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The Scumbag
The Scumbag, Vol. 1: Cocainefinger
The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it! From New York Times best selling writer RICK REMENDER and a murderers’ row of all-star artistic talent, comes the story of Ernie Ray Clementine―a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted biker with a fifth-grade education accidentally received a power-imbuing serum making him the world’s most powerful super spy. He is a relic of a bygone era, the living embodiment of sex, drugs, and rock and roll―so, this doesn’t make things easy for the spy organization that needs his help as they bribe, cajole, and manipulate him to choose between his own self-interests and doing what's right. Featuring
Collects THE SCUMBAG #1-5
Collects THE SCUMBAG #1-5
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2021
24 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Rick Remender
1,244 books1,422 followersRick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 15, 2021
Bargain basement SHIELD/HYDRA battle but SHIELD-lite got an advantage: magic injectable formula! Except the needle gets mixed up with a junkie’s who accidentally ends up injecting himself with it and gets superpowers! Now, Ernie Ray Clementine, a degenerate fuckup, has to use his newfound powers to save the world - but he just wants to get hiiiigh! Har-de-har-har! …
Rick Remender’s latest Image series The Scumbag is about as good as most of his other Image titles have been - which is to say it’s not very good! Still, the opening issue is funny with Ernie trying to shoot up in the middle of the street while diarrhea-ing and a pair of superhero/villain-types have a punch-up in the background. And I liked that every issue is drawn by a different artist, my favourites being Eric Powell and Wes Craig, though all the artists here - Lewis Larosa, Andrew Robinson and Roland Boschi - all draw great pages.
But the story quickly falls into a familiar pattern. The agent accompanying Ernie seemed like imitation Psylocke and Ernie himself is basically a druggier version of Deadpool, so it was like reading a crappier story from Remender’s Uncanny X-Force. Central Authority (SHIELD-lite) aren’t particularly interesting, nor are Scorpionus (HYDRA-lite), the latter of which was an assortment of right-wing caricatures.
The Formula Maxima doesn’t seem to do much besides give Ernie temporary x-ray powers (though we see more of a range towards the end, which is just a stereotypical power set), so it’s not like we get to see what a more R-rated Hancock would do, which feels like a wasted (hoho) opportunity.
And that goes for the most of the book which isn’t as transgressive or unpredictable as that opening issue promised to be. I thought Ernie would make some bonkers choices in situations where the “right” choice is so obvious, but he doesn’t and falls into that boringly safe anti-hero-but-not-really mould.
Decent opening issue and great art throughout aside, The Scumbag, Volume 1 isn’t nearly as outlandish or kerazy as it sells itself as. Rick Remender delivers an unremarkable and unimaginative Deadpool-ish team book that loses whatever steam it started with quickly before turning into a turgid mess of failed political satire, wafer-thin characters and dreary superhero action.
Rick Remender’s latest Image series The Scumbag is about as good as most of his other Image titles have been - which is to say it’s not very good! Still, the opening issue is funny with Ernie trying to shoot up in the middle of the street while diarrhea-ing and a pair of superhero/villain-types have a punch-up in the background. And I liked that every issue is drawn by a different artist, my favourites being Eric Powell and Wes Craig, though all the artists here - Lewis Larosa, Andrew Robinson and Roland Boschi - all draw great pages.
But the story quickly falls into a familiar pattern. The agent accompanying Ernie seemed like imitation Psylocke and Ernie himself is basically a druggier version of Deadpool, so it was like reading a crappier story from Remender’s Uncanny X-Force. Central Authority (SHIELD-lite) aren’t particularly interesting, nor are Scorpionus (HYDRA-lite), the latter of which was an assortment of right-wing caricatures.
The Formula Maxima doesn’t seem to do much besides give Ernie temporary x-ray powers (though we see more of a range towards the end, which is just a stereotypical power set), so it’s not like we get to see what a more R-rated Hancock would do, which feels like a wasted (hoho) opportunity.
And that goes for the most of the book which isn’t as transgressive or unpredictable as that opening issue promised to be. I thought Ernie would make some bonkers choices in situations where the “right” choice is so obvious, but he doesn’t and falls into that boringly safe anti-hero-but-not-really mould.
Decent opening issue and great art throughout aside, The Scumbag, Volume 1 isn’t nearly as outlandish or kerazy as it sells itself as. Rick Remender delivers an unremarkable and unimaginative Deadpool-ish team book that loses whatever steam it started with quickly before turning into a turgid mess of failed political satire, wafer-thin characters and dreary superhero action.
March 28, 2021
Remender's parody of old school SHIELD / HYDRA. Instead of Nick Fury getting the Infinity Formula, a useless piece of crap accidentally shoots it up instead. So SHIELD has to make use of this garbage human being in its war against Trumpiot Nazis who don't like the current counter culture. I know this is supposed to be satire. It just wasn't funny. And I'm so tired of anything to do with extremist politics on either side of the aisle, that this just fizzled out like a wet fart.
Received a review copy from Image and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Image and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
March 6, 2021
At first this reads as Rick Remender letting his hair down, having himself a little but of fun after all the mopiness of Deadly Class and Black Science, but there's also a barely hidden subversive political message in there, which I appreciated.
The titular scumbag, Ernie Clementine, who is a blatant sexist and racist, at first feels like a Ricky Gervais-like ploy to write a load of sexist and racist jokes while claiming it is to show how awful Ernie is. And there is some of that, but Ernie's jokes are bad, as in: not funny, and just feel very tired - everyone around him is quick to tell him this, and it actually works, Ernie becomes a sad character, oblivious to how outdated he is.
