What do you think?
Rate this book
The Exterminators #2
The Exterminators, Vol. 2: Insurgency
Written by Simon OliverCover by Philip Bond Art by Tony Moore, Chris Samnee & Ande Parks In this stunning volume collecting THE EXTERMINATORS #6-10, Henry and Stretch get an emergency call to dispose of a black widow that's been terrorizing the local S&M club. But what they encounter will change the course of their newfound mission. Advance-solicited; on sale March 7 - 128 pg, FC, $12.99 US - MATURE READERS
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2007
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Simon Oliver
207 books26 followersSimon Oliver was hatched in South London in 1969. Since that date he has consistently strived for mediocrity in a number of fields of employment, from cooking at the legendary Hacienda Club of Manchester in the late 1980's, scuba diving instructor in the planet's more tropical climes, to a career as a camera assistant in Hollywood. With such a spotty and heterogeneous employment record is seemed only fitting that the comic book would industry welcome him with open arms in 2005 for his writing debut in THE EXTERMINATORS.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews
March 4, 2018
Bill Waterson once famously said that, "...comics are incredibly stupid." This second addition to the Exterminators series is a perfect example of this. Whether its gaps in logic, choppy narrative development or maybe just a heaping helping of bugs and shit, Exterminators Vol 2:Insurgency best typifies the worst in comics.
Nothing really makes any sense in this one. The hinted at conspiracy has been revealed to disappointing effect. Certain characters have been inserted while others have been mangled. Misplaced interludes, utter nonsense, and mawkish insertions of meditations/expositions on Eastern Religion compound the already dull and inane already present.
If Exterminators had been published as a vehicle for clever ad placement, its creation could have been justified. But its not. Its just a story of bugs, more bugs, and now a stream of (literal) illustrated fecal matter. The final cascade of shit blasted forth with the same explosive force of my last bowel movement. I enjoyed that but I did not enjoy this comic.
Two poop encrusted thumbs down.
Nothing really makes any sense in this one. The hinted at conspiracy has been revealed to disappointing effect. Certain characters have been inserted while others have been mangled. Misplaced interludes, utter nonsense, and mawkish insertions of meditations/expositions on Eastern Religion compound the already dull and inane already present.
If Exterminators had been published as a vehicle for clever ad placement, its creation could have been justified. But its not. Its just a story of bugs, more bugs, and now a stream of (literal) illustrated fecal matter. The final cascade of shit blasted forth with the same explosive force of my last bowel movement. I enjoyed that but I did not enjoy this comic.
Two poop encrusted thumbs down.
August 31, 2010
The story slows down a bit in the second volume, which is unfortunate, because I was enjoying the pacing. But Oliver is letting his mystey unfold, so he's allowed to be a little more brooding.
The art was a little sketchier, but still good. Moore reminds me of Steve Dillon, except that Moore can make characters who have different faces. The tone of 'The Exterminators' is likewise similar to Preacher, which Dillon drew, except Moore doesn't have Ennis' annoying obsession with manliness.
There were some odd moments in this volume, though. I mean, the whole series is strange and unpredictable, but I mean a more worrying oddness. There were a few instances where homosexual urges was linked with delusional sociopathic madness, which isn't a great sign, especially as it happened with two apparently unrelated characters.
It's great to present characters as having different urges, and homosexuality shouldn't be portrayed as purely 'good', as that would be just as problematic, but I don't appreciate it as a cheap way to make villains seem more alien and menacing.
So far, the antagonists have been, as a rule, pretty one-dimensional, which wasn't as noticeable in the first volume, since most of the menace was coming from nonhuman elements. Hopefully this lack of dynamic psychological depth won't become a factor in the series.
I also found the 'dark, mysterious guy who instantly attracts several women who want him' to be a bit cheaply dealt with. It's not that I don't appreciate love triangles, but they generally need more development. That being said, Oliver isn't being one-dimensional about it, he even lampshades is at one point, and amusingly.
It's my hope that when we get into the meat of the story, Oliver won't break his pacing and devolve into a simplistic adventure, because he's got a lot more going for him, and there's no rule that says you have to sacrifice depth for fun.
The art was a little sketchier, but still good. Moore reminds me of Steve Dillon, except that Moore can make characters who have different faces. The tone of 'The Exterminators' is likewise similar to Preacher, which Dillon drew, except Moore doesn't have Ennis' annoying obsession with manliness.
There were some odd moments in this volume, though. I mean, the whole series is strange and unpredictable, but I mean a more worrying oddness. There were a few instances where homosexual urges was linked with delusional sociopathic madness, which isn't a great sign, especially as it happened with two apparently unrelated characters.
It's great to present characters as having different urges, and homosexuality shouldn't be portrayed as purely 'good', as that would be just as problematic, but I don't appreciate it as a cheap way to make villains seem more alien and menacing.
So far, the antagonists have been, as a rule, pretty one-dimensional, which wasn't as noticeable in the first volume, since most of the menace was coming from nonhuman elements. Hopefully this lack of dynamic psychological depth won't become a factor in the series.
I also found the 'dark, mysterious guy who instantly attracts several women who want him' to be a bit cheaply dealt with. It's not that I don't appreciate love triangles, but they generally need more development. That being said, Oliver isn't being one-dimensional about it, he even lampshades is at one point, and amusingly.
It's my hope that when we get into the meat of the story, Oliver won't break his pacing and devolve into a simplistic adventure, because he's got a lot more going for him, and there's no rule that says you have to sacrifice depth for fun.
June 7, 2011
3.5/5 stars
July 8, 2018
3.5 stars
May 16, 2025
What an insane volume! After the first, I knew I had to find more! This series has been wild and I'm shocked that I've never heard anyone talk about it. It's got the perfect blend of bug killing action, romantic drama, and strange mysteries to keep me craving more. Plus the art is absolutely brutal! So much to love about this series. This volume takes everything from the first and ramps it up. Getting more and more into the mysterious side of the story. We're starting to uncover secrets that could lead to a massive event happening. We also have our little love triangle going on that I am all here for. And of course, lots of extermination. Phenomenal stuff so far. Can't wait to read more! Highly recommend!
February 24, 2020
So the hints of mysticism became more focused this volume. Do the bugs have some kind of intelligence? Are they being controlled by a third party? What's the deal with that big evil corporation with the drugs from last volume? Can someone survive a tidal wave of sewerage?
I like the main characters and I am interested to see where this is going, so onto volume two.
Tony Moore's art continues to rock as usual.
I like the main characters and I am interested to see where this is going, so onto volume two.
Tony Moore's art continues to rock as usual.
September 1, 2024
I'll repeat my warning from my previous review. If the would be reader is in any way entophobic, as in afraid of bugs STAY AWAY. If you aren't, read this insane, funny as hell, entirely insane volume. Only Garth Ennis Preacher made me laugh more. I have spoken.
January 19, 2019
Our adventure continues as the heroes confront the roach menace and the mystery of the locked box.
September 29, 2025
Volume 2 was better than volume 1. A really fun read and great art work.
October 7, 2007
The line that separates us from them has broken. The second book in a title is always more important to me than the first. The first is the price of admit ion. "You've hooked me with the first book, now reel me in." This book is doing a good job on keeping interested with the story, it just hasn't wowed me yet. The story telling is solid with Simon Oliver's writing and Tony Moore's artwork. Even the colors, by Adne Parks', make you feel like you are in gritty LA. The first book does more to shock and has a nice pass that sets up multiple stories to come. Where this volume focuses more on the cockroaches insurgent strikes on mankind. I think the highlight of the book is that it fleshes out the characters more and introduce, with great depth, some new ones. The stand alone third chapter is a real treat and you learn so much more about the main characters. Although this book differs form the first it does something the first didn't. I care more about these character. I am invested, or at least for now.
February 18, 2012
Started this series with book three and had to go find the first two! Well worth the effort, too. This fun series centers around an exterminating company with questionable connections to an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who worshiped bugs - scarabs, specifically. In modern times there are connections equally odd - to the chemical/pesticide company that enhanced roaches instead of wiping them out. The combination bodes well for bugs and the scarabgod guy; not do well for the exterminators, or people in general!
August 31, 2007
This series is very cool -- Imagine Dale from King of the Hill with a team of bug-killers who are saving the world from the 3000 year-old reincarnated spirit of a tyrranical pharoah and you'd be close to what the series is kind of about. Exterminators is packed with literary references, philosophical quotes, and great b-movie style horror and humor elements. This would make an awesome, very quotable movie. Really glad I stumbled upon this today!
February 22, 2011
The further adventures of the Bug-Be-Gone boys continue to entertain. I'm not a big fan of bugs myself and this series delivers just the right amount of squeamish to go with the action and the characters.
May 22, 2008
Totally fun. Great art that really captures the look and feel of Southern California.
October 24, 2009
Highly enjoyable and well crafted and occasionally very funny.
July 6, 2010
To listen to my review go to V for Vertigo, Episode 68 at http://vforvertigo.blogspot.com or on iTunes.
July 18, 2010
Bugs, exterminators, egyptology, resurrected pharaohs, mysterious characters, human depravity. I liked it.
November 14, 2010
The continuation of the most messed up comics fun I've had in a while.
March 10, 2012
Weird story line involving exterminators, bugs, and the supernatural. Includes some female nudity and sexual activity, plus some really extreme business practices. Overall, rather entertaining.
June 8, 2016
Not quite as great as the first volume. Lots of exposition. Looking forward to reading the next volume though.
May 27, 2010
comics,horror
February 3, 2012
Wonderful series, very grimy and addictive.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews