The Goon, Volume 4: Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof

The Goon #4

by Eric Powell, Robin Powell (Illustrator), Thomas Lennon

Giant man-eating eyeballs from another dimension, mad scientists, rampaging killer robots and the Ghost of Christmas Past - nothing out of the ordinary in the world of The Goon. Come take a traipse down Lonely Street with Goon and his pals as they defend their burg from all manner of monstrous disasters and ghouls in The Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof. This volume collects five magically dark and delightfully hilarious tales of chaos and daring-do, following the exploits of the man known only as The Goon as he fights his through a horde of killer robots and even creatures from another dimension to help save his sometimes friend and ally Dr. Hieronymous Alloy from a mysterious disease. But there are plenty of bumps along the way, ultimately landing the Goon in Cade's Island Penitentiary proving once more that no good deed goes unpunished.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comedy

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2006

About the author

Eric Powell has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD Magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, the Avengers, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and Action Comics.

Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

These guys are crazy!

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, time is really flying. It's been 4 years since I started my re-read of Goon... I read the first 3 volumes in the Library edition and just started reading 4-6 in the "Buncha Old Crap" editions, unfortunately Powell didn't reprint the Library editions so I got stuck with just the regular size paperbacks.

After establishing the world of The Goon in the first few volumes, I think Powell struggles here to create a strong narrative and direction for the series. But over the 5 stories he introduces a ton of new characters and depth to the world, most of the new characters I still remember from reading this series ages ago.

Similar to Mignola's approach to Hellboy - this is a mish-mash of all of Powell's genre interests. Zombies, monsters, robots, Charles Dickens, 30s gangster pulp fiction. Put in a blender and explored by The Goon and his best friend Freddy.

His artwork continues to look impressive. I really like his use of pencil, something you don't often get the chance to see in comics.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Goon” trundles along nicely in this fourth volume from Eric Powell. Goon decides to start up an old-timey football team to uplift the people of Lonely Street, there’s a Christmas Carol parody, and Dr Alloy contracts a lethal disease with only Goon and Franky able to help him. And of course the book ends with a big robot battle, a jailbreak, and the introduction of a group of murderous children.

This book sees Powell’s artwork progress from inks to paints and the look of Goon change radically to it’s own form, unique and lovely to look at. The character’s voices are down perfectly too with Powell confidently introducing a slew of new characters in this book to grow this strange world even further.

I loved reading it as I’ve enjoyed all of the Goon series. Powell throws in so many genres into the books and so many varied drawing styles that the books are never boring. There’s a sense of nostalgia in the first strip, then a Victorian-esque comic, then we’re into pulp Sci-Fi territory, then prison break out, then slapstick comedy – all seamlessly running into each other. There isn’t another comic book writer out there doing this nor anyone who has the wit and artistry to pull it off so tastefully.

“Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof” (what a great title) – a great, fun comic book for a series any comics fan will love to read.

[Václav · Rating 3 out of 5]

(4.0 of 5 for good pal Goon)
Well, here I'm, struggling to find some distinctive description for this book only for it's slightly weaker than the ones before. Still good, though, but I didn't enjoy reading as much as the two before.

[Adam M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty entertaining entry and the most diverse story wise. There is a re-imaging of "A Christmas Carol" a story about Goon helping found a football team in his town, Dr Alloy in peril, he and Goon winding up in jail, killer robots and orphans on a mission. Also there is a story included by Thomas Lennon that's told from Frankie's point of view.

[Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funnier than ever, issue 13 was the highlight of the volume.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of a weird volume. The only story progression (I think) we get is when world-renowned scientist Dr. Heironymous Alloy starts to melt and requests the Goon and Franky to fix him up. They travel into a drug fueled alternate dimension and almost get swallowed by a tentacle monster, only for Alloy to turn evil again and have a big dumb fight. The two get arrested but Goon escapes, Alloy stays in prison but I assume we'll break him out to fight a big bad at some point. Goon accidentally inspires some youths to be his secret weapons, the Unholy Bastards.

But besides that, we get a look into the Goons almost criminal football career, a short story about Franky and some well-made ladies shoes. But most weirdly? We get an out of nowhere Christmas Carol retelling, casting Zombie Priest as Scrooge.