The baddies are barely concealed Nazis, who constantly blather on about the right's current favourite bullshit talkingpoint, cancel culture. There's some criticism of neo-capitalism, some discussion of saving the Earth from climate change doom, and quite a lot on the exploitation of the poor. You'd think that would just be obnoxious, and I can imagine it is to some readers, but I was surprised that it actually worked pretty well.
Every issue has a different artist, which also works well - I'm not sure who did the basic designs of recurring characters and locations, but they translate clearly to different styles.
I give Deadly Class and Black Science some grief, but this book has surprised me, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
3.5 stars
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
The titular scumbag, Ernie Clementine, who is a blatant sexist and racist, at first feels like a Ricky Gervais-like ploy to write a load of sexist and racist jokes while claiming it is to show how awful Ernie is. And there is some of that, but Ernie's jokes are bad, as in: not funny, and just feel very tired - everyone around him is quick to tell him this, and it actually works, Ernie becomes a sad character, oblivious to how outdated he is.
The baddies are barely concealed Nazis, who constantly blather on about the right's current favourite bullshit talkingpoint, cancel culture. There's some criticism of neo-capitalism, some discussion of saving the Earth from climate change doom, and quite a lot on the exploitation of the poor. You'd think that would just be obnoxious, and I can imagine it is to some readers, but I was surprised that it actually worked pretty well.
Every issue has a different artist, which also works well - I'm not sure who did the basic designs of recurring characters and locations, but they translate clearly to different styles.
I give Deadly Class and Black Science some grief, but this book has surprised me, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
3.5 stars
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
May 31, 2021
You have a scumbag main character who shoots up a lot, is a dick, says whatever he wants, shits in public, and becomes a super spy like hero to save the world. How can a concept so batshit insane be so boring?
Remender will always be a great writer for me just due to Uncanny X-Men, Deadly Class, Black Science, and Low (Which are ALL far better than this) But man did he drop the ball big here. Scumbag just fails to do anything new or fun. It just has a over the top character you'd see in any Garth Ennis book but without any heart or whit.
Listen, I'm all for dunking on the altright. Making fun of terms like Cuck and "Virtual Signing" and all that. Rememnder clearly shows how brainwashed they are and I hear idiots on Twitter use the same verbage so he isn't lying. But it's not really funny here. It doesn't really add much to the story. Maybe if Ernie (Scumbag) was a more interesting, fun, and exciting character I can get behind it, but he's just a loser with almost no redeeming qualities and not funny at all.
I get Remender was coming out of his comfort zone for this. Trying to give us one of the most unlikeable characters without any redeeming qualities instead of multilayered characters (See Low, Deadly Class, and Black Science) but this was a huge miss IMO. Nothing really worked.
The art also changes a lot due to different artist and while none bad it made the flow of the story feel disjointed too.
Yeah...overall this is a big old NOPE from me. Well worth skipping over.
Remender will always be a great writer for me just due to Uncanny X-Men, Deadly Class, Black Science, and Low (Which are ALL far better than this) But man did he drop the ball big here. Scumbag just fails to do anything new or fun. It just has a over the top character you'd see in any Garth Ennis book but without any heart or whit.
Listen, I'm all for dunking on the altright. Making fun of terms like Cuck and "Virtual Signing" and all that. Rememnder clearly shows how brainwashed they are and I hear idiots on Twitter use the same verbage so he isn't lying. But it's not really funny here. It doesn't really add much to the story. Maybe if Ernie (Scumbag) was a more interesting, fun, and exciting character I can get behind it, but he's just a loser with almost no redeeming qualities and not funny at all.
I get Remender was coming out of his comfort zone for this. Trying to give us one of the most unlikeable characters without any redeeming qualities instead of multilayered characters (See Low, Deadly Class, and Black Science) but this was a huge miss IMO. Nothing really worked.
The art also changes a lot due to different artist and while none bad it made the flow of the story feel disjointed too.
Yeah...overall this is a big old NOPE from me. Well worth skipping over.
March 30, 2021
A deliberate middle finger to the suffocating political correctness being adopted by every comic book company these days, I tip my hat off to Rick Remender for reminding me that comic books can still be edgy and provocative.
Read
March 6, 2021"Charles Bukowski said the problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. No man better proves that point than the one I'm about to introduce you to. He's a relic of a bygone era, the living embodiment of the suffocated spirit of sex, drugs and rock and roll. That's him right over there, the one and only Ernie Ray Clementine. Ernie's a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted ne'er-do-well with a fifth-grade education. And the only thing standing between us and total armageddon."
Well, my first thought is that if the best Bukowski could do was paraphrase Yeats less resonantly, no wonder I never got into him. Beyond that, though..."The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it" was the elevator pitch, as well as a line Ernie's reluctant partner delivers. Except this isn't quite that. Yes, on one level it's dealing with all the ways in which sixties super-spies now read as problematic by turning it up to 11, making the lead an utterly appalling unreconstructed boomer hedonist, stripped of even the sharp tailoring which helps Bond get away with it. But for starters, there's the usual get-out where, if you want an anti-hero or villain as the lead, you can carry it off pretty easily by sending him up against antagonists who are even worse – here, Hydra knock-offs Scorpionus, now updated from old-school Nazis to alt-righters, whose evil plot is...well, I hope it's supposed to be really easy to guess the reveal, because if it's meant to be surprising, it wasn't. But even beyond that, Ernie will have occasional moments of entirely uncharacteristic and implausible non-awfulness. I don't mean saying that he hates bullies, while not realising how he might himself be one; that works just fine, and is the in for the (ridiculous, but let it ride) restriction on his newfound abilities. I mean bits like seeing a copy of Detective #27 in the villain's lair and saying that Batman "should change his name to the White Privilege" – which is a commonplace of online discourse, but absolutely not a line that works coming from an ageing sleazeball. And there are other little glitches, like when Scorpionus' leader calls the left 'neoliberal'. Could be a deliberate mistake, but the rest of the comic isn't precisely calibrated enough to trust in that. Which is a shame, because at its best there's some gold here. Like Ernie's deeply resistible chat-up line "Play your cards right, you could meet dangerous sausage and the jazz apples. You've had bigger, but I push mine in real far." Or even, gods help me, the quiet defence of that least fashionable of notions, centrism, right down to the superspy agency being called the Central Authority, but given its funniest expression in the Scorpionus' leader's speech: "We will not comply! Make no mistake, our enemy's outrage is wrong – our outrage about their outrage is right!" I don't entirely get the point of the gimmick where there's a different artist for each issue, but they all do solid comedy-action work, and for all its frustrations, I'd definitely put this further towards the hit than miss end of Remender's chaotically inconsistent bibliography.
(Edelweiss ARC)
Well, my first thought is that if the best Bukowski could do was paraphrase Yeats less resonantly, no wonder I never got into him. Beyond that, though..."The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it" was the elevator pitch, as well as a line Ernie's reluctant partner delivers. Except this isn't quite that. Yes, on one level it's dealing with all the ways in which sixties super-spies now read as problematic by turning it up to 11, making the lead an utterly appalling unreconstructed boomer hedonist, stripped of even the sharp tailoring which helps Bond get away with it. But for starters, there's the usual get-out where, if you want an anti-hero or villain as the lead, you can carry it off pretty easily by sending him up against antagonists who are even worse – here, Hydra knock-offs Scorpionus, now updated from old-school Nazis to alt-righters, whose evil plot is...well, I hope it's supposed to be really easy to guess the reveal, because if it's meant to be surprising, it wasn't. But even beyond that, Ernie will have occasional moments of entirely uncharacteristic and implausible non-awfulness. I don't mean saying that he hates bullies, while not realising how he might himself be one; that works just fine, and is the in for the (ridiculous, but let it ride) restriction on his newfound abilities. I mean bits like seeing a copy of Detective #27 in the villain's lair and saying that Batman "should change his name to the White Privilege" – which is a commonplace of online discourse, but absolutely not a line that works coming from an ageing sleazeball. And there are other little glitches, like when Scorpionus' leader calls the left 'neoliberal'. Could be a deliberate mistake, but the rest of the comic isn't precisely calibrated enough to trust in that. Which is a shame, because at its best there's some gold here. Like Ernie's deeply resistible chat-up line "Play your cards right, you could meet dangerous sausage and the jazz apples. You've had bigger, but I push mine in real far." Or even, gods help me, the quiet defence of that least fashionable of notions, centrism, right down to the superspy agency being called the Central Authority, but given its funniest expression in the Scorpionus' leader's speech: "We will not comply! Make no mistake, our enemy's outrage is wrong – our outrage about their outrage is right!" I don't entirely get the point of the gimmick where there's a different artist for each issue, but they all do solid comedy-action work, and for all its frustrations, I'd definitely put this further towards the hit than miss end of Remender's chaotically inconsistent bibliography.
(Edelweiss ARC)
October 25, 2022
The tagline to Cocainefinger about sums it up: "The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it!" Ernie Ray Clementine is a foul-mouthed drug and sex addict who is gifted superpowers that only activate when he's being virtuous. Because the superpower serum comes from a CIA-esque organization, they naturally have to bring Ernie on board with promises of all the drugs, sex, and Bon Jovi he can handle.
Cocainefinger basically features wild swings between degenerate (and sometimes amusing) behavior and vague stabs at James Bond style intrigue. It sometimes works, mostly doesn't, but is never not engaging. I can't say you'll have a good time, but you'll be hard pressed to put the book down. Rick Remender sure can weave a narrative, even as his characters spout all the far-left/far-right drivel that makes Twitter a hellscape.
Five different artists drew on the book, which usually means the art will be a terrible clusterfuck. Not so! You can barely see the differences between issues - each page is gorgeous or gorgeously awful, depending on the subject matter.
Cocainefinger basically features wild swings between degenerate (and sometimes amusing) behavior and vague stabs at James Bond style intrigue. It sometimes works, mostly doesn't, but is never not engaging. I can't say you'll have a good time, but you'll be hard pressed to put the book down. Rick Remender sure can weave a narrative, even as his characters spout all the far-left/far-right drivel that makes Twitter a hellscape.
Five different artists drew on the book, which usually means the art will be a terrible clusterfuck. Not so! You can barely see the differences between issues - each page is gorgeous or gorgeously awful, depending on the subject matter.
February 26, 2021
Trash with a silver lining to it.
April 26, 2021
I appreciate that Rick Remender is doing something different by giving super powers to the most unlikable protagonist he could imagine. And I found the overall plot interesting enough, but man I really hate the titular Scumbag. I know you're supposed to, but I really have no interest in seeing him grow as the series progresses. I'm sure if I continued reading the book he would soften and I'd eventually come around to him, but honestly I'd rather not.
Art is pretty great though.
Art is pretty great though.
October 3, 2022
Scumbag of a human becomes a super spy....Look i get it, but honestly it is just too over the top. I appreciate Remender doing something super outlandish but it was too much for me. I could not take the premise seriously with such a silly character. I am sure some people enjoy it, for now, I dont. Pass
February 22, 2022
The art from Lewis Larosa is amazing, and I’m enjoying the premise. It’s a fun read and definitely not boring… but it also feels off kilter, as though Rick Remender hasn’t fully fleshed out the idea or the subtextual worldview. I’m going to keep reading and see if it comes together, but for now, I’m cautiously enjoying it.
January 18, 2023
It's...Crude. And different. Lets see how long they can keep it up.
June 24, 2021
Hahahahaha. This tickled me.
Does the world's biggest scumbag have a better moral compass than you?
A nasty love letter to the political rhetoric and meme scene of 2016-2019.
A neat aspect of this series is it features a new artist for each chapter yet remains remarkably fluid.
The plot here is low priority. This is about taking a long dark satirical piss on political extremists.
Does the world's biggest scumbag have a better moral compass than you?
A nasty love letter to the political rhetoric and meme scene of 2016-2019.
A neat aspect of this series is it features a new artist for each chapter yet remains remarkably fluid.
The plot here is low priority. This is about taking a long dark satirical piss on political extremists.
June 27, 2021
Изключително изненадващо попадение идващо от IMAGE - The Scumbag.
Запознайте се с Ърни Рей Клементайн - профан, илитерат, наркозависим рокер, който съвсем случайно се превръща в най-добрия световен супер-шпионин. И разбира се единствената надежда за спасението на света.
В общи линии нашият герой, попада на двама шпиони, които се бият за тайна формула. Докато се избиват взаимно, единия изпуска инжекция със странна субстанция. Ърни решава, че е ударил шестица от тотото с една доза и бързо си бие инжекцията. Оказва се обаче, че въпросната доза му дава непознати сили. Правителствената агенция няма друг избор и трябва да използват пропадняка като шпионин заради силите му. В това време група с име Scorpions - нацисти мечтаещи за нов световен ред, се опитват да взвривят бомба.
В общи линии така би изглеждал най-некадърния вариант на Джеймс Бонд.
Звучи клиширано, но и сценария и рисунките са чудни. В първото TPB са събрани първите 5 броя, всеки един рисуван от различен художник.
Lewis Larosa(The Punisher), Andrew Robinson(Dark Horse), Eric Powell(The GOON!), Roland Boschi(Marvel - Star Wars), Wes Craig(Deadly Class) са сътворили нещо чудно. Интересно е, че прехода между стиловете им въобще не беше дразнещ и нещата се съчетаваха чудесно.
С две ръце ви препоръчвам The Scumbag, но имайте предвид, че е 18+. 🙂
P.S. Още една тънка препратка към Джеймс Бонд.
Първата книга се казва The Scumbag - Cocainefinger, препратка към Goldfinger. Втората ще се казва Moonflower по Moonraker.
Запознайте се с Ърни Рей Клементайн - профан, илитерат, наркозависим рокер, който съвсем случайно се превръща в най-добрия световен супер-шпионин. И разбира се единствената надежда за спасението на света.
В общи линии нашият герой, попада на двама шпиони, които се бият за тайна формула. Докато се избиват взаимно, единия изпуска инжекция със странна субстанция. Ърни решава, че е ударил шестица от тотото с една доза и бързо си бие инжекцията. Оказва се обаче, че въпросната доза му дава непознати сили. Правителствената агенция няма друг избор и трябва да използват пропадняка като шпионин заради силите му. В това време група с име Scorpions - нацисти мечтаещи за нов световен ред, се опитват да взвривят бомба.
В общи линии така би изглеждал най-некадърния вариант на Джеймс Бонд.
Звучи клиширано, но и сценария и рисунките са чудни. В първото TPB са събрани първите 5 броя, всеки един рисуван от различен художник.
Lewis Larosa(The Punisher), Andrew Robinson(Dark Horse), Eric Powell(The GOON!), Roland Boschi(Marvel - Star Wars), Wes Craig(Deadly Class) са сътворили нещо чудно. Интересно е, че прехода между стиловете им въобще не беше дразнещ и нещата се съчетаваха чудесно.
С две ръце ви препоръчвам The Scumbag, но имайте предвид, че е 18+. 🙂
P.S. Още една тънка препратка към Джеймс Бонд.
Първата книга се казва The Scumbag - Cocainefinger, препратка към Goldfinger. Втората ще се казва Moonflower по Moonraker.
March 10, 2021
Ever wonder what Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas looks like with The Naked Gun? Here's your answer.
When super spies are at war with corporate overlords in a political ideological stand-off, it's not the paragons of justice, intelligence, wealth, or bravery that people need to focus on. It's the people at the bottom of the social ladder like Ernie Ray Clementine that needs to explore everything.
In this day and age, it's too easy to believe you're the hero when everybody shames you just for existing. Ernie practically gave up on everything before the series even began. From start to finish, he's a hedonistic scumbag (don't say it to his face) who really just wants to get high. Our "hero's" first act is stealing donation money to pay for heroin. Nobody really knows how or why, must are just in for the ride Ernie's in when he finds himself high on a super serum. Only problem is, his numerous powers only work with a noble mindset.
Ernie's going to need a lot of character development even after this trade to access his full potential. Which I can't help but think is the point.
Ernie in this case is an Everyman at his lowest point. He'd rather be stoned and only wants pleasure friends than have connection. The serum is a plot device to empower Ernie to purge his sins and embrace the divine enlightenment. Only problem is enlightenment and nobleness at their base is extremely subjective. The Hunter S. Thompson influences are on the sleeves of this trade with how Ernie is a point of cultural criticism of his allies and enemies.
On one side you have the super spies of Central Authority who have all the gadgets and capabilities to stop threats like Cobra Command stand-in Scorpionus but none in solving the roots of world issues. How is building sentient AI and flying cars easy for them. So when ultra-capitalists like Scorpionus are the ones with ideas and plans to try and fix things, that's a real problem. Instead of trying to compete or present viable solutions, CA just points fingers at objectively evil people and say they're the root of all problems. It's not hard to see why with how cartoonishly evil Scorpionus is with its elaborate bombs, hedonistic secret society orgies, and quick fix solutions to climate and energy crises. The results are terrifying but it's still an idea, enough for well intentioned people to be seduced to the point of leaving the CA. At the end of the day, despite all of the sensational debates translated into action sequences, it's not but spewing a whole lot of ideological hot air.
For Ernie as his psychedelic trips and a mysterious third party suggest, thinking too big in the search for meaning in life will lead to nothing but disappointment.
When super spies are at war with corporate overlords in a political ideological stand-off, it's not the paragons of justice, intelligence, wealth, or bravery that people need to focus on. It's the people at the bottom of the social ladder like Ernie Ray Clementine that needs to explore everything.
In this day and age, it's too easy to believe you're the hero when everybody shames you just for existing. Ernie practically gave up on everything before the series even began. From start to finish, he's a hedonistic scumbag (don't say it to his face) who really just wants to get high. Our "hero's" first act is stealing donation money to pay for heroin. Nobody really knows how or why, must are just in for the ride Ernie's in when he finds himself high on a super serum. Only problem is, his numerous powers only work with a noble mindset.
Ernie's going to need a lot of character development even after this trade to access his full potential. Which I can't help but think is the point.
Ernie in this case is an Everyman at his lowest point. He'd rather be stoned and only wants pleasure friends than have connection. The serum is a plot device to empower Ernie to purge his sins and embrace the divine enlightenment. Only problem is enlightenment and nobleness at their base is extremely subjective. The Hunter S. Thompson influences are on the sleeves of this trade with how Ernie is a point of cultural criticism of his allies and enemies.
On one side you have the super spies of Central Authority who have all the gadgets and capabilities to stop threats like Cobra Command stand-in Scorpionus but none in solving the roots of world issues. How is building sentient AI and flying cars easy for them. So when ultra-capitalists like Scorpionus are the ones with ideas and plans to try and fix things, that's a real problem. Instead of trying to compete or present viable solutions, CA just points fingers at objectively evil people and say they're the root of all problems. It's not hard to see why with how cartoonishly evil Scorpionus is with its elaborate bombs, hedonistic secret society orgies, and quick fix solutions to climate and energy crises. The results are terrifying but it's still an idea, enough for well intentioned people to be seduced to the point of leaving the CA. At the end of the day, despite all of the sensational debates translated into action sequences, it's not but spewing a whole lot of ideological hot air.
For Ernie as his psychedelic trips and a mysterious third party suggest, thinking too big in the search for meaning in life will lead to nothing but disappointment.
March 4, 2021
It has to be said, a lot of this gave me a sense of deja vu. I'm sure I've seen a comic before now where some low-grade Lemmy lookalike ends up saving the world, but no idea whose it was. Anyway, there was quickly the news that this was a fresh book, unknown to me before now – I think I twigged on to that about the time the world's worst scuzzball was trying to put his hand up the VJ of the hologram of the woman who, most reluctantly, has to employ him to defend civilisation, despite him not knowing what the word even means. I guess what we have is one of those eyeball poppers for teens, what with the sex and swearing and suchlike, but it's not that great. At least it has the balls to name-check one of its obvious reference points later on, but it ignores the fact the baddy is just there to add about ten further layers of incoherence to the evil intent featured in the Kingsman movie, and plays out quite the muddle by the end. On its better pages, three and a half stars.
January 13, 2023
What a fun and absurd ride! The premise is that an all around awful human being somehow ingests a serum that gives him the potential to be the most powerful person on the planet.
There are a lot of layers going on in this book, as we learn more about the characters and various groups involved.
There is a very amusing plot that lampoons our current political and social environment.
There is a lot of bad language and a fair amount of nudity. Also portrays drug use.
There are a lot of layers going on in this book, as we learn more about the characters and various groups involved.
There is a very amusing plot that lampoons our current political and social environment.
There is a lot of bad language and a fair amount of nudity. Also portrays drug use.
![Profile Image for [Jamie].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1737662960i%2F141228044._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 20, 2022
An interesting premise and awesome art. This is one story you just have to accept that you're gonna be in for a wild ride. It really feels like it's in the same vein of Austin Powers, just in comic form with some 70's grit sprinkled in.
Fans of Disco Elysium may get a kick out of this as Ernie is sorta similar to Harry DuBois-but with the worst personality traits you could imagine.
Fans of Disco Elysium may get a kick out of this as Ernie is sorta similar to Harry DuBois-but with the worst personality traits you could imagine.
February 4, 2023
I feel like I should be annoyed with this more than I am, because the main character is such a scumbag. And yet, there's plenty of humor and some interesting ideas and a new artist every issue...so it works for me. Your mileage will probably vary.
October 2, 2021
It's like giving a kid a chaos genie and hoping that everything will turn out alright in the end. I guess this is supposed to be some kind of polictical/societal commentary.
June 17, 2022
This has the appeal of the big lebowski as we follow a total loser but can't help but root for him because there is underlining thing about him that's genuine. Totally hilarious and insane plot line but it's fun to follow and entertaining as hell.
May 27, 2021
Irreverent "superhero" comic about an unlikely hero - quite fun.
This is a review of the whole volume apart from the last issue which Image does not provide - all this in exchange for an honest review.
Ernie, a drug-addled useless layabout, accidentally becomes the supposed saviour against a criminal organisation. This leads to a lot of action, nonsense, drug / sex dialogue while he learns to use his newly-acquired powers. It's a bit of fun and the artwork is colourful, reasonably detailed and clear. It's quite good and this is only the first volume of a series.
This is a review of the whole volume apart from the last issue which Image does not provide - all this in exchange for an honest review.
Ernie, a drug-addled useless layabout, accidentally becomes the supposed saviour against a criminal organisation. This leads to a lot of action, nonsense, drug / sex dialogue while he learns to use his newly-acquired powers. It's a bit of fun and the artwork is colourful, reasonably detailed and clear. It's quite good and this is only the first volume of a series.
May 31, 2022
La provocation poussée à son maximum par Rick Remender.
C'est politiquement très incorrect, une sorte de défouloir foutraque face à la bêtise humaine.
C'est politiquement très incorrect, une sorte de défouloir foutraque face à la bêtise humaine.
April 10, 2021
This was amazingly ridiculous. Hooked me from the beginning and I actually laughed out loud at the absurdity of the writing. Remender continues to be one of my favorite comic writers.
May 20, 2021
I’m interested. It’s a little heavy handed (of course, so is Deadly Class) and I’m not a huge fan of a different artist for every issue (I think it disrupts flow and continuity) but I get just the tiniest Transmetropolitan vibe from it. And that’s enough to bring me back for at least a volume 2. And Scumbag reminds me of my aunt’s third husband, whom I kind of liked.
April 27, 2021
So 🆒 it’s way back in th fridge man ...~
A thrill ride is an understatement _ It’s a familiar theme with a new type of anti hero, whose more entertaining than he means to be ...
A thrill ride is an understatement _ It’s a familiar theme with a new type of anti hero, whose more entertaining than he means to be ...
March 16, 2022
Ernie Ray Clementine to osobnik, na którego temat śmiało można napisać, że sięgnął on przysłowiowego dna człowieczeństwa. Skrajnie wulgarny półanalfabeta, złodziej, alkoholik, narkoman, kłamca, członek brutalnego gangu motocyklowego, jednostka która nigdy nie zrobiła niczego dobrego i zawsze myślała tylko o sobie. Postać śmiało mogąca robić za największego antybohatera, z którym walczą dzielni herosi i którego pokonanie mogłoby być świętowane przez tłumy. W albumie Szumowina #1: Cocainefinger rzeczywistość bywa jednak mocno przewrotna. To właśnie on przez zupełny przypadek wstrzykuje sobie supertajne serum, robiące z niego najpotężniejszego szpiega na świecie, który ma ocalić ludzkość (Panie mniej nas w swojej opiece). Jakby tego było mało, to jego „nowe super” zdolności aktywują się jedynie w momencie, kiedy zachowuje się on „szlachetnie”. Czy Ernie pod wpływem nowej sytuacji zdoła zmienić swoje dotychczasowe życie, czy może jednak świat czeka zagłada?
Gatunek komiksów „superbohaterskich” od dawien dawna pełny jest altruistycznych herosów w obcisłych spandeksowych ciuszkach, którzy gotowi są na największe poświęcenia. Od pewnego czasu wiele w tej kwestii się zmienia, a gatunek stara się ewoluować i dostosować do potrzeb współczesnego odbiorcy. Komiksowi twórcy nie ustają więc w próbach połączenia innowacyjności i sprawdzonych gatunkowych schematów. Nie inaczej jest w przypadku Ricka Remendera, któremu na pewno nie można odmówić sporej dawki wyobraźni i głowy wypełnionej różnorakimi pomysłami.
W albumie już od pierwszych stron autor bezpardonowo prezentuje nam głównego bohatera, z którym trudno jest się utożsamiać ani tym bardziej mu kibicować. Prawdziwa „szumowina”, z którą nikt nie chciałby mieć nic wspólnego. To właśnie jednak jego gigantyczna deprawacja sprawia, że chce się przewracać kolejne strony komiksu, aby zobaczyć czy naturę człowieka można tak łatwo zmienić. Obok tego, Remender konstruuje również nieźle skrojony świat, w którym łączy realistyczną brutalność z próbą pastiszowego ukazania „superbohaterskich” realiów. Czytelnik może być więc pewny tego, że nie zabraknie w tytule zarówno widowiskowości, jak i przemyślanego poczucia humoru.
Nie wszystko jest jednak tutaj idealne. Niezwykle „wyrazisty” bohater całkowicie przyćmiewa wszystkie inne pojawiające się postacie. W wielu scenach robią one wyłącznie za tło, na które niespecjalnie zwraca się uwagę. Nie wiem jak „dominacja” Erniego wypadnie w kolejnych częściach i czy niestanie się nagle ona zwyczajnie nudna. Ponarzekać można również na zbyt wiele moim zdaniem napoczętych tutaj wątków. Ze względu na dynamikę wydarzeń są one prezentowane bardzo pobieżnie. O wiele lepiej sprawdziłoby się mocniejsze skupienie na dwóch/trzech z nich.
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...
Gatunek komiksów „superbohaterskich” od dawien dawna pełny jest altruistycznych herosów w obcisłych spandeksowych ciuszkach, którzy gotowi są na największe poświęcenia. Od pewnego czasu wiele w tej kwestii się zmienia, a gatunek stara się ewoluować i dostosować do potrzeb współczesnego odbiorcy. Komiksowi twórcy nie ustają więc w próbach połączenia innowacyjności i sprawdzonych gatunkowych schematów. Nie inaczej jest w przypadku Ricka Remendera, któremu na pewno nie można odmówić sporej dawki wyobraźni i głowy wypełnionej różnorakimi pomysłami.
W albumie już od pierwszych stron autor bezpardonowo prezentuje nam głównego bohatera, z którym trudno jest się utożsamiać ani tym bardziej mu kibicować. Prawdziwa „szumowina”, z którą nikt nie chciałby mieć nic wspólnego. To właśnie jednak jego gigantyczna deprawacja sprawia, że chce się przewracać kolejne strony komiksu, aby zobaczyć czy naturę człowieka można tak łatwo zmienić. Obok tego, Remender konstruuje również nieźle skrojony świat, w którym łączy realistyczną brutalność z próbą pastiszowego ukazania „superbohaterskich” realiów. Czytelnik może być więc pewny tego, że nie zabraknie w tytule zarówno widowiskowości, jak i przemyślanego poczucia humoru.
Nie wszystko jest jednak tutaj idealne. Niezwykle „wyrazisty” bohater całkowicie przyćmiewa wszystkie inne pojawiające się postacie. W wielu scenach robią one wyłącznie za tło, na które niespecjalnie zwraca się uwagę. Nie wiem jak „dominacja” Erniego wypadnie w kolejnych częściach i czy niestanie się nagle ona zwyczajnie nudna. Ponarzekać można również na zbyt wiele moim zdaniem napoczętych tutaj wątków. Ze względu na dynamikę wydarzeń są one prezentowane bardzo pobieżnie. O wiele lepiej sprawdziłoby się mocniejsze skupienie na dwóch/trzech z nich.
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...
August 31, 2022
Jak możemy przeczytać w opisie, główny bohater “Szumowiny”, Ernie Ray Clementine, to wulgarny półanalfabeta i uzależniony od narkotyków członek motocyklowego gangu. Nie będę Was tu mamić ładnymi słówkami - Ernie to po prostu stary oblech, który myśli jedynie o “imprezach i dziewczynach” (uwierzcie, ujęłam to naprawdę delikatnie). Z tego powodu ostrzegam, że do “Szumowiny” trzeba podejść z bardzo dużym dystansem. Ten komiks pełen jest niesmacznych żartów, szowinistycznych tekstów, wulgaryzmów i scen dość obrzydliwych. Nie każdemu się to spodoba.
Prawda jest jednak taka, że o to właśnie w tej serii chodzi. Ernie celowo został tak stworzony i generalnie sama jego kreacja wyszła twórcom bardzo dobrze. To miała być postać kontrowersyjna, niemoralna i taka, którą ciężko polubić. I taka właśnie jest.
Sama fabuła nie jest szczególnie oryginalna, ale ogólny zamysł przypadł mi do gustu. Wiecie, to ten case, gdzie zwykła (nomen omen) szumowina zostaje najpotężniejszym superszpiegiem na świecie i musi pomóc tajnej organizacji, która próbuje zapobiec wielkiej katastrofie. Oklepane, ale jakimś cudem ciągle się sprawdza.
W komiksie znajdzie się kilka naprawdę ciekawych plot twistów, a także parę bardzo dobrze wykreowanych postaci. Jak już wspomniałam, sam Ernie również został dobre wykreowany - chociaż polubić się go nie da, a w każdym razie ja nie potrafiłam.
Nie do końca przypasował mi prostacki humor głównego bohatera i jego egoistyczne, niedojrzałe zachowanie - chociaż w drugim tomie patrzyłam na niego nieco pobłażliwiej niż w pierwszym. Zaintrygowała mnie jednak akcja, dlatego zdecydowałam się w ogóle po ten drugi tom sięgnąć. Nie jest to seria, do której będę wracać, wiem jednak, że prawdopodobnie doczytam ją do końca.
Nie odradzam, ale też nie polecam szczególnie gorliwie.
Prawda jest jednak taka, że o to właśnie w tej serii chodzi. Ernie celowo został tak stworzony i generalnie sama jego kreacja wyszła twórcom bardzo dobrze. To miała być postać kontrowersyjna, niemoralna i taka, którą ciężko polubić. I taka właśnie jest.
Sama fabuła nie jest szczególnie oryginalna, ale ogólny zamysł przypadł mi do gustu. Wiecie, to ten case, gdzie zwykła (nomen omen) szumowina zostaje najpotężniejszym superszpiegiem na świecie i musi pomóc tajnej organizacji, która próbuje zapobiec wielkiej katastrofie. Oklepane, ale jakimś cudem ciągle się sprawdza.
W komiksie znajdzie się kilka naprawdę ciekawych plot twistów, a także parę bardzo dobrze wykreowanych postaci. Jak już wspomniałam, sam Ernie również został dobre wykreowany - chociaż polubić się go nie da, a w każdym razie ja nie potrafiłam.
Nie do końca przypasował mi prostacki humor głównego bohatera i jego egoistyczne, niedojrzałe zachowanie - chociaż w drugim tomie patrzyłam na niego nieco pobłażliwiej niż w pierwszym. Zaintrygowała mnie jednak akcja, dlatego zdecydowałam się w ogóle po ten drugi tom sięgnąć. Nie jest to seria, do której będę wracać, wiem jednak, że prawdopodobnie doczytam ją do końca.
Nie odradzam, ale też nie polecam szczególnie gorliwie.
August 3, 2022
Szumowina to seria komiksów, której autorem jest Rick Remender, przy której graficznie udzielał się Wes Craig. Duet ten znany jest również z Deadly Class, czyli jednej z moich ulubionych komiksowych serii. Nic więc dziwnego, że w kadrach często znaleźć można podobieństwa postaci do bohaterów znanych ze szkoły dla zabójców.
Ernie Clementine to człowiek z marginesu społecznego. Ćpun, degenerat i leń, nie posiadający żadnych celów i ambicji poza zaspokojeniem głodu używek, które to mają dostarczać coraz większych uciech. W wyniku zbiegu okoliczności, mężczyzna wstrzykuje sobie supertajny środek, który sprawia, że dzięki dodatkowym umiejętnościom, staje się on najlepszym szpiegiem na świecie.
Podobnie jak w Deadly Class, autor bawi się konwencją. Przez dużą część komiksu bezlitośnie wyśmiewa wizerunek superbohatera do którego jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni. Główny bohater nie tylko odbiega od typowego obrońcy ludzkości wyglądem, ale i charakterem. Ernie jest skrajnie egoistyczną osobą i zawsze kieruje się jedynie swoim dobrem, co jest przeszkodą w aktywacji jego supermocy, do których użytku potrzebuje kierować się altruistycznymi pobudkami. Niejednokrotnie Remender wyśmiewa również problemy społeczne.
Jako że to dopiero pierwszy tom, ciężko ocenić tu coś więcej poza zalążkiem historii i przyjemnością jaka płynie z lektury. Liczę, że postaci drugoplanowe zostaną nieco bardziej rozwinięte, ponieważ poza bardzo silnym charakterem głównego bohatera i jego licznym wybrykom, nie znalazło się wiele pola do popisu dla innych. Na ten moment mogę napisać, że świetnie się bawiłem z Szumowiną i jestem bardzo ciekawy jak zostaną rozwinięte rozpoczęte wątki, których jak na taki krótki komiks pojawia się niemało.
Ernie Clementine to człowiek z marginesu społecznego. Ćpun, degenerat i leń, nie posiadający żadnych celów i ambicji poza zaspokojeniem głodu używek, które to mają dostarczać coraz większych uciech. W wyniku zbiegu okoliczności, mężczyzna wstrzykuje sobie supertajny środek, który sprawia, że dzięki dodatkowym umiejętnościom, staje się on najlepszym szpiegiem na świecie.
Podobnie jak w Deadly Class, autor bawi się konwencją. Przez dużą część komiksu bezlitośnie wyśmiewa wizerunek superbohatera do którego jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni. Główny bohater nie tylko odbiega od typowego obrońcy ludzkości wyglądem, ale i charakterem. Ernie jest skrajnie egoistyczną osobą i zawsze kieruje się jedynie swoim dobrem, co jest przeszkodą w aktywacji jego supermocy, do których użytku potrzebuje kierować się altruistycznymi pobudkami. Niejednokrotnie Remender wyśmiewa również problemy społeczne.
Jako że to dopiero pierwszy tom, ciężko ocenić tu coś więcej poza zalążkiem historii i przyjemnością jaka płynie z lektury. Liczę, że postaci drugoplanowe zostaną nieco bardziej rozwinięte, ponieważ poza bardzo silnym charakterem głównego bohatera i jego licznym wybrykom, nie znalazło się wiele pola do popisu dla innych. Na ten moment mogę napisać, że świetnie się bawiłem z Szumowiną i jestem bardzo ciekawy jak zostaną rozwinięte rozpoczęte wątki, których jak na taki krótki komiks pojawia się niemało.
January 23, 2023
A great collection of artists (Lewis Larosa, Andrew Robinson, Eric Powell, Roland Boschi & Wes Craig) cannot salvage a boring ass script. Remender's Scumbag series introduces us to Ernie Ray Clementine - the worst person you'll ever meet. But suddenly the fate of the world rests on his crusty shoulders in a conflict between enlightened centrists and alt-right ultranationalists. Ernie finds himself with superpowers that activate when he's feeling a bit more altruistic than he is used to being.
The writing behind Scumbag is intentionally over the top, but it does feel like way too much before long. The story starts getting repetitive quickly and ultimately a bit predictable. Ernie - stereotypical loser that he is - ends up being not as bad as the narrative describes him to be. Naturally, since the story is about Ernie effectively becoming a superhero, we are to expect some kind of "with great power there must also come great responsibility" stuff to happen. But the story continues to suggest that Ernie is the worst, which is hilarious given how ridiculously evil the antagonists are. Ernie is no doubt a douche, but he's a pretty harmless fellow all things considered. The series seems genuinely confused with this framing of Ernie, who at worst fits the anti-hero archetype more than he does a general scumbag.
The artwork over these first five issues are all handled by various artists, and they really do impress. That is perhaps the main selling point for Scumbag, since the nice variety in artists was something I found quite appealing. If only the story was better I would consider going for one of those oversized Remender deluxe editions, since it might have been worth it just to see the art extra large.
The writing behind Scumbag is intentionally over the top, but it does feel like way too much before long. The story starts getting repetitive quickly and ultimately a bit predictable. Ernie - stereotypical loser that he is - ends up being not as bad as the narrative describes him to be. Naturally, since the story is about Ernie effectively becoming a superhero, we are to expect some kind of "with great power there must also come great responsibility" stuff to happen. But the story continues to suggest that Ernie is the worst, which is hilarious given how ridiculously evil the antagonists are. Ernie is no doubt a douche, but he's a pretty harmless fellow all things considered. The series seems genuinely confused with this framing of Ernie, who at worst fits the anti-hero archetype more than he does a general scumbag.
The artwork over these first five issues are all handled by various artists, and they really do impress. That is perhaps the main selling point for Scumbag, since the nice variety in artists was something I found quite appealing. If only the story was better I would consider going for one of those oversized Remender deluxe editions, since it might have been worth it just to see the art extra large.
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