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The Goon Bunch Of Old Crap Omnibus #1
The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Volume 1: An Omnibus
The first omnibus volume of Eric Powell's Eisner Award winning series, THE GOON! The Nameless Man, the Zombie Priest, has come to town to build a gang from the undead. Yet even with an unlimited supply of soldiers, the Priest cannot move in on the territory controlled by the crime boss Labrazio and his unstoppable enforcer-the Goon. But when the Priest discovers Goon's most closely held secret, the balance of power threatens to change forever! The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Book Volume 1 collects The Goon books 0-3 (The Goon: Rough Stuff, The Goon: Nothing But Misery, The Goon: My Murderous Childhood, & The Goon: Heaps of Ruination)
496 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2019
14 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Eric Powell
504 books280 followersEric Powell has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD Magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, the Avengers, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and Action Comics.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 30, 2019
I love me some Goon. It's got that same off-kilter, weirdness of Hellboy with even more dark humor and cartoon violence. It's at times funny, irreverent, poignant, horror, slapstick, strange, noir, and always fantastic. I like that Powell keeps the stories down to one issue but then has returning characters. It's kind of the best of both worlds. Any new reader can jump on at any point and long term readers are rewarded. I love the irreverence of this title. Powell's art is fantastic to begin with and it only gets better as he grows as an artist. This collects trades #0-3.
Received a review copy from Albatross Funnybooks and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Albatross Funnybooks and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 25, 2021
The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Volume 1 collects Rough Stuff, Nothin' but Misery, Mr Murderous Childhood, and Heaps of Ruination, all starring The Goon!
Once upon a time, there was a really shitty comic shop with even shittier service. I traded some stuff to them and got this. They went out of business shortly before the pandemic so I definitely got the better end of the deal.
The Goon is a musclebound buck-toothed thug living in a 1930s city with a zombie problem. Over the course of this volume, he fights zombies, a giant zombie chimp, a mad scientist, a giant octopus, tentacled horrors from beyond space and time, and various other menaces.
This is a light-hearted book, high on humor and violence. The Goon never met a problem he couldn't solve by punching or hitting with a pipe wrench. It's like a dumber, more light hearted Hellboy, whom The Goon has a crossover with in the penultimate tale of this collection.
The artwork reminds me of a lighter Hellboy. I also notice some Sam Kieth, Kelly Jones, and Jack Davis in the artwork. This checked all the boxes for me.
The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Volume 1 is the beginning of a new obsession for me. Five out of five zombie heads.
Once upon a time, there was a really shitty comic shop with even shittier service. I traded some stuff to them and got this. They went out of business shortly before the pandemic so I definitely got the better end of the deal.
The Goon is a musclebound buck-toothed thug living in a 1930s city with a zombie problem. Over the course of this volume, he fights zombies, a giant zombie chimp, a mad scientist, a giant octopus, tentacled horrors from beyond space and time, and various other menaces.
This is a light-hearted book, high on humor and violence. The Goon never met a problem he couldn't solve by punching or hitting with a pipe wrench. It's like a dumber, more light hearted Hellboy, whom The Goon has a crossover with in the penultimate tale of this collection.
The artwork reminds me of a lighter Hellboy. I also notice some Sam Kieth, Kelly Jones, and Jack Davis in the artwork. This checked all the boxes for me.
The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Volume 1 is the beginning of a new obsession for me. Five out of five zombie heads.
March 22, 2021
It has a rough start and has such a simple cliche ridden story that it was quite off-turning but considering that this was earlier in the man's career in comics and that he also mentions that he didn't want the first issues to be included softens the blow somewhat. It got funny from the middle onwards and towards the end it had some charm and character, so I eventually did get my money's worth.
What I can't talk down is the art, I loved it throughout the book, only the real life photo's issue was horrible. I am going to read the rest, as this one seems to evolve as the writer evolved too.
If you are getting this, you might consider skipping the first third of the book!
3 out of 5 stars
What I can't talk down is the art, I loved it throughout the book, only the real life photo's issue was horrible. I am going to read the rest, as this one seems to evolve as the writer evolved too.
If you are getting this, you might consider skipping the first third of the book!
3 out of 5 stars
May 30, 2021
For all of the grumbling in some of the reviews here, you would think that this collection was mostly comprised of early sub-par stuff from GOON creator Eric Powell. I've been reading THE GOON since his Dark Horse debut, and going back and revisiting these early adventures just confirms what I already thought: Powell pretty much emerged into the industry as a full-blown genius of the medium. Reading these early issues again, and having just finished the first volume of Powell's HILLBILLY, I can safely say that he is a close second to Mike Mignola in the Horror comics department. Yes, THE GOON has a more comedic bent, but Horror is right there, holding hands with slapstick comedy, Damon Runyon speech patterns, pathos, and tragedy. This book has it all. You deserve to check this book out...you'll become a fan, trust me.
February 10, 2022
Goofy, whacky and charming in its own strange way. This really does give off 'cult classic' vibes with its dark humour, unconventional protagonist and horror imagery. The start is pretty slow, especially the first 3 parts which are done in black and white, but it does pick up as you progress through the stories and watch as Powell's creativity and art blossoms. Unfortunately, I never found myself too invested in anything that happens, with the plot comparible to a TV Show that I would watch in the background whilst doing something else. If you're a fan of the noir genre mixed with absurd comedy and horror, you will more than likely get a kick out of this. I'm glad I tried it, it's just not my cup of tea.
September 20, 2023
4.5 stars. This tickled me. Very much feels like a comic strip and reminded me of reading Garfield, Calvin & Hobbs, Bone, etc. That same movement and hilarity - but with huge amounts of gangster on zombie violence. 😁
As a pubescent kid I was addicted to those collections of early three-panel Garfield strips and would frequently find myself in stitches at the expressions when Jon or Garfield found themselves in a sudden pinch.
The Goon similarly had me laughing out loud but it would be at huge, gross violence like a shotgun blast or shovel to a zombie skull, shocked eyeball flying out sideways. I know - that sounds nasty (and I'm not a guy who really can take much nasty) but is done in such a fun, playful way.
The dialogue and scenes in the pub are also hilarious, snatches of conversations scattered about the place.
I very nearly gave it five stars. Loved it.
As a pubescent kid I was addicted to those collections of early three-panel Garfield strips and would frequently find myself in stitches at the expressions when Jon or Garfield found themselves in a sudden pinch.
The Goon similarly had me laughing out loud but it would be at huge, gross violence like a shotgun blast or shovel to a zombie skull, shocked eyeball flying out sideways. I know - that sounds nasty (and I'm not a guy who really can take much nasty) but is done in such a fun, playful way.
The dialogue and scenes in the pub are also hilarious, snatches of conversations scattered about the place.
I very nearly gave it five stars. Loved it.
September 19, 2025
Door de oudste afleveringen moet je je een beetje doorworstelen, maar eens Eric Powell zijn draai vindt, gaat The Goon als een raket!
December 3, 2021
I heard good things about Eric Powell and his Goon, so on a whim I decided to buy the first Omnibus edition. Which was a good choice.
Had I bought the thinner collections I probably would have stopped after the first volume.
The oldest stories are not quite to my liking. They contain a few good ideas and had me chuckle a few times here and there, but overall weren't exactly to my liking. But around the halfway mark the Goon really started hitting my funny-bone and the artwork (which actually started out pretty strong!) improved a lot. So now I'm ready for more Old Crap!
Had I bought the thinner collections I probably would have stopped after the first volume.
The oldest stories are not quite to my liking. They contain a few good ideas and had me chuckle a few times here and there, but overall weren't exactly to my liking. But around the halfway mark the Goon really started hitting my funny-bone and the artwork (which actually started out pretty strong!) improved a lot. So now I'm ready for more Old Crap!
September 26, 2024
What a blast!
May 22, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 4.5
I didn't know what to expect when I started purchasing these books when they started being collected late last year. I would have liked to grab the library editions, although not knowing exactly what I would think of this series (I didn't have high hopes if I'm honest). Now, of course, I would dearly loved to have this amazing art in hardcover deluxe format. Eric Powell's art really, really helps to bring this series to life. Whilst the off kilter, abstract (and definitely up my alley) humour might be my favourite takeaway from the series, I've never laughed so much at a book in my life. Still, to have Powell's amazing artwork filling these pages, it certainly brings this package to life in a most spectacular way. I couldn't imagine The Goon, Franky, The Spider or any of these other characters drawn by anyone other than Eric.
This collection doesn't quite come across as a series proper, rather a collection of odds and sods in the early days of the run. There is more than enough good storytelling and eye watering humour to hook even the most cynical and jaded of pundits (that'll be me then). In amongst all the cartoonish violence and crudity, there is a surprising amount of heart at the centre of this as well. Powell really seems quite capable in balancing all these elements very well. Knowing when to go for the jugular, the heart or the funny bone. I'm really, really glad that I bought and read this series, and it comes highly recommended. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
I didn't know what to expect when I started purchasing these books when they started being collected late last year. I would have liked to grab the library editions, although not knowing exactly what I would think of this series (I didn't have high hopes if I'm honest). Now, of course, I would dearly loved to have this amazing art in hardcover deluxe format. Eric Powell's art really, really helps to bring this series to life. Whilst the off kilter, abstract (and definitely up my alley) humour might be my favourite takeaway from the series, I've never laughed so much at a book in my life. Still, to have Powell's amazing artwork filling these pages, it certainly brings this package to life in a most spectacular way. I couldn't imagine The Goon, Franky, The Spider or any of these other characters drawn by anyone other than Eric.
This collection doesn't quite come across as a series proper, rather a collection of odds and sods in the early days of the run. There is more than enough good storytelling and eye watering humour to hook even the most cynical and jaded of pundits (that'll be me then). In amongst all the cartoonish violence and crudity, there is a surprising amount of heart at the centre of this as well. Powell really seems quite capable in balancing all these elements very well. Knowing when to go for the jugular, the heart or the funny bone. I'm really, really glad that I bought and read this series, and it comes highly recommended. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
May 22, 2020
One of my biggest problem with this is less the books themselves and how they are collected. It separates them in the original trade paperback releases and then the issues are chapters within those, restarting back at chapter one per book. This isn't a huge problem but there's just no mention of the actual issue numbers anywhere which is kind of annoying.
One of my friends has loved this series forever and I've read the first two books (Rough Stuff and Nothin But Misery) before at his house or whatever. When I read them way back then I didn't love them and as I read them this time my opinion stayed pretty much the same. It's fun and has a funny sense of humor but they feel rough and not as clean as the following books. It wasn't until I read those other two books in this collection (My Murderous Childhood and Heaps of Ruination) that I realized how great this series is. The art increases greatly and the writing is so sharp, creating such entertaining stand alone issues that also build up a world filled with rich characters. Eric Powell seems like a very self aware creator so he was able to pin point the things that weakened the earlier issues and completely remove them as the series went on, to make what are virtually perfect and hilarious stories.
One of my friends has loved this series forever and I've read the first two books (Rough Stuff and Nothin But Misery) before at his house or whatever. When I read them way back then I didn't love them and as I read them this time my opinion stayed pretty much the same. It's fun and has a funny sense of humor but they feel rough and not as clean as the following books. It wasn't until I read those other two books in this collection (My Murderous Childhood and Heaps of Ruination) that I realized how great this series is. The art increases greatly and the writing is so sharp, creating such entertaining stand alone issues that also build up a world filled with rich characters. Eric Powell seems like a very self aware creator so he was able to pin point the things that weakened the earlier issues and completely remove them as the series went on, to make what are virtually perfect and hilarious stories.
February 10, 2020
I will always be a fan of the Goon regardless of what publisher it's with. Seeing this collection really displays how the initial Albatross transitions into more mainstream stuff. The jokes and gags are often fun. At the same time though, the unforgettable characters and story are a must for anyone. Not to mention, the very self-aware humor. The Goon constantly mocks anything it comes across including how only introspective series get awards. Heck it's advertised as a five-time Eisner winner and it's a bunch of Laugh Out Loud moments. Doesn't mean that there's not a story to all of this. The Goon is on a journey of self-realization throughout the entire thing. Who needs a deeper meaning when you can just laugh at the mundane nonsense while cruising through the weird. Not this Goon.
February 18, 2025
This is one of those series that I didn't know I wanted until i started reading it. The star I'd take off from it would probably be because reading it now, in the 2020s feels really weird. Not in that any of the subject matter is offensive, quite the opposite.
The tone and characters of The Goon probably inspired/feels really reminisant of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, (just way less annoying and more adult) which is great, I love a blend of Action, Comedy and Horror (but man does it remind me how far away the 2000s were).
Ontop of that, I really wish zombies weren't whored out like they were in the 2010s since the concept and character of the Zombie Priest is gold. But the more I read, the more I realized how much of a joke Vampires were at the time this was written.
All in all, I'd give a copy of this to my niece and nephew over Calvin and Hobbes.
The tone and characters of The Goon probably inspired/feels really reminisant of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, (just way less annoying and more adult) which is great, I love a blend of Action, Comedy and Horror (but man does it remind me how far away the 2000s were).
Ontop of that, I really wish zombies weren't whored out like they were in the 2010s since the concept and character of the Zombie Priest is gold. But the more I read, the more I realized how much of a joke Vampires were at the time this was written.
All in all, I'd give a copy of this to my niece and nephew over Calvin and Hobbes.
June 19, 2024
My partner said I would love the Goon for like 2 years but I haven’t had much time to read. I ordered this on my kindle and am immediately an Eric Powell fan. I have the 4 subsequent Omnibi on the way as we speak. The characters are funny, the dialogue witty, the art so stylistically retro and grotesque in a beautiful way, and the humor is black but also lighthearted? A book where zombies, a dead beat spider dad, and a prescient seal, “Ark Ark Ark!”(what did you say about Frankie’s mother?), all find their home is my kind of absurd. To the uninitiated that made no sense and I love it!
It’s not for everyone but it’s awesome!
It’s not for everyone but it’s awesome!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
It’s heaps of ruination on Lonely Street. I first read The Goon around 2012; a friend lent me a stack of the books and I was totally taken aback by how much I revelled in its lowbrow humor, and the grotesquerie of gangster villains and eldritch undead getting the tar smashed out of them by the Goon and Franky (“Knife to the eye!”). The Goon quickly shot up to my favorite comics of all time. This collection confirms that it wasn’t just a phase for me. I’m glad I came back to it- this time I plan to catch up and get all the way current.
August 19, 2025
Humor e Terror combinam muito quando a mente criativa sabe equilibrar as coisas
Eric Powell seduz com um traço cartunesco e uma escrita afiada.
não leve Goon a sério , mas se permita ir além da estranheza inicial e descubra um universo repleto de zumbis, gangters e todo tipo de criatura maluca que a mente humana possa imaginar
Essa HQ é uma grata surpresa toda que tenhamos mais volumes lançados pela editora mythos por aqui
Eric Powell seduz com um traço cartunesco e uma escrita afiada.
não leve Goon a sério , mas se permita ir além da estranheza inicial e descubra um universo repleto de zumbis, gangters e todo tipo de criatura maluca que a mente humana possa imaginar
Essa HQ é uma grata surpresa toda que tenhamos mais volumes lançados pela editora mythos por aqui
August 23, 2024
I can see why this is a favorite. I was expecting some serious story about New York City in the 1930's, but the first page starts with Zombie Kong. !!!! I found myself finding any reason to read about what dangers will the Goon face next.
December 21, 2024
Really really grew on me by the last two issues, and I absolutely adored the art throughout. The Frank Darabont intro was a nice surprise.
Overall, it has a lot of things I love, but for some reason I never fully bought in. Liked it enough to give the series another shot down the road though.
Overall, it has a lot of things I love, but for some reason I never fully bought in. Liked it enough to give the series another shot down the road though.
April 21, 2025
3,5 stars
It took me a few days to decide how many stars to give it. Decided to go between 3 and 4. It was good but I am still not sure if it was that good to carry on with the next installment... Time will show!
It took me a few days to decide how many stars to give it. Decided to go between 3 and 4. It was good but I am still not sure if it was that good to carry on with the next installment... Time will show!
June 19, 2024
Fun! This starts at the beginning and really shows the growth and chops of the author. Well done in terms of humor and artwork.
June 30, 2024
Quintessentially classic, can recommend confidently to entry level readers and comic enthusiasts alike, brief, hilarious and sometimes emotional I can say it’s a solid read cover to cover.