[Michael Emond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Goon is a series I have arrived at a little late. From the outside a book about a muscled Goon fighting zombies didn't appeal to me but I finally decided to give it a try and I see what all the fuss is about. First and foremost Powell's are is spectacular. It's distinctly his own style and is just beautiful and very suited to the story he is telling. The stories are very entertaining and have some great humour in them. I appreciate the fact the humour comes about naturally and is only sprinkled in. I love the character of the Goon - we don't get much insight into his character or his motivations but he is fully formed nonetheless. His sidekick Frankie is perfect. The only minor complaint I have is that the stories - in the best tradition of pulp fiction - aren't that weighty. They are great entertainment but a bit fluffy. But hey, a little light entertainment isn't such a bad thing.
Oh - I should mention the short story at the end by Thomas Lennon wasn't that compelling and the Christmas Carol story was a bit out of place - read more like a Mad Magazine spoof.

Overall, it isn't a series I am dying to read all of but I enjoy it every time I get my hands on a book.

[Alex Sarll]

After Orlando's Marauders I needed something to remind me that comics can be fun, and this mostly delivered, though there's an occasional sense of Powell struggling to work out which elements he can chuck into the scabrous genre-mash he's got going and still have them feel suitably Goon-ish. For my money, the prison drama ran a little too serious, the planar exploration too outright science fiction (though Franky's ramblings were a treat) and the American football flashback too American football - but Thomas Lennon's pugnacious introduction and closing tall tale helped keep things ticking along.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate when I grab the wrong book and read out of order. Oh, well...

Two special things happen in this trade: The Christmas Carol parody shows a distinct change in the pencils AND we get more Dr. Alloy, my favorite character.

A note about the art: I am floored by the shading and coloring in this book. You could tell Eric Powell was a good artist, but damn. His facility with pencil shading is comparable to Richard Corbin, Chris van Allsberg and the great M.C. Escher. If you only look at this for the drawing, I think you would still be impressed.

[John Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love The Goon
Powell always delivers on the
stories of his lovable(?) thug.
A crime boss in the slums
The Goon fights the good fight.
Even if it means breaking legs.
A bizarre collection in a bizarre
series.
This delivers lots of dark humor
and lots of punches

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funniest. Christmas special. Ever. Better than Scrooged and Christmas Vacation combined - Cousin Eddy got nothin on these apparitions. Powell's stories are both ridiculous and pithy at once. Amazing.

[Jimbo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Goon volume four. I had never read this Eisner winning author and illustrator before. I like what i read, but the collection had no real thread-line and so, each story was self contained. I liked the first story about putting together a football team to help the Goon's city to care about something. The second story, a bastardization of a Christmas Carol was basically nothing new or exciting at all.
The next two stories were connected and were relatively interesting about trying to help and then being attacked by Dr. Alloy.

The zombies were an anti climax addition in the stories. The final short story was fun, but barely had anything to do with The Goon, but he was mentioned as a friend of the Goon.

Overall, it was alright. Not sure I would read more. I like the style of the writing, would really be interested if Eric Powell wrote an more continuous tale of the Goon.

Maybe he had in one of the other volumes of the comics. Just don't know if I want to find out.

[Reyedit Arcols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es este mi número favorito de los que he leído por varias razones.

1) La genial introducción. Powell, chupas bolas de burro.

2) El cómic tiene un especial de navidad que funciona hasta que se arruina para mí en los últimos paneles. Pero todo lo demás es fantástico.

3). Aparece la pandilla de niños cabrones.

4). Un actor que escribió una historia en prosa en primera persona de Franky. ¡Oh! Esto es grande. El sujeto tiene talento. De verdad decía cosas muy graciosas. Y bien ejecutada. Se sentía real, como si Franky lo hubiera escrito. Compraría un libro de cuentos narrados por Franky.

5). La historia de cómo Goon ayuda al reclutador. Gran, gran historia.

Oh. Claro que hay cosas que cambiaría. Pero siento que cada vez me inclino más a apreciar más, porque Powell cambia. ¿Es esta la primera vez que vemos los ojos de Goon? Creo que sí. Ciertamente al verlos me llamó mucho la atención.

[Rolando Marono · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este volumen sentí que bajó un poco en calidad el desarrollo de la trama. El humor estuvo mejor que nunca, muy oscuro, un humor muy negro pero que varias veces me sacó carcajadas.
Lo que siento que falló más fue el propósito de las historias. Normalmente estamos acostumbrados a historias graciosas que aunque parecen simples, poseen personajes complejos con motivos profundos. En las historias de este volumen tenemos una historia muy enternecedora sobre The Goon, el pueblo y los zombies (mi favorita de este volumen) de ahí una adaptación de a un cuento de navidad que aunque muy muy gracioso no aporta gran cosa a los personajes que ya conocemos, y de ahí tres historias sobre el Dr. Jerónimo que a mí parecer, a excepción de la última, no llegan a ningún lado.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like comics? Because I've literally run out of things to say about these Goon collected editions.

So in case you found this but somehow missed the previous ones.

1. Feels like a mashup of EC comics and Loony Toons
2. Fun ideas, amazing art, chuckle inducing moments
3. You'll either get it and want to read more or you won't and will think it is just pretty looking drivel at best. Hell, you might not know anything about comics or art and could possibly think the art sucks. See next.
4. Start from the beginning and you be the judge.

Reading is never a waste of time. Even if the words have pictures that go with them.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun and crazy volume of The Goon. Goon's gangster friends start up an old timey football team. A great Christmas Carol spoof and then the return of Dr. Alloy. These stories do such a great job of taking a bunch of different genres and swirling them up in a blender into their own thing. Plus an introduction and prose story by Thomas Lennon of The State.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for 15 volumes binged over three days

I don't know how I missed this during it's initial run, but - small favors - now I got to enjoy it with no waiting.
For such a long run there is surprisingly little difference in quality, occasionally dipping to excellent from exceptional and dragging - as most tales do - when it moves away from the episodic and into an ongoing tale.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Christmas Carol reimagining could have been a bit more original (in some places it's word-for-word the same as Dicken's version), but there were still many chuckles to be had in this volume.

[Hanussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goon je moje krevní skupina. Powell je prostě chopný vymyslet a nakreslit tolik volovin, že se to ani nedá vypovědět, a mě to strašně baví :D Zároveň dokáže vykouzlit i silnější momenty, jako v první povídce o rugby.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really weird in a good way. I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this that blends a whole lot of violence with some real out-there weird (plus “A Christmas Carol”), and some sort of wholesome standing-up-for-the-little guy.

[Kenneth Blomqvist · Rating 3 out of 5]

³

[Chris Lins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a bit slower, and the art seemed a bit more sterile. Still enjoyed the goonishness if it all.

[Seb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dr. Alloy lol

[The Flooze · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5**

Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof is an incredibly apt name for this volume. Time and again, the Goon shows his kinder nature and helps someone out of a jam, only to pay for it later. With all of these bad results, you’d think he’d be more likely to tell them to scram!

In the first story, the Goon joins a football team. That’s right, the Goon being athletic! When a washed-up football player shows up with plans to raise the townspeople’s self-worth and dignity by giving them a local team to root for, the Goon can’t help but pitch in. They create quite a stir, coming under the scrutiny of two of the local crime families. What follows is tragic, but inadvertently allows for the Goon to expand his powerbase.

I’m always fascinated by the regular Joe’s reaction to the Goon. Even though we know he’s a thug who breaks legs and bashes heads, the normal person on the street doesn’t fear him as much as respect him. As one business owner says: “Only you keep the Black Hand off my back, Goon! They would have broken me by now if not for you! Sure, I pay you, but you keep it reasonable! And it is well worth it to know The Goon is keeping me safe! My mother, she pray for you every night!” I get the impression the man truly means it, rather than merely trying to butter up a dangerous ruffian. In the Goon’s world, this kind of logic makes sense. He’s sort of akin to the gentleman gangster who only picks on those who have voluntarily inserted themselves into a rough life. His turning a blind eye to small-time crooks also wins him favors--a few of which he cashes in on to build up the team roster. According to today’s standards, I probably shouldn’t approve of the racket he runs, and yet I still find the Goon an immensely likable character. He sticks his neck out for the little guy and despite the grim consequences, he’ll continue to do so.

In the next story, “the cast of The Goon would like to present…Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (a complete bastardization of a piece of classic holiday literature).” Although the artwork is great as always, this one fell a bit flat. The most enjoyable part was seeing the Goon in the traditional furred green robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present--made more amusing by the inclusion of his own customary cap and a glimpse of polka-dot boxers!

Moving on, we see the return of Dr. Heironymous Alloy, certainly one of my favorite characters in the Goon-verse. Sending the Goon through what looks suspiciously like a Stargate, Alloy asks him to retrieve an element from a parallel universe. A parallel universe! The landscape and effects of which come off as an homage to a painfully bad acid trip, which only partially explains why we are treated to a panel of Franky wearing a top hat and tails, daintily sipping tea and sporting a rather distinguished monocle. Bizarre but fun.

As with everything involving the misguided Dr. Alloy, everything goes horribly wrong and mayhem ensues. Ohhhh, Dr. Alloy. If only everyone would purchase his genetically modified cream corn, things would go so much smoother.

Lastly, we have a prose story by Thomas Lennon. (I had to google him. He seems to be best known as an actor on Reno 911 and as a screenwriter for Night at the Museum. Thank you, google, oh massive aggregator of sometimes sketchy knowledge.) Franky is the narrator, and while I generally like the humor the misguided pipsqueak brings to the Goon, I didn’t particularly like this story. I think that without the Goon at his side, Franky is much more into straight up thuggery. He doesn’t have the aforementioned gentleman aspect that saves the Goon from my disapproval. Strange, since he had a solid upbringing compared to the titular character’s roving carnival childhood. They’re an argument for the fact that strength of character is not necessarily something you learn, but might be an inherent part of your being which is then cultivated through experience.

To sum up, five issues--three of which are great, two of which fall flat (oh, and a two page spoof ad for a character called The Atomic Rage which is just plain disturbing). An okay showing but worth it for the Goon’s continued effort to help out the people around him.

[East Bay J · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a lengthy absence (because it's been a while since I've been in a comic shop) which made my heart grow fonder (because you miss things you like when you're away from them), I have returned to Lonely Street and its baddest inhabitant, Goon. Not to mention his friends, enemies, associates, etc. Something about the mix of humor, violence, sci-fi, zombies, Lovecraftian monstrosities and old, weird, American fun has made this the only comic I continue to read and my enjoyment never diminishes.

In this volume, we read the tale of Goon's one and only foray into football, we're treated to that crazy Eric Powell's take on A Christmas Carol, we witness the deterioration, madness and redemption of Hieronymous Alloy and thrill to Goon's second escape from Cade's Island Maximum Security Prison with a little help from the Little Rascals-esque Unholy Bastards. The icing on the cake is a story about Franky straight from the goofy, mixed up mind of Thomas Lennon, he of The State and Reno 911! (etc.) fame. That's good icing!

Powell continues to write and illustrate in his own inimitable style, which I love. This guy's won a handful of Eisner awards and it's easy to see why. His art is fantastic, a throwback to comic artists of yore using a variety of techniques to keep things very interesting. The stories are just ridiculous but in such a good way and, besides, they're entertaining as hell. The Goon is good, if not so clean, fun and that's the kind of think I look for in any comic book experience.

[Des Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot how absolutely masterful The Goon is. I've been away for a while, but coming back is like seeing an old friend (with whom you share a terrible secret, and/or shamanic blood bond). Everything felt familiar and welcoming, as I lost myself in Powell's weird world. The art style shifts into a multi-medium smear of ultra-realistic surrealism (hush you), all while gently gliding us through digestible shot tales, all adding to the Goon mythos. The exposition is so expertly woven in, that I am utterly shamed as a writer in reading such good damn comics. The humor is just spot on too, making me laugh out loud at multiple instances. The Goon is just excellent, and so easy to recommend. My only issues are that the Christmas Carol parody almost put me to sleep, and the lettering can sometimes look amateurish. Those are small complaints though, and you should probably be reading this book.

I can't wait to catch up.

[Jonathan Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

You really can't go wrong with Eric Powell's "The Goon." It monstermashes all that is best in life: '30s gangster pictures, '50s science fiction, classic muscle cars, bloodsucking women, seedy bars, zombies, zombies, zombies. And pie. Mmmm, delicious pie. How could it miss??! That said, "Virtue" is one of the weaker Goon collections, treading water until about halfway thru the book. There needs to be a moratorium on "Christmas Carol" variations. It's been done to death. Trust me, all you writer-types, you canNOT put a fresh spin on it. And neither can Powell. But once the giant robots arrive and start wreckin the place, the book recovers. And even when the story flags, Powell's pulpy art more than makes up for it.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fine mash-up of noir, pulp, aliens, and absurdity. There was a retelling of A Christmas Carol that fell a little flat for me, but there was also a fun installment with the Goon being a football juggernaut, and a surprising entertaining guest writer episode from Thomas Lennon (from The State, Reno 911 and other random comedies. Eric Powell shows a lot of artistic range, and even if this volume didn't wow me, it is still worth the effort to pick it up.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading "The Goon: Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof" (volume 4). This graphic novel contained a short story about the Goon joining a football team, an Eric Powell version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", a short story titled "The Dimension of the Flesh-eating Eye", another short story about Dr. Hieronymous Alloy, a story about the Goon escaping a maximum security prison, and a written story by Thomas Lennon. A couple of new characters were introduced, as well... a talking zombie named Willy Nagel, Cade's Island's prison warden Hagenbeck, and a few others. Overall, a really enjoyable graphic novel, with all the humor and misdeeds involved.