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Bug! The Adventures of Forager #1-6
Bug! The Adventures of Forager
An all-new Young Animal series begins! DC's Young Animal is adding more strange and wonderful stories to the mix with BUG!: THE ADVENTURES OF FORAGER.
Forager is just one of the Hive before he breaks out of his cocoon and finds himself in a mysterious house in an unknown realm. There he meets all kinds of strange creatures: a ghostly girl, a talking teddy bear and otherworldly weirdos. But these interdimensional oddballs are nothing compared to the evil General Electric, who is on the hunt for a reality-bending metal that could alter the fabric of life itself. To preserve the Multiverse, Forager must travel through alternate dimensions to seek the metal before it gets into the wrong hands!
Featuring scripts by Lee Allred (ART OPS) and art by Michael Allred (SILVER SURFER). Collects issues #1-6.
Forager is just one of the Hive before he breaks out of his cocoon and finds himself in a mysterious house in an unknown realm. There he meets all kinds of strange creatures: a ghostly girl, a talking teddy bear and otherworldly weirdos. But these interdimensional oddballs are nothing compared to the evil General Electric, who is on the hunt for a reality-bending metal that could alter the fabric of life itself. To preserve the Multiverse, Forager must travel through alternate dimensions to seek the metal before it gets into the wrong hands!
Featuring scripts by Lee Allred (ART OPS) and art by Michael Allred (SILVER SURFER). Collects issues #1-6.
168 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 20, 2018
After dying at the end of Cosmic Odyssey, Forager emerges from a cocoon in a basement on Earth with a mute girl and her talking teddy bear for company. From there, things get weird...
I read the first three issues of Bug! as they came out but got sidetracked somewhere along the way. I pre-ordered the trade paperback as soon as it was available and wolfed it down in on sitting.
Michael Allred has been one of my favorite comic book artists for aeons. When I saw he was teaming with his brother to do Bug! The Adventures of Forager, my curiosity was piqued. According to an interview I read before picking up the first issue, Lee and Michael Allred became obsessed with Forager because of a battered copy of New Gods #9 at their guitar teacher's place when they were kids. Since Forager only made three appearances, including his death in Cosmic Odyssey, they pretty much had a clean slate. Bug grew on me pretty quickly. Bug reminds me of Madman, Mike Allred's most famous creation, with some Spider-Man thrown in. I love that he carries a shield that is too unwieldy to throw.
The book reads like a love letter to Jack Kirby's DC creations from the first panel. Bug tears out of a cocoon and gets plunged neck deep in strangeness. The love the Allred boys feel for Bug, and the rest of Kirby's creations, comes through on every page. Bug looks and feels like a particularly good comic from yesteryear with some modern sensibilities.
Most of Kirby's creations from the 1970s (and some from the 1950s) are here: The New Gods, the Forever People, The Losers, Deadman, OMAC, Atlas, the Manhunters, the Silver Age Sandman, the Golden Age Blue Beetle, the Golden Age Sandman and Sandy, the list goes on and on. The only 70s characters I noticed missing were The Demon and Kamandi.
The story is pretty crazy, which is in keeping with Kirby's later period. Eventually, I quite trying to figure out what was coming next and just enjoyed the ride. Bug bounces all over the multiverse, chasing Chagra and the pieces of orichalcum. The ending wasn't what I expected but was very satisfying.
The stars were perfectly aligned for Bug! I don't think another creative team could have pulled it off. I'd love to see the Allred clan take on the Challengers of the Unknown next! Four out of five stars.
I read the first three issues of Bug! as they came out but got sidetracked somewhere along the way. I pre-ordered the trade paperback as soon as it was available and wolfed it down in on sitting.
Michael Allred has been one of my favorite comic book artists for aeons. When I saw he was teaming with his brother to do Bug! The Adventures of Forager, my curiosity was piqued. According to an interview I read before picking up the first issue, Lee and Michael Allred became obsessed with Forager because of a battered copy of New Gods #9 at their guitar teacher's place when they were kids. Since Forager only made three appearances, including his death in Cosmic Odyssey, they pretty much had a clean slate. Bug grew on me pretty quickly. Bug reminds me of Madman, Mike Allred's most famous creation, with some Spider-Man thrown in. I love that he carries a shield that is too unwieldy to throw.
The book reads like a love letter to Jack Kirby's DC creations from the first panel. Bug tears out of a cocoon and gets plunged neck deep in strangeness. The love the Allred boys feel for Bug, and the rest of Kirby's creations, comes through on every page. Bug looks and feels like a particularly good comic from yesteryear with some modern sensibilities.
Most of Kirby's creations from the 1970s (and some from the 1950s) are here: The New Gods, the Forever People, The Losers, Deadman, OMAC, Atlas, the Manhunters, the Silver Age Sandman, the Golden Age Blue Beetle, the Golden Age Sandman and Sandy, the list goes on and on. The only 70s characters I noticed missing were The Demon and Kamandi.
The story is pretty crazy, which is in keeping with Kirby's later period. Eventually, I quite trying to figure out what was coming next and just enjoyed the ride. Bug bounces all over the multiverse, chasing Chagra and the pieces of orichalcum. The ending wasn't what I expected but was very satisfying.
The stars were perfectly aligned for Bug! I don't think another creative team could have pulled it off. I'd love to see the Allred clan take on the Challengers of the Unknown next! Four out of five stars.
June 6, 2018
The Allred family goes on a world tour of obscure Jack Kirby creations from the 70's. Forager, last seen dying in Cosmic Odyssey 30 years ago, emerges from a cocoon and immediately gets wrapped up in a surreal adventure helping out a young ghost and her snarky teddy bear. Mike and Lee do their best to cram in every Kirby character they can get their hands on as Forager travels through time hunting a device I'm surprised wasn't just called the macguffin. I like how Mike pays homage to Kirby with the heavier, wavy linework Kirby was known for. The story is somewhat obtuse and hard to follow, but like any acid trip, it's best to just grab hold and enjoy the ride while it lasts.
December 15, 2017
Take one part Golden Age romp, one part '60s psychedelic insanity and one part post-ironic hip, mix them thoroughly and you'll have something approaching Bug! The Adventures of Forager.
I really enjoyed this one; it was a nice tribute to The King, who would have turned 100 this year, if he was still with us. Actually... reading books like this one makes me realise he still is.
I really enjoyed this one; it was a nice tribute to The King, who would have turned 100 this year, if he was still with us. Actually... reading books like this one makes me realise he still is.
January 29, 2018
No hand holding down Jack Kirby lane by a unapologetic writer that doesn't rely on irony and sarcasm.
World: The art is fantastic this is the Allred and it is a thing all it's own. The world building is the best thing about the story, it is a drive down Jack Kirby lane and the DC universe that highlights unapologetic fantastical of it's corners and celebrates it. It's not ironic about the world and fully embraces the odd and weird which I love so much. This is a trip.
Story: The story is choppy and feels like an acid trip with DC overtones and it's great. It's nonsense, it's very disorienting and the story is a stretch and all over the place but it's still very enjoyable. It feels like a drug trip and reminds of the best parts of Alice in Wonderland where all the rules are thrown out the window but it still makes sense at the same time. There is a lot of stuff that does require DC knowledge especially Fourth World but man is it ever fun.
Characters: Bug is hilariously weird and quirky. It's the manifesto of the Young Animals line and Bug fits it with a T. His story is weird but at the same time he's very relatable. The people he meets and all the DC characters he meets is awesome. It's so nostalgic and weird. Good stuff.
It is great if you love weird, it is not if you want traditional storytelling.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fantastic this is the Allred and it is a thing all it's own. The world building is the best thing about the story, it is a drive down Jack Kirby lane and the DC universe that highlights unapologetic fantastical of it's corners and celebrates it. It's not ironic about the world and fully embraces the odd and weird which I love so much. This is a trip.
Story: The story is choppy and feels like an acid trip with DC overtones and it's great. It's nonsense, it's very disorienting and the story is a stretch and all over the place but it's still very enjoyable. It feels like a drug trip and reminds of the best parts of Alice in Wonderland where all the rules are thrown out the window but it still makes sense at the same time. There is a lot of stuff that does require DC knowledge especially Fourth World but man is it ever fun.
Characters: Bug is hilariously weird and quirky. It's the manifesto of the Young Animals line and Bug fits it with a T. His story is weird but at the same time he's very relatable. The people he meets and all the DC characters he meets is awesome. It's so nostalgic and weird. Good stuff.
It is great if you love weird, it is not if you want traditional storytelling.
Onward to the next book!
June 6, 2019
Really a 2.5, but I'm rounding up because I like Forager (and have since I discovered him in Starlin's Cosmic Odyssey back in the day) and Allred's art is fantastic as always. Ultimately though, this wasn't really my cup of tea: the sheer silver-age style goofiness was just a bit much for me.
The last we saw Forager, a New God raised by the bug people of New Genesis, he had died heroically in the aforementioned Cosmic Odyssey saga. Now he appears to have come back to life (certainly not a novel experience in the world of comic book superheroes) upon emerging from a strange cocoon and proceeds to have a series of multiversal adventures in the company of a sentient teddy bear and a mute little girl with strange, and largely undefined, powers. Coming along for the ride are a host of characters created by Jack 'King' Kirby (as was Forager and the New Gods) including the Sandman (Garrett Sanford version) and his sidekicks Brute and Glob (perhaps familair to readers of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics that revolve around Morpheus the dreamlord), the WWII-era soldiers 'the Losers', Atlas, and OMAC (the One man Army Corps).
Forager is ultimately on a journey of self-discovery (coupled of course with once again saving the universe) and his adventurs are both implausible and zany. I know I shouldn't critique a comic book for its realism and plausability, but my suspension of disbelief generally takes a leave of absence once the adventures fall into the absurd/zany/this-is-way-too-silver-age spectrum. Great art though and I think kids would love it (I know mine did).
The last we saw Forager, a New God raised by the bug people of New Genesis, he had died heroically in the aforementioned Cosmic Odyssey saga. Now he appears to have come back to life (certainly not a novel experience in the world of comic book superheroes) upon emerging from a strange cocoon and proceeds to have a series of multiversal adventures in the company of a sentient teddy bear and a mute little girl with strange, and largely undefined, powers. Coming along for the ride are a host of characters created by Jack 'King' Kirby (as was Forager and the New Gods) including the Sandman (Garrett Sanford version) and his sidekicks Brute and Glob (perhaps familair to readers of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics that revolve around Morpheus the dreamlord), the WWII-era soldiers 'the Losers', Atlas, and OMAC (the One man Army Corps).
Forager is ultimately on a journey of self-discovery (coupled of course with once again saving the universe) and his adventurs are both implausible and zany. I know I shouldn't critique a comic book for its realism and plausability, but my suspension of disbelief generally takes a leave of absence once the adventures fall into the absurd/zany/this-is-way-too-silver-age spectrum. Great art though and I think kids would love it (I know mine did).
October 20, 2023
The Allred family play so hard in the Kirby Sandbox. This is not only a love letter to the King but also an amazing trip through madness that makes this a visual delight on every page.There is also an amazing story snuck in here that add so much to the Fourth World mythos. This series deserves the DC Deluxe Hardcover Edition treatment and its rightful place next to Kirbys Fourth World Omnibus and Tom Kings Mister Miracle.
August 16, 2019
Allred's art is always aces but the writing is painful. Fun to see these characters but the weird for strange sake story was a bore.
April 10, 2020
4
This is probably the first Young Animal volume I didn't feel was worthy of the label. It's weird, but it felt like it could be part of the bigger label. It's refreshing to see the label attempting new things, much like Eternity Girl. This was a new character for me and as an introduction to the New Gods, it was quite good.
Why the 4?
The story is still a journey and it has a purpose. Some books are empty from beginning to end, but Bug managed to overcome some of these rushed spin-off styled comics. The connection to the larger DC world was fun and they managed a lot of cameos by obscure characters. Black Racer is still a dud compared to Silver Surfer, but I've never enjoyed Silver Surfer either. Bug is a lot of fun and it twists and turns every issue.
This is probably the first Young Animal volume I didn't feel was worthy of the label. It's weird, but it felt like it could be part of the bigger label. It's refreshing to see the label attempting new things, much like Eternity Girl. This was a new character for me and as an introduction to the New Gods, it was quite good.
Why the 4?
The story is still a journey and it has a purpose. Some books are empty from beginning to end, but Bug managed to overcome some of these rushed spin-off styled comics. The connection to the larger DC world was fun and they managed a lot of cameos by obscure characters. Black Racer is still a dud compared to Silver Surfer, but I've never enjoyed Silver Surfer either. Bug is a lot of fun and it twists and turns every issue.
April 27, 2021
Very surreal, which I rather expected, and it certainly lives up to be part of the Young Animal imprint. Delightfully fun and quirky.
Read
December 14, 2017"It's called strategy. When life hands you a lemon, follow the produce truck back to the warehouse and exchange it for the fruit you want!"
Another madcap Kirby tribute from the Allreds (seriously, the top three names on the credits are all part of the same infuriatingly talented clan), which as with many Kirby tributes, I love despite not remotely liking the original. Our hero, drawn from the unappreciated ranks of New Genesis' underclass, is resurrected (hey, it's comics) and sent on a weird, breezy tour of other Kirby kreations, collecting plot tokens in an effort to foil something or other, which does eventually make a surprising amount of sense. But the plot doesn't matter so much as the sheer fizzing strangeness of it all, the little girl who never speaks and the teddy who does, the chance to see the Allreds play with all these toys they so clearly love. And along the way it becomes a chance for me to see how charmingly clear and direct Kirby must look to those who love him, when all I can see is clunk and a basic lack of anything bar energy. The first new book from Gerard Way's Young Animal imprint since its launch line-up, and one that bodes well for its future.
Another madcap Kirby tribute from the Allreds (seriously, the top three names on the credits are all part of the same infuriatingly talented clan), which as with many Kirby tributes, I love despite not remotely liking the original. Our hero, drawn from the unappreciated ranks of New Genesis' underclass, is resurrected (hey, it's comics) and sent on a weird, breezy tour of other Kirby kreations, collecting plot tokens in an effort to foil something or other, which does eventually make a surprising amount of sense. But the plot doesn't matter so much as the sheer fizzing strangeness of it all, the little girl who never speaks and the teddy who does, the chance to see the Allreds play with all these toys they so clearly love. And along the way it becomes a chance for me to see how charmingly clear and direct Kirby must look to those who love him, when all I can see is clunk and a basic lack of anything bar energy. The first new book from Gerard Way's Young Animal imprint since its launch line-up, and one that bodes well for its future.
May 30, 2018
I hate to use the word but I can't use any other word when it comes to a Lee Allred script and a Michael Allred art - Trippy!! this book is so very trippy.
Words cannot describe how amazingly and wonderfully trippy this book is. We start with a character who never should have gotten his own series The Bug. From Kirby and the New Gods comes this very little used character. We then take him from death (Cosmic Odyssey) and bring him back to life in the middle of an adventure which involves a Teddy Bear and a little Japanese girl as his guides. He is following around a robot duplicate of the New God Metron and trying to track down a few substances of power throughout the fictional universes of Kirby (we see Sandman (original and reboot), Atlas, The Losers, OMAC, and the New Gods) as he learns a little about family and rebellion..I guess. those points were lost on me. See? Trippy!!
But with the Allred's, even this trippy, nonsensical adventure is fun and a creative delight. What it lacks in "making sense" it makes up for in "being a joy for the eyes and creative mind". I really liked it.
NOTE: Mike Allred's art isn't for everyone but I have fallen in love with it.
Words cannot describe how amazingly and wonderfully trippy this book is. We start with a character who never should have gotten his own series The Bug. From Kirby and the New Gods comes this very little used character. We then take him from death (Cosmic Odyssey) and bring him back to life in the middle of an adventure which involves a Teddy Bear and a little Japanese girl as his guides. He is following around a robot duplicate of the New God Metron and trying to track down a few substances of power throughout the fictional universes of Kirby (we see Sandman (original and reboot), Atlas, The Losers, OMAC, and the New Gods) as he learns a little about family and rebellion..I guess. those points were lost on me. See? Trippy!!
But with the Allred's, even this trippy, nonsensical adventure is fun and a creative delight. What it lacks in "making sense" it makes up for in "being a joy for the eyes and creative mind". I really liked it.
NOTE: Mike Allred's art isn't for everyone but I have fallen in love with it.
Read
November 9, 2024A wacky trip.
After dying in Cosmic Odyssey, Forager emerges from a cocoon and goes on a multi-dimensional adventure with a ghost girl and her talking teddy bear. This book is basically a vehicle for the Allreds to tribute Jack Kirby’s 70s creations. I like “tour of the DC Universe” books like this, and the Allreds travel to some weird corners. For all its zaniness, Bug is a fun read, but becomes indulgent and obtuse by the end. The art is fantastic though.
Re-read 2024: Captures the spirit of Jack Kirby’s DC era(s) perfectly, with the added bonus of being funny and heartfelt. I actually disagree with what I said before about this being indulgent and obtuse. I got what the Allreds were going for this time around. I was right there with them the whole way. Sure, the plot doesn’t make a lot of sense, but if you embrace the wackiness it’s a fun, engaging, and wildly creative ride.
After dying in Cosmic Odyssey, Forager emerges from a cocoon and goes on a multi-dimensional adventure with a ghost girl and her talking teddy bear. This book is basically a vehicle for the Allreds to tribute Jack Kirby’s 70s creations. I like “tour of the DC Universe” books like this, and the Allreds travel to some weird corners. For all its zaniness, Bug is a fun read, but becomes indulgent and obtuse by the end. The art is fantastic though.
Re-read 2024: Captures the spirit of Jack Kirby’s DC era(s) perfectly, with the added bonus of being funny and heartfelt. I actually disagree with what I said before about this being indulgent and obtuse. I got what the Allreds were going for this time around. I was right there with them the whole way. Sure, the plot doesn’t make a lot of sense, but if you embrace the wackiness it’s a fun, engaging, and wildly creative ride.
June 5, 2018
If you like surreal dialogue and zany plots, this is a great read. It takes some time to buy into the plot, but the characters are great (especially BUG). There were also a few allusions to Latter-Day Saint teachings/hymns which, as a member of the LDS church, I enjoyed picking up on.
June 1, 2021
It was fun. Great art with a chaotic, pretty disjointed story that is basically just Kirby references. Some awkward dialogue. Enjoyable, but not essential, only read it if you like the Allreds' art or are a Kirby fan.
February 5, 2018
Just not my cup of tea.
April 27, 2021
Reprints Bug!: The Adventures of Forager #1-6 (July 2017-February 2018). Bug is dead…and he’s just a Bug. Or is Bug alive and he’s actually a New God? Bug aka Forager finds himself on an adventure through time and space to stop a potential disaster. Aided by a talking teddy bear and a mute girl, Bug finds himself teamed with the Losers, the Sandman, O.M.A.C., Deadman, and others in a race against time…and New Genesis could be the one needing saving.
Written by Lee Allred, Bug!: The Adventures of Forager is a DC Comics mini-series published under DC Comics’ Young Animal imprint. The comic is a collaboration project with Lee Allred, Mike Allred, and Laura Allred with Mike and Laura providing the art and coloring.
I don’t know much about Bug. I know he’s from the pages of New Gods, and I know that he’s one of a race of “Bugs”…which is his catch. He claims to be an individual while everyone else tells him that he’s just a cog. The “cog” gets his day in this series as it unrolls in a weird, trippy fashion.
The story is a “typical” odd Fourth World story. Bug bounces from dimension to dimension with pseudo-science, with strange sidekicks, and ends up saving New Genesis and meeting the Source. If you’ve read any of New Gods, The Forever People, or Mister Miracle, you may get an idea of what you are headed into when reading Bug. It is heavy and heady…while some comics have a little bit of story each issue, each issue of Bug feels like a long free standing comic book adventure of olden days.
The series is largely an homage to Jack Kirby. Not only does the series have the weird Fourth World mentality, but it also presents tons of Kirby’s creations as Bug falls into different dimensions. It is a pretty deep dive with characters like Atlas and even Kirby’s take on the Sandman (which also appeared in Vertigo’s Sandman) and the stories do tie into some of the stories written by Kirby. While you don’t necessarily need to know them to understand Bug (it is hard enough if you do), it will enrich Bug to see how they tie in to the bigger story (the comic actually takes place after the events of Cosmic Odyssey).
One of the best parts of all Allred projects is the art. Allred is the perfect person for this project since his art appears as a direct descendant to Kirby’s art. It has all the Kirby charm but it also has the new stylistic aspects of modern series applied to it…making you wonder what Kirby’s world would look like today.
Bug!: The Adventures of Forager isn’t an easy read and sometimes it buries itself in the time twisting adventures…much like a lot of Fourth World and Kirby’s stuff. For that reason, you need to be in a certain mindset to enjoy it and read it…and if you just let yourself go with the story you can. I wish that Bug had continued or that a second mini-series would start up…I think Bug still has potential and more weird, wild worlds to explore.
Written by Lee Allred, Bug!: The Adventures of Forager is a DC Comics mini-series published under DC Comics’ Young Animal imprint. The comic is a collaboration project with Lee Allred, Mike Allred, and Laura Allred with Mike and Laura providing the art and coloring.
I don’t know much about Bug. I know he’s from the pages of New Gods, and I know that he’s one of a race of “Bugs”…which is his catch. He claims to be an individual while everyone else tells him that he’s just a cog. The “cog” gets his day in this series as it unrolls in a weird, trippy fashion.
The story is a “typical” odd Fourth World story. Bug bounces from dimension to dimension with pseudo-science, with strange sidekicks, and ends up saving New Genesis and meeting the Source. If you’ve read any of New Gods, The Forever People, or Mister Miracle, you may get an idea of what you are headed into when reading Bug. It is heavy and heady…while some comics have a little bit of story each issue, each issue of Bug feels like a long free standing comic book adventure of olden days.
The series is largely an homage to Jack Kirby. Not only does the series have the weird Fourth World mentality, but it also presents tons of Kirby’s creations as Bug falls into different dimensions. It is a pretty deep dive with characters like Atlas and even Kirby’s take on the Sandman (which also appeared in Vertigo’s Sandman) and the stories do tie into some of the stories written by Kirby. While you don’t necessarily need to know them to understand Bug (it is hard enough if you do), it will enrich Bug to see how they tie in to the bigger story (the comic actually takes place after the events of Cosmic Odyssey).
One of the best parts of all Allred projects is the art. Allred is the perfect person for this project since his art appears as a direct descendant to Kirby’s art. It has all the Kirby charm but it also has the new stylistic aspects of modern series applied to it…making you wonder what Kirby’s world would look like today.
Bug!: The Adventures of Forager isn’t an easy read and sometimes it buries itself in the time twisting adventures…much like a lot of Fourth World and Kirby’s stuff. For that reason, you need to be in a certain mindset to enjoy it and read it…and if you just let yourself go with the story you can. I wish that Bug had continued or that a second mini-series would start up…I think Bug still has potential and more weird, wild worlds to explore.
February 28, 2018
Bug is a character from Jack Kirby's Fourth World of whom I had not been previously aware. Apparently, he got killed off sometime ago and this series brings him back to life. Not knowing how Kirby handled the character, I don't know if writer Lee Allred is consistent or not, but I enjoyed this story. The artwork by Michael Allred and Laura Allred certainly has the mind-bending surrealism that Kirby infused into his Fourth World stories. It's also got a lot of humor, for example, how everyone noted Bug's stench of crushed ants and why it was so. There are also lots of sight gags. The series uses various DC characters such as Deadman, OMAC, and the Losers in ingenious ways to move along the story arc. This seems to be a self-contained mini-series, but I would certainly look forward to more adventures of this interesting character.
There is also a backup serial by James Harvey that runs in issues #3-6 featuring a character named Midnight (a really old character created by comic book legend Jack Cole) and his adventures in the Phantom Zone. This is a very trippy tale, but one I found quite entertaining. Harvey's layouts are innovative (thereby being occasionally difficult to follow) and he puts more story into 3 pages than most creators do in 25 (one way he does this is by shrinking many of the panels and all of the lettering to tiny size, which is sometimes hard to read).
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
There is also a backup serial by James Harvey that runs in issues #3-6 featuring a character named Midnight (a really old character created by comic book legend Jack Cole) and his adventures in the Phantom Zone. This is a very trippy tale, but one I found quite entertaining. Harvey's layouts are innovative (thereby being occasionally difficult to follow) and he puts more story into 3 pages than most creators do in 25 (one way he does this is by shrinking many of the panels and all of the lettering to tiny size, which is sometimes hard to read).
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
August 27, 2020
Lee Allred pens the adventures of Forager, who had died nearly 30 years ago in Jim Starlin's Cosmic Odyssey, with art by his better-known younger brother Mike, colors by his wife and partner Laura. It's a family affair.
And a treat for lovers of Jack Kirby's 1970's DC work. Issue one sets up the resurrection and brings in Sandman, Guardian of the Dream Stream, and his henchmen Brute and Glob, as well as a villain I'd recognize if I went through my longbows, dug out my Kirby issues and dove on in. This is what I suspect the Allreds did, as the books are littered with reference and quotes from the most obscure titles and issues. Well, not so obscure if you are a Kirby super-fan like I am.
Issue Two brings out the Losers, as well as the other Sandman Kirby drew, the crimefighter from the 40's, with his sidekick, Sandy. Part Three concerns a hero that Jack spent only one issue on, Atlas, as well as a character that I will call a saxety yak, because no one else did. Number Four drops us into the world of Deadman and Manhunter, with a multitude of secondary characters from all the titles popping up. The main plot line, the thing Forager has to do is crazy, cosmic, and convoluted. Michael Allred's drawing is packed with power, poise, and charm.
Number Five takes us into the environment of OMAC, and issue six brings in all of the Fourth World, with Metron and the Black Racer taking us to the thrilling conclusion.
I almost asked "where is Kamandi or the Demon", but I was more than happy with the heaping helpings of Albert Camus.
Loved this book.
And a treat for lovers of Jack Kirby's 1970's DC work. Issue one sets up the resurrection and brings in Sandman, Guardian of the Dream Stream, and his henchmen Brute and Glob, as well as a villain I'd recognize if I went through my longbows, dug out my Kirby issues and dove on in. This is what I suspect the Allreds did, as the books are littered with reference and quotes from the most obscure titles and issues. Well, not so obscure if you are a Kirby super-fan like I am.
Issue Two brings out the Losers, as well as the other Sandman Kirby drew, the crimefighter from the 40's, with his sidekick, Sandy. Part Three concerns a hero that Jack spent only one issue on, Atlas, as well as a character that I will call a saxety yak, because no one else did. Number Four drops us into the world of Deadman and Manhunter, with a multitude of secondary characters from all the titles popping up. The main plot line, the thing Forager has to do is crazy, cosmic, and convoluted. Michael Allred's drawing is packed with power, poise, and charm.
Number Five takes us into the environment of OMAC, and issue six brings in all of the Fourth World, with Metron and the Black Racer taking us to the thrilling conclusion.
I almost asked "where is Kamandi or the Demon", but I was more than happy with the heaping helpings of Albert Camus.
Loved this book.
July 18, 2021
A week after reading this, trying to write a review has made it clear to me why I only gave this a 3-star rating despite usually loving any series based upon Kirby's characters. It is just kind of "there" as a book. I certainly enjoyed myself, even finding myself laughing out loud at its campiness at times, but I also don't believe I'll ever revisit it. So for the sake of simplicity (and my brain), I'll highlight two "Likes" and one "Dislike".
- Likes
1. The Allred art team really knocks the vibe and aesthetic of this series out of the park. If their goal was to embrace the zany colors and simple lines of the 70s Kirby comics while adding the modern touches that make characters pop off the page, they get an A+ from me!
2. Really loved the usage of the Source Wall at the end. I firmly believe the concept of a wall of dead eternal beings at the edge of the universe has been an underused concept throughout DC Comics' recent history, so seeing it put to use in such an off-brand comic brought a smile to my face (even if it's not "continuity"...unless it is?)
- Dislike
1. The issue with recreating that disjointed, serialized storytelling style in modern comics is clearly on display in my reading experience: I simply reached the end of the an issue and didn't feel like I HAD to carry on. Sure, the overarching chase of Dr. Electric/Chagra gives a "tune in next week" incentive to everything, but each issue has a relatively self-contained story. This worked great in decades prior when you waited expectantly for next week's issue, but today many readers are simply reading a trade paperback regardless.
- Likes
1. The Allred art team really knocks the vibe and aesthetic of this series out of the park. If their goal was to embrace the zany colors and simple lines of the 70s Kirby comics while adding the modern touches that make characters pop off the page, they get an A+ from me!
2. Really loved the usage of the Source Wall at the end. I firmly believe the concept of a wall of dead eternal beings at the edge of the universe has been an underused concept throughout DC Comics' recent history, so seeing it put to use in such an off-brand comic brought a smile to my face (even if it's not "continuity"...unless it is?)
- Dislike
1. The issue with recreating that disjointed, serialized storytelling style in modern comics is clearly on display in my reading experience: I simply reached the end of the an issue and didn't feel like I HAD to carry on. Sure, the overarching chase of Dr. Electric/Chagra gives a "tune in next week" incentive to everything, but each issue has a relatively self-contained story. This worked great in decades prior when you waited expectantly for next week's issue, but today many readers are simply reading a trade paperback regardless.
Still, I would still recommend this to any Kirby fan or a fan of 7os DC Comics in general!
November 19, 2022
I don't mind absurd, nonsensical stories like this, especially when they feature characters that rarely get to see the spotlight, but this was a bit much. I did enjoy it, and I think it mostly came together by the end, but my eyes were glazing over for most of it. There's a big difference between creating an intriguing mystery with a lot of moving parts that lead the reader to an inevitable conclusion, versus creating a jiggling mess of parts that don't seem to mean anything in particular but are suddenly revealed in the end to have some purpose. I think this story unfortunately falls in the latter category, because I was truly uninterested in whatever "mystery" there was meant to be. However, the character interactions and the fun of the absurdity itself made it enjoyable enough to forgive the seeming lack of direction.
Overall, not great, not terrible, but at least it's unique. Oh, and I think the story is definitely better if you've read Cosmic Odyssey beforehand so you at least have some preexisting attachment to Forager (though it's not necessarily required).
Overall, not great, not terrible, but at least it's unique. Oh, and I think the story is definitely better if you've read Cosmic Odyssey beforehand so you at least have some preexisting attachment to Forager (though it's not necessarily required).
April 23, 2018
I miss Madman. And I miss the Neil Gaiman run on Sandman. And I love Michael and Laura Allred's art.
I don't care about most of the DC Universe, and, in particular, I don't care about The New Gods. I don't usually enjoy dreams within dreams, or stories where you're supposed to guess what is and isn't atually happening.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this intersection of things I am nostalgic for, and things I have never had the fucks for. I rolled my eyes often at the 90s style snappy patter a la "Vile things, I think I love you." but I kept reading this weird, trippy little story, and am ultimately glad I did.
I recommend it for fans of Allred's Madman Vol. 1: The Oddity Odyssey, people looking for Sandman-like stories that don't feature Morpheus (and yet feature Sandman), pop-art comic enthusiasts, and fans of DC Comics who are looking for a story that isn't currently mired in Rebirth continuity.
I don't care about most of the DC Universe, and, in particular, I don't care about The New Gods. I don't usually enjoy dreams within dreams, or stories where you're supposed to guess what is and isn't atually happening.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this intersection of things I am nostalgic for, and things I have never had the fucks for. I rolled my eyes often at the 90s style snappy patter a la "Vile things, I think I love you." but I kept reading this weird, trippy little story, and am ultimately glad I did.
I recommend it for fans of Allred's Madman Vol. 1: The Oddity Odyssey, people looking for Sandman-like stories that don't feature Morpheus (and yet feature Sandman), pop-art comic enthusiasts, and fans of DC Comics who are looking for a story that isn't currently mired in Rebirth continuity.
December 3, 2023
"Bug! The Adventures of Forager" offers a lively meta-journey through the different properties of Jack Kirby, but it's ultimately too self-referential for me to fully enjoy.
This collection is illustrated and colored by Mike and Lisa Allred, so it's a wonder to look at. The characters and settings are imaginative and full of color. Our protagonists tend to have similar faces--it's tough to tell most of them apart in a close-up--but I love Allred's dark lines and Kirby-inspired outlines.
The writing isn't as successful. The story is crafted by Lee Allred (Mike's brother). It starts in a dreamspace and continues to follow a dream logic as it proceeds, with plenty of hidden symbols and magic to accompany what's essentially a "chosen one" narrative.
The writing isn't bad, but it's rushed and punny. As the issues pile up, it seems more like an exercise in cleverness than a story, even if I do enjoy visiting Kirby's different creative properties, including OMAC and New Genesis.
This collection is illustrated and colored by Mike and Lisa Allred, so it's a wonder to look at. The characters and settings are imaginative and full of color. Our protagonists tend to have similar faces--it's tough to tell most of them apart in a close-up--but I love Allred's dark lines and Kirby-inspired outlines.
The writing isn't as successful. The story is crafted by Lee Allred (Mike's brother). It starts in a dreamspace and continues to follow a dream logic as it proceeds, with plenty of hidden symbols and magic to accompany what's essentially a "chosen one" narrative.
The writing isn't bad, but it's rushed and punny. As the issues pile up, it seems more like an exercise in cleverness than a story, even if I do enjoy visiting Kirby's different creative properties, including OMAC and New Genesis.
January 13, 2024
Yep, it's definitely an Allred publication....
The art style is what you would expect from the Allreds, and the story is as off-the-wall zany, too, although it actually makes a bit more sense on a panel-to-panel level than some other of their creations (cough*Madman*cough). Bug wanders through the DC Universe, with New Gods, The Losers, and other characters from the dustier corners of the universe getting a brief moment to... not shine, but spew crazy and then disappear. The story is a Memento-style time-travel trek where Bug keeps moving backwards in time and seeing how each scenario he encounters he inadvertently set up. It's got some novel ideas and throws a few curve balls. But ultimately, it doesn't really feel like an important story. And if you're not a fan of the Allred style, there's nothing here that will change your mind.
The art style is what you would expect from the Allreds, and the story is as off-the-wall zany, too, although it actually makes a bit more sense on a panel-to-panel level than some other of their creations (cough*Madman*cough). Bug wanders through the DC Universe, with New Gods, The Losers, and other characters from the dustier corners of the universe getting a brief moment to... not shine, but spew crazy and then disappear. The story is a Memento-style time-travel trek where Bug keeps moving backwards in time and seeing how each scenario he encounters he inadvertently set up. It's got some novel ideas and throws a few curve balls. But ultimately, it doesn't really feel like an important story. And if you're not a fan of the Allred style, there's nothing here that will change your mind.
August 7, 2019
What a surreal mashup of characters and concepts with artwork to match by the Allreds in loving tribute to Jack "King" Kirby. Forager is a minor character from the Fourth World but, as with any Kirby creation, has enough life to inspire generations of comic book creators. This mini series by the Allreds shows their talents at utilizing Kirby's characters to further the story of Forager. Fresh twists on some concepts like "The Wall" of "The Source" and the cautionary tale of seeking knowledge for the sake of all else by Metron. Good to see "The Losers" be included in the story, too. Just like seeing the cameo of Mokkari from the Evil Factory, from the Jimmy Olsen series. A fun romp. Well worth reading on how the 21st century is treating "The King's" creations.
Read
October 21, 2025I feel like I should like this more than I did. This requires a focused mind, but there is so much zaniness involved, time travel and multiverses and dream states and the fourth world--it was a heady mix that made me feel constantly unsettled and scrambled. Felt like a more explicitly "for fun" version of a crash course in Jack Kirby characters mishmashing and bouncing off each other.
I cannot rate this any stars until I fully understand it. Until I get it and can follow the flow of the plot.
If you read this, you might go mad. And to save yourself from madness, you might not remember all of it. But you might be stronger and smarter than me!
I cannot rate this any stars until I fully understand it. Until I get it and can follow the flow of the plot.
If you read this, you might go mad. And to save yourself from madness, you might not remember all of it. But you might be stronger and smarter than me!
June 25, 2018
This was pretty awesome, and big old love letter to Jack Kirby. The Allreds put in almost every DC character and concept Kirby ever created. The story was pretty funny and snappy, and the art was, always, amazing. The back-up featured an old Jack Cole character called Midnight, and was written and drawn by James Harvey (artist on the Consentacle card game!). Harvey’s layouts were pretty sweet, almost like a mix between Winsor McCay and Chris Ware, but they were occasionally a bit difficult to read.
July 23, 2020
As always, husband and wife team Michael and Laura Allred create amazing pop-art visuals. But despite some obviously detailed planning. Lee Allred's story is nigh incomprehensible. Even reading this shortly after diving into Jack Kirby's New Gods story where the protagonist debuted, I barely understood this graphic novel. Going into this story with zero knowledge of Kirby's mythos would make this one hopelessly convoluted. Overall, flip through Bug! for the art, but don't even bother with the story.
August 17, 2018
Collects Bug! The Adventures of Forager issues #1-6
Other than Tom King's "Mister Miracle," I haven't read any stories starring "Fourth World" characters. In fact, since "Mister Miracle" is still ongoing as I write this, "Bug" was the first "Fourth World" story that I've finished. I bought this because I'm a big fan of the Allred Family, and this book didn't disappoint. It is quirky, but entertaining. Great art. Fun story.
Other than Tom King's "Mister Miracle," I haven't read any stories starring "Fourth World" characters. In fact, since "Mister Miracle" is still ongoing as I write this, "Bug" was the first "Fourth World" story that I've finished. I bought this because I'm a big fan of the Allred Family, and this book didn't disappoint. It is quirky, but entertaining. Great art. Fun story.
August 22, 2023
Since I'm only familiar with the Young Justice version of the character, it was interesting to see what the canon version is like...and wouldn't you know it, a lot less naively charming and a lot more Mowgli-if-he-were-a-quirky-wisecracker.
Regardless, his journey through the many insane plots and locales of the DC universe, along with meeting up with familiar and new characters, was a pretty fun & trippy time.
Regardless, his journey through the many insane plots and locales of the DC universe, along with meeting up with familiar and new characters, was a pretty fun & trippy time.
April 28, 2018
Pro: Disegni ottimi.
Contro: Trama no-sense, storia illeggibile se non si conoscono i personaggi di Quarto Mondo di Jack Kirby, salti di scena troppo rapidi al punto che ho avuto la continua sensazione che in più punti della storia ci mancasse qualche vignetta.
Non lo consiglio neanche ai fan dell'autore...
2 stelle solo per i disegni che sono spettacolari!
Contro: Trama no-sense, storia illeggibile se non si conoscono i personaggi di Quarto Mondo di Jack Kirby, salti di scena troppo rapidi al punto che ho avuto la continua sensazione che in più punti della storia ci mancasse qualche vignetta.
Non lo consiglio neanche ai fan dell'autore...
2 stelle solo per i disegni che sono spettacolari!
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