Náraz

by Nathan Cowdry, Martina Knápková (Translator)

Když v amazonském pralese havaruje letadlo a jedinými přeživšími jsou roztomilá Rosie, její mluvící pes Denton a oživlé sociopatické kalhotky, nastává klasická bitva o přežití. Kdo z naší trojice vyvázne z džungle živý? Připravte se na dobrodružnou výpravu do komiksového srdce temnoty – čtení pouze pro otrlé a dospělé!

Komiksový román Náraz Nathana Cowdryho je pronikavá černá komedie plná nekorektního humoru, popkulturních narážek, lascivních vtípků a přestřeleného násilí, v jejímž jádru se skrývá kritika konzumerismu, establishmentu, povrchnosti a pokrytectví. Doporučeno čtenářům od 18 let.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction, Comedy, Humor

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crash Site, by England’s own Nathan Cowdry is meant to amuse and offend, I am sure, in the grand (or gritty) comix tradition. By favorite moment in the book was in the appendix where he writes “Please send complaints too. . . " and you know he expects them! Invites them so he can derisively laugh at them and the complainer! Well, I don't care enough to send it to him personally, but will identify some things that annoy me here.

This story is about a young teen smuggling drugs from South America to the US with the help of a talking bear who has to swallow the drugs and then.. . . well, you know, have them work their way through his system. Why does the bear put up with this? Because he digs the girl, I guess.

Cowdry hates liberal and pc culture so he takes us on a ride through a fantasy world for no particular reason filled with naked teenaged girls on beaches (hey, it's HIS maybe comic, his pedo fantasy, clearly). Here's the kicker: The third main character is the main girl's actual underpants that are actually jealous of the bear?! The underwear--aslo known as Pants Dude, haw!, for some reason is able top walk and talk.

Me to Nathan, who has invited abusive reviews in response to abusing his readers: Hey, this is stupid, man!
Nahan to Dave: F-- you, you stupid git! Who sez I care about your effing old man review of my comic? Don’t you have something better to do, like watching Lawrence Welk reruns on the telly??!

And so on. Cowdry is actually a decent cartoonist with an acquired taste, let’s say. And I at least in principle approve the long tradition of eff you alt comix with a kind of punk edge. Some publishers should definitely support rude and potentially resistant work and not just safe mainstream comics. This reminded me a bit of Simon Hanselmann’s work with its outsider art vibe but Hanselmann is funnier and then also more moving, finally, than Cowdry would ever care to be.

Female Goodreads reader to Dave: Since when does sexist pedo work get to be seen as edgy and outsider?

Dave: Uh. Well, you have a point, but I think the talking bear and the the talking underwear have a certain. . .

Female Goodreads reviewer: Oh, shut the eff up, you ignorant wanker!!! Just give this the one star you know this deserves, and grow up!

Dave: Uh, okay, you have a point there. This sux, my dudes.

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t do drugs or drink alcohol, so I have to ask, does this shit become immensely profound or incredibly funny if you are wasted?

[Maricruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué locura de cómic. Escoged vuestras bragas con mucho cuidado, chicas.

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Such a crazy comic. Choose your knickers carefully, girls.

[Juan Naranjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosie usa a su perro como mula para traficar con droga. Su avión se estrella cuando sobrevuelan el Amazonas y ambos son los únicos supervivientes. En ese momento empiezan una huida contrarreloj de los peligros de la selva… que se complicará más debido a que las bragas de la propia Rosie (sí, sus bragas son un personaje más) quieren acabar con la chica y su perro. Cómo podéis intuir, ‘Rosie en la jungla’ es una aventura ABSOLUTAMENTE DEMENCIAL en la que el humor negro es el protagonista. Es una historia cargada de sangre, vísceras, droga y sexo que hará las delicias de los amantes de lo destroyer, lo surrealista o la animación estadounidense para público adulto. Este cómic es realmente llamativo debido a que esta historia tan grotesca está contada con unas ilustraciones absolutamente contrapuestas a la narración: esta aventura de obsesos sexuales, drogadictos y delincuentes está protagonizada por personajes con apariencia de muñecas recortables de los años 60 que viven en un mundo encantador de colores planos y tonos pastel mientras sobreviven a situaciones abyectas. La historia no es para todos los públicos, pero cualquiera que tenga el libro en la mano se quedara impresionado con la edición.

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for Cowdry as an artist. It's clear that he's thoughtful about his craft and works hard. Much of this book looks beautiful, but I just wonder what the point is. I'm not a fan of edgy humor, but that's not really the issue; I wasn't offended such much as it made me tired to read this. Hanselmann has been hyping it for months. I wonder if it has to do with the influence his own comics have had on it.

I think there's something to be said here about the format of alternative comics. As a zine or series, this would be an oddity that would draw many people in. As a full color hardback book, it feels off- It's like if someone put a 1991 Corolla on 24 inch rims. A Corolla isn't a bad car, but that's certainly a strange way to drive one.

I'll read what Cowdry releases next. I think he could be really great, but this book wasn't for me.

[Christian Yanez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Art is great and consistent, which I really appreciate.
however, the alternative humor seems to serve no purpose, other than giving a few laughs and attract young and edgy audiences, without providing story development.
Also, he misspelled some of the Spanish words used in most of the panels, which really turned me off,
all that time spent on nice and clean artwork and not even having the time the google the correct spelling of the words? Cmon.

[Honore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The way he draws characters is really interesting and beautiful. The story arc is pretty whatever and clearly, the main focus is " shock the audience". It was a fine way to spend 30 minutes, but I'm always surprised that books like this are purchased. It's a lot of money for something you can rip through in one sitting and will probably never read again. Get it from your library if you want to read it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se acaba de convertir en uno de mis cómics preferidos. Es retorcido, violento, depravado... y con estética cute. Todo lo que me gusta. In love con el autor.

[Lisa]

This was extremely not for me. I really didn’t like it, and I’m a bit bummed Simon Hanselmann is promoting it, although I can see the crossover appeal. I am impressed that my suburban library was promoting this book.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delirante y divertidísimo. No deja títere con cabeza.

[Krištof Hlavačka · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this rated so bad? I was laughing loudly multiple times and I never do that. The story is bit predictable and the ending bit lazy but still absolutly great!

[Adrián Ciutat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Cowdry’s humour is great and he’s a sick motherfucker

[Šárka Jarošová · Rating 3 out of 5]

kamo wtf, 100% bizar, ale az takovej ten u kteryho si rikas eeeeeeee

[Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing all the Megg, Mogg, and Owls I could find, I was looking for some comics that could scratch that same gonzo itch. I found a lot of duds; a lot of good comics, too, but often with little humor. Now after reading Crash Site I want to buy everything this guy has ever done*. Don’t let the cute art fool you—it’s demented. And recommended.

(Easier said than done. Haven’t been able to find one single thing available.)

[Pilar Oblómov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiero más historias del sucio tráfico de bragas. Genial, divertidísimo, con una trama retorcida, sangre y enfermedades tropicales.

[Bionic Staci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read all the way through. I wish I hadn't-- the story goes nowhere and has no redeeming qualities. Art is fine. Too bad trees where wasted on the printing of this.

[elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fucking trip and I loved it. Absolutely unhinged and this is why I love graphic novels <3

[J.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My library branch now has a section of new graphic novels right when you walk in, so I've been picking up a few every time I visit. I'm familiar with Cowdry's work through Instagram, so I kinda knew what I was in for: well drawn with unique character design, bizarre storyline. He delivered on that. I hope he focuses a bit more on character development in future comics, though. Be warned, though, if you're easily offended, this is not for you.

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 1 out of 5]

Budem sa snažiť túto knihu vymazať z pamäte. Okrem toho, že je to príbehovo riadna blbosť, vizuálne je to disturbing (znepokojujúce sa mi zdá príliš slabé slovo, anglický výraz má pre mňa výrazne silnejší náboj), nakoľko typicky detská kresba znázorňuje nechutné scény. Neviem, či je horší roztomilo vyzerajúci pes, ktorý sa necháva manipulovať, alebo dievčina, ktorá nemá problém dokopať plavčíka alebo vražedné gaťky (áno, presne tak, vražedné gaťky).

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was trip far beyond the borders of the mainstream. Surreal, crazy and I don't know what was the point of the story. If there was even some... But it had some funny moments

[Vicente Ribes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Igual de bestia y divertido que los comics de Simon Hanselmann. Se hace corto porque se lee enseguida pero es muy divertido.

[Peanut · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'd give it 2 1/2 stars, the style is v cool but the story didn't really do it for me !

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is, by far...hands down, the weirdest effing book I've ever read. Ever.

Female drug runner makes her talking dog swallow the drugs. Then there's the talking underwear.

So. Weird. But I couldn't stop reading it.

Dammit.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun art, though I wish Fantagraphics would publish fewer works focused on drugs and cum humor.

[Megan Bowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only gave it an extra star because I liked the art work so much, but this is a weird graphic novel that felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy. Ooooo, young women graphically naked. Ooooo, talking (murderous) panties. Oooo, a talking dog who happens to jizz on his face by page 20. Yes sir edgelord, give us more!

[Hanna Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, and I'll probably change it a couple more times even after publishing this review. See, I **want** to be cool and chill and say I "got" this graphic novel, but I really did not "get" it. So much of it made me go "what was even the point of that?" (like it's not a long graphic novel at all, but there's an entire scene dedicated to Denton the dog flying on an airplane and sitting next to a giant cat who orders a coffee and then thinks there's jizz in the coffee but then Denton is like "that's just milk" and the Cat Man is like "oh you're right whoopsies silly me"..... admittedly this was one of my favorite parts, so that's saying something about the rest of it). I'm not a pomo mofo (pomo being postmodern), and I might be autistic (who isn't in 2025) so I struggle with abstractisms, and so much of this was like...... is this being abstract and pomo or is it just being graphic and vulgar for the shock value? And I am inclined to lean towards the latter.... I really feel like this was just a guy being like "I'm an edgy guy so I'm going to make a graphic novel with a ton of boners and pubes and if you don't like then you're not an edgy guy like me" or whatever.

I did like the artwork, and I thought how it was fun how there wasn't consistency between people being humans or people being animals or people being whatever that weird lifeguard was. That's fun for me, and that's the sort of absurdism I can appreciate. I just think I'm hung up on being like "I have to give this the benefit of the doubt because clearly I just don't understand art or something" but at the end of the day, if you make a book full of sex and violence, it's on you to make me understand why that all needed to be included and if I walk away confused, it's not because I just wasn't cool and pomo enough to "get" the gratuitous boners.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty insane comic. It mixes an attractive and "cute" art-style with some pretty shitty characters who do and say some horrific stuff, very much like Cowdry’s serialized Instagram strip (Sea Diver).

At first glance a very "adult" comic, when you stop to analyze it for a moment, you realize its not really that violent or sexual of a comic, though both elements are the cause of most of the shocking scenes. One doesn’t expect Rosie “the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen” to call her poor drug mule of a dog a pussy to his face. Even when you’ve read it, you never fully anticipate the drawings saying such things.

The plot is not really important. It exists to allow for violence, sex and, even, “slice of life”, even when said life is full of drugs, racist panties and a teenage drug-trafficker. For the initiated, it is very much in line with the work or Australian Simon Hanselmann (Megg, Mogg and Owl), though with a visual style that reminds one of manga or even toy adds.

It’s also worth noting that one does grow to care about the characters, flawed as they are. By no means great people, they are so humanly stupid, causing most of their problems, that one can’t help but to care with and for them.

As for the ending, I have to admit it took me a while to assimilate it. When I did, I read the comic again.

[Mobley-Carter Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s outside of my character to read books like this, but it was a quick read. I finished it in about 20 minutes. This book is raunchy. It has perverted humor. The white privilege quote was hilarious. This book has nudity. I decided to read it because I have a family member who consumes crack, and this book’s plot involves storing crack inside of a personified rescue dog. My other family member likes comic books and anime, so I read this book. I would not recommend this book to any of my friends unless I have a friend that likes nude comics. Otherwise no I would not share this because it is not spiritually profitable, but it did help to distract my mind from all of its burdens, and I felt accomplished after I finished it.

[Stefan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like many others, I picked up this book because Simon Hanselmann endorsed it. I was hoping the crude humor of his books would be found in this one as well. Well, the humor was crude; it just didn’t really land for me. I think the art was good, the page layouts worked. I just didn’t care about the story. I wasn’t personally a fan, but I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there who would love this book.