August 25, 2024
Truly rough stuff in the beginning, The Goon starts off mediocre but gets better and better and the final story contained in this book is not just the best but 100 times better than the rest of them.
October 22, 2024
Reading some classics this morning
May 7, 2025
I have been wanting to read The Goon for years! They finally have it on Libby and it is exactly as good as i was hoping.
November 22, 2024
It was fun
September 21, 2019
For all the author's protestations, the art at the start of this lengthy undertaking to show a zombie-smashing lunk is actually really good. Unfortunately it's the writing that drags this down to the low-brow, characterless mush it is. I have no idea why his sidekick is a mishmash of Al Capone and Bone. Still, if you can find favour with this trash (trash being both a compliment and criticism with this one) you will find this a wondrous publication, expertly replicating the old sepia flashbacks, the in-world advertising, and so on that made up the first four main arcs of the thing. The fact this stuff is still being produced when so much that is superior has dropped by the wayside is a very boggling thing indeed. Perhaps two stars for me – it's not sinfully bad, but nowhere is it funny as the guest intros suggest, and at least this saved me wanting to try out any of the other gazillion books.
April 28, 2023
Each of the four trades in this collection really deserve their own review, but I was reading them over a period of weeks and didn't get the dates down. That said, this is a great introduction to the Goon universe. I am saddened that Mr. Powell didn't keep coloring his issues this way, but the growing maturity of the series seemed to disallow it.
Please forgive a small brag here: I met Eric Powell at a Comic Con in 2015 and he seemed a kind-hearted gentleman who was a little bit sad. Definitely not the infantile frat-boy I sort of expected given his comic's sense of humor. As the Goon goes on, you see more of his serious side and that is both a wonder and disheartening.
If you are into horror comics and the styles of the 1930s-40s, definitely check this out. There is nothing else quite like it.
Please forgive a small brag here: I met Eric Powell at a Comic Con in 2015 and he seemed a kind-hearted gentleman who was a little bit sad. Definitely not the infantile frat-boy I sort of expected given his comic's sense of humor. As the Goon goes on, you see more of his serious side and that is both a wonder and disheartening.
If you are into horror comics and the styles of the 1930s-40s, definitely check this out. There is nothing else quite like it.
September 30, 2019
The Goon is a great deal of fun to read. I like the blend of horror, noir, and humor. Reading this makes me laugh. Parts of the book are quite poignant, however, as the back stories of several of the characters are revealed, and dark hints dropped of secrets yet untold. I always recommend reading The Goon, and this omnibus collection is no different.
I received a free ARC of this graphic novel in return for an honest review.
I received a free ARC of this graphic novel in return for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
Morsom, skæv og charmerende. Man holder med Goon som slås mod gangster zombier. Det er morsomt, der er et glimt i øjet med et meget veldefineret miljø, hvor det virker logisk at der er gangster zombier.
Historierne er korte og simple. Og det er en fordel i den verden der skabes.
Goon er stærk Og brutal, men dog med hjerte. Han har en god baggrundshistorie som gør, at man forstår hvorfor han er blevet så brutal so han er.
Goon er sjov, grotesk, simpel og meget fantasifuld.
Historierne er korte og simple. Og det er en fordel i den verden der skabes.
Goon er stærk Og brutal, men dog med hjerte. Han har en god baggrundshistorie som gør, at man forstår hvorfor han er blevet så brutal so han er.
Goon er sjov, grotesk, simpel og meget fantasifuld.
August 27, 2022
[3.3]
Great art, and fairly entertaining. It's almost purely comical though, and much of it isn't that fun to me. Most of the stories don't tie together to create a narrative, but work as stand alone episodes. The overall architecture of the stand alone stories are very similar as well. New bad guy in town - Goon kicks their butt - the end.
Still, it's good and entertaining, and isn't trying much to be anything else.
Great art, and fairly entertaining. It's almost purely comical though, and much of it isn't that fun to me. Most of the stories don't tie together to create a narrative, but work as stand alone episodes. The overall architecture of the stand alone stories are very similar as well. New bad guy in town - Goon kicks their butt - the end.
Still, it's good and entertaining, and isn't trying much to be anything else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews