksů propašovat rady jak si z prostěradla udělat padák, jak dýchat pod vodou, jak vyrobit bombu či prudký jed. Je to ten nejlínější sériový vrah v dějinách - snaží se dosáhnout toho, aby se jeho oběti zavraždily samy.
Do toho se ještě snaží zmařit plány na úspěch svého kolegy, získat ženu svého srdce (ideálně v kožichu), která většinu času ale sexuje právě s tím kolegou, a získat na lidi informace, kterými by je mohl vydírat. Jo a zjevuje se mu jeho mrtvá matka a snaží se ho dokopat k tomu, aby vyřešil její vraždu.
K tomu ještě přihoďte opravdu děsivý pohled na komiksovou scénu sedmdesátých let, bahnící se v totální průměrnosti a likvidující všechno co jen trochu zavání talentem. Protože jak praví jeden z šéfů, když dáme čtenářům něco opravdu dobrého, tak pak budou čekat, že to budou dostávat pravidelně. Průměrem člověk nic nezkazí. Ze scén z archívu, kdy se svačí na originálech slavných kreslířů se bude komiksovým fanouškům dělat nevolno a budou si přát, aby se autor už zase vrátil k neškodnému mrzačení dětí.
V knize je hodně vidět styl 2000 AD. Od podivných a amorálních hrdinů (hlavní postava je rozhodně narušený parchant, něco mezi Ignáciusem Reillym a Bernardem Blackem, ale díky své upřímnosti a nestydatosti je snadné si ho oblíbit), až po rozsekání knihy do dynamických epizod. Což je ale na druhou stranu snad jediná věc, co bych knize vytknul. Nějaký příběh se tu objevuje jen v náznacích a většina knihy je spíše jen sled scének a bizarních situací. Ve knize se vlastně nic nevyřeší, to čeká až na druhý díl.
Jdu ho objednat.

[Alexandre Szolnoky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book very much, it has a great sense of humor and some of the situations and anecdotes described are so bizarre that I was amazed by the writing. I also liked the 'stories inside the stories', with such weird characters like The Caning Commando. The main character, Dave is so irritating and despicable that it turns out to be one of the most memorable characters that I've read recently.

I also admired the way the writer's concise way to tell the story, with every detail being important, connecting with the whole plot. I also liked the way that they talk about the comics scene before 2000AD- I must admit that I got lost sometimes because some of the references are very 'British' (I'm Brazilian). I don't even know if the magazines described actually existed. However, I think it made the book more interesting to me, and I was glad to get to know more about the comic book history in UK. 'Serial Killer' is nothing but fun, and you can sense through the reading that they were having a great time while writing it.

Can't wait for the second part.

[Michael Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, satirical, yet all too true account of the British comics industry in the 1970s.

As with all good comedy, the characters are larger than life, but all bear recognisable traits. They're just one step removed from reality, overblown enough to be funny, but close enough to be discomfiting.

Touches all manner of topics which angels fear to touch (did I mention it's written by Pat Mills?), all of which are crucial and relevant, such as child abuse, celebrity pedophilia, the stifling of creatives by suits, workplace bullying, and so much more.

Priceless, a cracking good read.

[Andy9562000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic fun, it meanders but never bores. I read that the original plan was to make it into a tv series but it was never picked up. I would love to see it realised but truth be told I am not sure that tv would be brave enough to adapt it. There is a strong feel of the Tom Sharp books about it with strange imagery and off kilter humour.

Definitely had be rushing to order book two “goodnight John boy “

[Eolaí · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was tremendous fun. I smiled all the way through, and laughed a fair bit too. It didn't hurt that I grew up on the Dandy, Beano Whizzer & Chips and more before moving onto Valiant, Action, and Battle where I first came across Mills' work, and Warlord and 2000 AD of course. But I dare say you won't have to have read a thousand comics to enjoy this. Am off to buy the second in the series now.

[Bryan Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw plenty of potential in the story, but it was never quite realized. The humor was truly funny at times, and that was the best part of the book. I felt the characters fell flat and didn't grab me enough to truly get into the story.

[Lisa Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclaimer: I'm married to the writer and I published this book!

[Jill Frederickson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Juvenile with choppy dialogue and undeveloped characters, it reads like the text boxes of a lousy comic book with no art to support or elaborate the slow moving story. Yuck.

[David Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

From the genius behind Judge Dredd comes this, one of the funniest and irreverent books I've read for a long time.

Can't wait to read the second instalment .

[Gary Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. Simply, hilarious.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'd read Feral Meryl, it sounds adorably silly.

[Mark Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. People keep giving me funny looks as I'm reading it!