Loudest & Smartest: A Loud & Smart Collection

by Alex Krokus

Meet an internet-addicted millennial raccoon and his misadventures in the big bad city.

Loudest & Smartest collects over 350 pages of the hit Loud and Smart comics by Alex Krokus, featuring comics about punks, horrible couples, love, jobs, and the disgusting depths of viral videos.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics Manga

360 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2022

Reviews

[Kit Charlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

The highs are very high--Krokus has produced some of my very favorite four panel comics ever. The Genius vs. Contrarian Hot Dog debate, the marriage of Big Clown and Pasta Steve, and Soup Season are three of the funniest things I've ever read. But there is a lot in this collection that just aren't really anything--not just a good idea poorly executed, but a comic in which there is just nothing at the center. Fortunately these are fewer in number as the book goes on, but this book needed a relentless editor to whittle it down to the greatest hits alone.

All that said, I'm very excited for Krokus's forthcoming graphic memoir. He is a great talent, especially in character work and physical comedy (I could read the comic of Alex being hit by the bus while thinking of eggnog hundreds of times with different foods/objects/ideas swapped in and probably never tire of it), but this book just isn't the right way to experience him at his best.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, definitely feels like the optimal way to experience these comics is their original posting cadence and not back-to-back in a collection like this. Taken as a collection it feels like a point-by-point breakdown of the millenial psyche which can get tiresome. But even though there are less individual banger strips than I expected it all eventually hangs together. A nice chill hum of good-natured amusement that builds up over time.

[Dan P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not every picture jotted down on a napkin needs to be preserved for posterity. There's a better version of this book that's just the top 20% of material that's actually funny or insightful. It's there, it just needs to be edited down. Not kill your darlings as much as let go of your most incoherent bits. Let them dissolve into the ether so your best work can shine

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girth of this book feels perfect in my hands. It's a pleasure to hold.

The comics inside of it are a bonus as well.

[Denisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pensé que me gustaba más de lo que realmente me gustó. Hay que tener demasiadas horas de internet en el cuerpo para entenderlo (hubo un montón de chistes que no entendí). Pero los chistes buenos, son realmente buenos, me sacaron carcajadas. También hubo varios que les mandé a mis amigos. El problema es que son más de 350 páginas y debe ser como el 10% lo rescatable.

[Andrew Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This oversized collection has a lot of odds and ends, many of which feel like unfinished ideas (maybe they are, or maybe it’s just the evolution of the artist’s style). His 2025 collection in full color is the one to track down IMO—that’s where the comic hits its stride.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex is the best

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious! One of my favorite reads this year!

[Stephen Swirsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this.
Great fun.

[Christa Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some LOL, some not quite as good but overall would recommend.

[Marek · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.4
Jest coś urzekająco osobistego w prostocie tych postaci i banalności poszczególnych tematów. Nawet jeśli Alex Krokus nie trafia z puentą lub sam pasek nie cechuje się pokręconą błyskotliwością, to zdarza się to na tyle rzadko, że nawet tego nie zauważamy. Dalej jest miło i zabawnie.

[Adam Schmersal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. These were funny, relatable, and easy to read. A slice-of-life about the modern world in four-panel installments.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, very fast read. A few made me lol and my husband had me read them to him.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only a couple of these made me laugh out loud. There are a lot of them too. It was pretty good tho

[Julie Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

love/hate

[Jing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a good time