A SALUTE TO BLUE COLLAR REDNECKS WHO MAKE THIS COUNTRY RUN. Following his newfound fame for apprehending Plastic Surgeon to the Stars and serial killer Dr. Vanderlay Mukerjee, Gary moves back into the five-million-dollar mansion he bought with his lottery winnings. What was formerly Turpentine Acres is now Kensington Gardens, an upscale community that frowns upon Gary's lawn ornaments and Confederate flag. But when a thousand-pound feral hog begins savaging Kensington Gardens, the HOA calls on Gary to deal with the monster. Gary must also contend with wild hippos, a swimming pool full of iguanas, a robot buffalo with alien multiple personality disorder, and his girl Krystal's upcoming wrestling match with the transgendered Thing Called Xue. “Mike Baron has crafted a comic masterpiece of a novel. Unforgettable, colorful cast, Sustained comedy gold on every page.” – Chuck Dixon, author of the Levon Cade Series
HOGZILLA is the follow-up to the sleeper hit book, FLORIDA MAN by Mike Baron. HOGZILLA is a worthy heir to the throne. Think the main Florida Man himself, Gary Duba, can't possibly get into any more Florida Man hijinks? Think again. Mike Baron delivers a whole new tale with lots more calamity.
Where I found FLORIDA MAN a bit all over the place with its narrative, HOGZILLA laser focuses on main plot and weaves the rest of the story around it. There are asides and sub-plots that all feed into the main story line. In that way, HOGZILLA improves on what FLORIDA MAN laid down in less clunkier fashion.
What held FLORIDA MAN together for me was how fun it was despite its lack of focus and hyper-active plot line. That's not lost in HOGZILLA either. Gary Duba is the glue that makes the book stick each and every time. He is a stand out character in a Florida Crime Novel landscape that's starting to get overcrowded. A Florida Man can survive.
It's no surprise that I enjoyed this second round into the life of Florida Man. Nothing is stale here, only improved where it needed to be. Its a great ride that should be fun for any gun-toting', hog hunting, swamp boating Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey enthusiast. Can't wait to get into book three which was teased a lot during the events of book two.
With the novel “Hogzilla” wordsmith Mike Baron has established himself as the heir apparent to the legendary chronicler of Florida’s rougher side the great Harry Crews! This glorious follow up to last years gem “Florida Man” is more akin to “The Empire Strikes Back” than “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” in the hit and miss world of sequels! Antihero Gary Duba (Florida Man) is back in rocking form and tackling some of the hot button issues of our times with a nuanced approach not witnessed since the “very special episode” of Roseanne that focused on DJ Connor’s blossoming “self-love” habits! Invasive species destroying native habitats, neighborhood gentrification, Confederate battle flag flying, the worshipping of false idols and the delicate question of gender fluidity in professional sports are some of the prickly newsworthy topics not so delicately chronicled. A bonus that will please grandma and the blue rinse Anglophile set is a cameo by a “wokey” exiled Royal couple that refuse to fade away. This most excellent novel is a rip roaring 342 pages of high quality drug and booze fueled fun that never gets dull! As with the original Florida Man this may not be suitable reading for millennial snowflakes or anyone recently matriculated in “Gender Studies”!
This is quite the wild story! I really like Gary Duba, he's pretty much a born looser but by luck and a bit of skill he comes out on top! I like that he has bad traits but is basically a good person. I laughed out loud reading this book. I'll recommend it to my friends for sure!
2nd title in the Florida Man series and if possible, I enjoyed this one even better then the first. In this one Gary battles the aforementioned 1000 pound Hogzilla, but also deals with the death of the producer of his reality show, an overly sensitive HMO, a member of the serial killer fanboy club, an insane cult, and a robotic bison that has plans to run for Governor. All this while Krystal trains for a match against the Trans wrestler "A Thing Called XU"
Chances are if you read the first book and liked it, you’ll like this one. And vice versa. Literally picks up right where the first book ended. Same Gary, same gimmicks. A lot of making fun of Scientology which I enjoyed greatly 😂. Again, a few things a little far-fetched but a good dixie-drinking, no thinking, white trash read.
The underlying theme of the aliens controlling the robot Buffalo is that they abhor the Curse of Island. On my most never to watch list, taking the number one slot in fact, followed closely by Swamp Hunter. You have hit the bullseye, or such as it is hog’s eye, Mike Baron! You are off the charts zany and real at the same time. Your story is hysterically hilarious and totally entertaining. Having read both Hogzilla novels am now committed to read all you have written. Your talents are endlessly diversified, including your comics! Now, to kick back and enjoy the rest...
This is the funniest book I've read so far in 2023!
Mike Baron once again brings his readers a book that is a perfect anti-virus to the woke and politically correct attitudes that seem to be in many books, movies, and TV shows. It's like a breath of fresh air after being forced to clean out an entire floor of hotel rooms in San Diego after Comic-Con!
Gary and Krystal Duba are the worst neighbors you would ever have the misfortune to live near, but they are also the truest friends anyone could ever hope to have in their lives. Of course, you might go broke bailing them out of jail on a weekly basis, but there are drawbacks to any friendship!
Between them, Gary and Krystal take on Scientology, transgenderism, snooty neighbors, HOAs, alien invasions, the Stars and Bars, and about twenty other so-called 'hot button issues' with enough humor and depreciation that even Bernie Sanders might crack a smile. Of course he would deny it and then try to have the author shadow banned from social media, but that's just another Wednesday to a guy like Mike Baron.
We the readers also get introduced to another crop of supporting characters that will make you laugh, cry, and exclaim 'I have a cousin, brother, etc. just like that'! Mike also brings in his own version of Harry and Megan. Although they are only introduced here, they are spot on and should make for AWESOME supporting characters in the next volume, Catfish Calling!
Recommended for anyone who loves Mike Baron and laughing out loud until they fall out of their chair.
FIND IT! BUY IT! I'll hold your beer while you READ IT!
I have lived in Florida since 1975,and the last 3 of my 6 children were born here. These books are hilarious,if a bit crude. My new favorite word is "omma".Some of it is a bit over the top,but so much is so familiar.I'm not sure if I want to try more of Mike Baron's books,but I sure did enjoy these two!
You are one funny mother and I wish you and me and black dildo and my wife. Cornbread carol could go crabbing one night after she gets off from her job at the chicken factory. She gets free chicken necks!
Another hilarious, fun and faced-paced outing with Gary Duba, loveable redneck/hillbilly living in a trailer in the swamps of central Florida. As in the first book (another 5-Star effort), there is no plot to speak of. It's mostly a series of crazy misadventures involving Gary battling 'gators', humongous feral hogs, toilet snakes, iguanas (good eatin') along with insane situations and wacky characters. Super-funny and definitely not woke!
Baron, writer of legendary comic book character 'The Badger', even manages to give a call-out to some of his favorite comic book creators: he mentions Steve Ditko several times as well as R. Crumb and a few others.
Not as good as book one (Florida.Man) but that's a pretty high bar. Hogzilla starts off slow but quickly catches his stride. Gary has troubles.dealing with fame and fortune, a tyrannical homeowners association, and an infestation of invasive spec while Krystal sees her wrestling career taking off along the way there are plenty of hijinx and we.see Gary overcome every challenge as only a.true Florida Man can.
Had me laughing the whole read. Mike Baron is a funny guy who's brain has been twisted into a right proper shape and I can only speculate as to the source of the twisting. Great job Mr. Baron, you have earned additional time from me as we!l as dollars. I consider both well spent along with laughter being the best medicine.
I laughed my way through the first book in this series but this one was rough. Gary and Krystal are a hoot as characters and their adventures are outlandish and absolutely wild, but there were definitely elements in this book that was obviously meant to be a bit much which are in themselves a bit much. I might still check out book 3, but that's a big maybe.
Just as good as the first one. Loved the characters and how the story Just flows along. You never know what will happen next. The names of the people are so funny! What a hilarious story. I loved it!
This book was super enjoyable just like the first. Totally insane but still has me laughing out loud as I listen to the audiobook. Great when I need a palate cleanser between serious novels. 3.5 stars