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Grease Monkey
Caught in the crossfire of an interstellar war, our Earth was bombed to flinders--and then repaired. The mysterious alien Benefactors who healed the planet also offered "uplift" to our dolphins and gorillas. The dolphins turned them down. The gorillas said yes. As a result, we're now sharing our world with language-using, tool-making simians. Tensions are inevitable, in both directions, but it's gradually working out.
Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik has been assigned to Fist of Earth, a defense station high above Earth, keeping watch against further attacks by the interstellar Horde. Robin's a spacecraft mechanic-in-training, apprenticed to Chief "Mac" Gimbensky, a cranky but basically benign gorilla with issues of his own.
Fist of Earth is a challenging place to grow up. Robin and Mac maintain fighter craft for the all-woman "Barbarian Squadron", which constantly competes for prestige with the other squadrons based on Fist of Earth. Robin's trying to romance a young librarian, and he's far from sure he knows what he's doing. Most of all, he's constantly struggling to figure out his moody, mercurial boss.
Then he and his best friend become entangled in a burgeoning scandal over betting on the squadrons' standings. And just when things look like they've hit rock bottom, the worst thing imaginable arrives at Fist of an efficiency expert from Earth, determined to reorganize Robin's hard-won life, and the whole squadron system, out of existence.
Fresh and engaging, crammed with likeable characters and science-fictional inventiveness, Grease Monkey is like a classic "Heinlein juvenile" in sequential-art mode.
Introduction by Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City
Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik has been assigned to Fist of Earth, a defense station high above Earth, keeping watch against further attacks by the interstellar Horde. Robin's a spacecraft mechanic-in-training, apprenticed to Chief "Mac" Gimbensky, a cranky but basically benign gorilla with issues of his own.
Fist of Earth is a challenging place to grow up. Robin and Mac maintain fighter craft for the all-woman "Barbarian Squadron", which constantly competes for prestige with the other squadrons based on Fist of Earth. Robin's trying to romance a young librarian, and he's far from sure he knows what he's doing. Most of all, he's constantly struggling to figure out his moody, mercurial boss.
Then he and his best friend become entangled in a burgeoning scandal over betting on the squadrons' standings. And just when things look like they've hit rock bottom, the worst thing imaginable arrives at Fist of an efficiency expert from Earth, determined to reorganize Robin's hard-won life, and the whole squadron system, out of existence.
Fresh and engaging, crammed with likeable characters and science-fictional inventiveness, Grease Monkey is like a classic "Heinlein juvenile" in sequential-art mode.
Introduction by Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2006
4 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Tim Eldred
67 books3 followersTim Eldred has been writing and drawing comics since he knew they existed. His other titles include Broid, Chaser Platoon, Lensman, Captain Harlock, and Robotech: Invid War for Eternity Comics, Armored Trooper Votoms for CPM Comics, Star Blazers for Argo Press and two Star Blazers webcomics which can be found online at Cosmo DNA.
By day he’s a director and storyboard artist for TV cartoons, with his name on episodes of Godzilla, Dragon Tales, Teen Titans, Xiaolin Showdown, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, Futurama, and many more. These days he’s a director on a show called Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. If you’re into that sort of thing.
By day he’s a director and storyboard artist for TV cartoons, with his name on episodes of Godzilla, Dragon Tales, Teen Titans, Xiaolin Showdown, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, Futurama, and many more. These days he’s a director on a show called Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. If you’re into that sort of thing.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 27, 2019
I read this the summer my oldest daughter was born. I was a lazy bum and had summers off at the writing center. I don’t remember a lot about this book, but I remember enjoying it.
August 8, 2017
Very much enjoyable.
Unique sci-fi idea. Solid characters. Decent art. Great detail. A sense of place and presence. Funny in parts. Great stories with something to say. And an end with great tension and a nice resolution.
Be sure to check out the continuing story online:
http://www.greasemonkeybook.com/
Unique sci-fi idea. Solid characters. Decent art. Great detail. A sense of place and presence. Funny in parts. Great stories with something to say. And an end with great tension and a nice resolution.
Be sure to check out the continuing story online:
http://www.greasemonkeybook.com/
July 29, 2018
This humorous science fiction book describes everyday life on a space station which is inhabited by a mix of humans and intelligent gorillas. The story is told in a series of very short chapters which illustrate the experiences of a young mechanic living on the space station. I couldn't identify with any of the characters and consequently found the book surprisingly dull.
September 16, 2021
Why, yes, I loved this book about a super-intelligent gorilla befriending a young guy while they fix up planes for a squadron of badass lady space pilots. Anyone who knows me at all will find this totally predictable in every way. You should also read it.
May 30, 2020
Comics and Graphic novels; Science fiction comics (Appeal terms from NoveList) Space repairs; Holds - Rebekah
December 18, 2015
Grease Monkey is a black-and-white science fiction graphic novel about a space station in a future where an awful lot of humans have been exterminated by aliens. Benevolent aliens came along and helpfully lifted gorillas up to the level of humans, so that the world wouldn't be too underpopulated to survive. Now, the gorillas and humans who populate the space station are in constant preparation, just in case the bad aliens come back. The book follows Robin Plotnik, a new cadet, as he assists Mac Gimbensky, the gorilla on the cover who happens to be the mechanic for the best squadron of fighter pilots on the station, the all-female Barbarians.
That's all just the set-up, though. What you get when you read this is the experience of living on that space station, with those people. It's not a sweeping space-military war epic. It's not a "how disturbing could I possibly make these aliens?" story, or an "in the future we all have weird sex every second of every day" story. It's not a "realistic" story wherein unlikeable people make stupid mistakes and just live with it. It's about real people having normal everyday problems, and TOTALLY COMING OUT ON TOP. It's awesome!
Like I said, it's not a sweeping epic. It's written in vignettes, for the most part, and that's where the day-in-the-life feel comes from. It's lots of days in their lives, and their lives are way funnier and more awesome than mine. It's a rich, complete story, it tries to make you think, and it's intense sometimes, but it's not trying to shock you or impress you with how trendy it is. You can read it in tiny little sips, one vignette at a time, and enjoy it, but it's the kind of book you just WANT to read, because when you're reading it, you're happy.
Since it's a graphic novel, a word on the art: Fantastic. Very clean and crisp and fun to look at, a pleasure to look at. There's no trouble telling which characters are which or what's going on in the panel, and a big spread will take your breath away. It really will.
That's all just the set-up, though. What you get when you read this is the experience of living on that space station, with those people. It's not a sweeping space-military war epic. It's not a "how disturbing could I possibly make these aliens?" story, or an "in the future we all have weird sex every second of every day" story. It's not a "realistic" story wherein unlikeable people make stupid mistakes and just live with it. It's about real people having normal everyday problems, and TOTALLY COMING OUT ON TOP. It's awesome!
Like I said, it's not a sweeping epic. It's written in vignettes, for the most part, and that's where the day-in-the-life feel comes from. It's lots of days in their lives, and their lives are way funnier and more awesome than mine. It's a rich, complete story, it tries to make you think, and it's intense sometimes, but it's not trying to shock you or impress you with how trendy it is. You can read it in tiny little sips, one vignette at a time, and enjoy it, but it's the kind of book you just WANT to read, because when you're reading it, you're happy.
Since it's a graphic novel, a word on the art: Fantastic. Very clean and crisp and fun to look at, a pleasure to look at. There's no trouble telling which characters are which or what's going on in the panel, and a big spread will take your breath away. It really will.
February 1, 2008
Tim Eldred, Grease Monkey (Tor, 2006)
After fourteen years and a number of deals that fell through, Tor has finally brought the first collection of Tim Eldred's legendary underground comic Grease Monkey to light, and we at Goat Central are pleased indeed. For those of you unaware of it, this is a sci-fi comic about a big space station. 60% of Earth's population was destroyed during an alien invasion; a more benevolent alien race came afterwards to help humanity out of the mess it had been thrown into, and part of that was imparting gorillas with human intelligence. So now gorillas and humans live and work alongside one another. The series focuses on the relationship between Robin Plotnik, a mechanic second class, and his boss, Mac Gimbensky (human and gorilla, respectively), the mechanics for the Barbarian Squadron, one of Earth's first lines of defense if the aggressive aliens come back. As is to be expected with a comic written over a fourteen-year period, yeah, it's episodic, but that doesn't make it any less fun to read. Eldred's got some interesting ideas, but he lets them flow through the story instead of sitting us down and telling us about them. (At times, in fact, he slips some in while having characters trying to sit each other down and say the exact opposite, which is great.) Eldred never lets any social consciousness (and it is writ large in the liner notes if you don't pick up on it) get in the way of telling a good story, and that, ultimately, is what any piece of writing should do. Recommended. ****
After fourteen years and a number of deals that fell through, Tor has finally brought the first collection of Tim Eldred's legendary underground comic Grease Monkey to light, and we at Goat Central are pleased indeed. For those of you unaware of it, this is a sci-fi comic about a big space station. 60% of Earth's population was destroyed during an alien invasion; a more benevolent alien race came afterwards to help humanity out of the mess it had been thrown into, and part of that was imparting gorillas with human intelligence. So now gorillas and humans live and work alongside one another. The series focuses on the relationship between Robin Plotnik, a mechanic second class, and his boss, Mac Gimbensky (human and gorilla, respectively), the mechanics for the Barbarian Squadron, one of Earth's first lines of defense if the aggressive aliens come back. As is to be expected with a comic written over a fourteen-year period, yeah, it's episodic, but that doesn't make it any less fun to read. Eldred's got some interesting ideas, but he lets them flow through the story instead of sitting us down and telling us about them. (At times, in fact, he slips some in while having characters trying to sit each other down and say the exact opposite, which is great.) Eldred never lets any social consciousness (and it is writ large in the liner notes if you don't pick up on it) get in the way of telling a good story, and that, ultimately, is what any piece of writing should do. Recommended. ****
March 8, 2009
This was a great graphic novel. It’s a sci-fi story set on a space station, which is a training school for pilots and squadrons. The earth was attacked by some kind of alien species – no one really knows who or why – and what remains of humankind has received aid from other benevolent aliens. Since there were so few humans left, another earth species was allowed to choose to be augmented in order to assist them in preparing to defeat the bad aliens (should they ever return or should their point of origin be determined). The dolphins declined, and the gorillas accepted. The premise is rather Ender’s Game, but there are all sorts of interesting relationships between the gorillas and the humans. This is mostly the story of Robin Plotnik, who starts out the story as a new recruit. He’s a mechanic and he’s working under a gorilla, Chief Gimbensky, whom everyone calls Mac. Mac’s unpredictable and he’s allowed a certain amount of mythology to grow up around him – people say that he ate his last assistant. Seems like this could be a nice long running series as not much has happened yet. Very relationship based. Mac and Robin work for the Barbarians, a squadron of women hand-picked by Barbara (their leader) that’s been undefeated for a long time now.
December 21, 2012
Grease Monkey
By: Tanner C.
I never like comic books until I read Grease Monkey. This book is magnificent and has great humor in it. I read the first one out of 3 and i am about to start the second book.
This book is a big book with short stories in it about the main character ( Mac and Robin). Instead of calling it chapters they call it episodes. This book has a lot of humor and I give this a thumbs up. The problem about the book is the pictures of black and white. I know people don’t care about the picture color but I love when I see what colors they are wearing. To me a book needs to have pictures that pop and say WOW!!
The characters in the book are great because the writer made them with great personalities. The main character Mac is a monkey mechanic that has a rookie come in from the planet earth. The rookie’s name is Robin and he had last pick on the mechanic and Got mac. They control the fighter group called the barbarians. This fighter group are all females. The author Tim eldred Shows how the world will look in the future. The problem about the book is that when it goes to another episodes it doesn't tell us the ending of the last episode. I hope they fix that problem in book 2. Member to praise Grease Monkey.
By: Tanner C.
I never like comic books until I read Grease Monkey. This book is magnificent and has great humor in it. I read the first one out of 3 and i am about to start the second book.
This book is a big book with short stories in it about the main character ( Mac and Robin). Instead of calling it chapters they call it episodes. This book has a lot of humor and I give this a thumbs up. The problem about the book is the pictures of black and white. I know people don’t care about the picture color but I love when I see what colors they are wearing. To me a book needs to have pictures that pop and say WOW!!
The characters in the book are great because the writer made them with great personalities. The main character Mac is a monkey mechanic that has a rookie come in from the planet earth. The rookie’s name is Robin and he had last pick on the mechanic and Got mac. They control the fighter group called the barbarians. This fighter group are all females. The author Tim eldred Shows how the world will look in the future. The problem about the book is that when it goes to another episodes it doesn't tell us the ending of the last episode. I hope they fix that problem in book 2. Member to praise Grease Monkey.
December 2, 2013
Earth has been reduced to rubble by alien forces. Another alien race, the Benefactors, healing planet Earth, raise gorillas up to human intelligence. Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik, assigned to a defense space station above earth, works as a spacecraft mechanic under the supervision of a gorilla named Chief "Mac" Gimbensky. Between maintaining fighter craft for an all-woman squadron, to romancing a young librarian, to a scandal over betting on the squadron’s test flights, Robin is growing up on a space station where gorillas and humans coexist. Things are about to get interesting…
I had no preconceived notions or any idea what was in store for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The young man of Robin with his struggles of fitting in, friendship and love were all so universal. Add the fact that gorillas are now on equal terms with humans and it was totally engaging. I highly recommend this graphic novel. In 2007, Grease Monkey won the BBYA (ALA Best Books for Young Adults)
I had no preconceived notions or any idea what was in store for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The young man of Robin with his struggles of fitting in, friendship and love were all so universal. Add the fact that gorillas are now on equal terms with humans and it was totally engaging. I highly recommend this graphic novel. In 2007, Grease Monkey won the BBYA (ALA Best Books for Young Adults)
Read
September 4, 2009This graphic novel is actually a series of “comic book” sized stories that build chapter by chapter into a fully realized novel. An interesting science fiction variation on the typical “coming of age” story, the graphic novel focuses on teenage Robin, a literal space cadet aboard an enormous flagship base to multiple air squadrons. Robin is assigned as a trainee mechanic under Mac, a sentient gorilla. Together they maintain the aircraft of Barbarian Squadron, a team of very liberated women pilots who compete against the men’s teams. The “novel” challenges reluctant readers, who must use higher level inferences to “get’ some of the humor and cleverness of the plot. The only truly objectionable material to me was the PC digs at religion in anepisode toward the end of the book which needn’t have been written in at all. The reference is more than irreverence; to me it borders on sacrilege. The rest of the novel is positive and fun to read.
August 3, 2016
The first 24 collected issues of a comic book about a mechanic trainee and his gorilla boss, on a space station. It’s nearly as absurd as it sounds, while still being very good indeed. The comedy level is high—yes, there are banana jokes—but there’s also some fairly serious topics addressed, generally successfully. This particular edition is in black and white, with some decent half-tones, although parts of it have been colored in the past—you can see examples on the web site.
I was fairly taken with this book, though I’ve certainly read better. It’s not a standout in any individual area, necessarily, but it’s a good graphic novel, a good space opera, and a good coming of age story—to get two of those together is rare enough, but three is nearly unheard of, and mostly makes up for the fact that none of the three parts are, on their own, exceptional.
I was fairly taken with this book, though I’ve certainly read better. It’s not a standout in any individual area, necessarily, but it’s a good graphic novel, a good space opera, and a good coming of age story—to get two of those together is rare enough, but three is nearly unheard of, and mostly makes up for the fact that none of the three parts are, on their own, exceptional.
September 21, 2009
Reading this Graphic Novel was an interesting experience for me. I have had little experience with this type of fiction. I was fascinated by the unique, symbiotic relationship between text and illustrations in this book. Although definitely a science fiction novel, the storyline struck me as more humorous and adolescent than futuristic. I'd love to try this book on a reluctant middle school reader. It contains interesting characters with problems a middle schooler could relate to.
2006; Science Fiction; ALA Best Books for Young Adults
2006; Science Fiction; ALA Best Books for Young Adults
April 10, 2011
I really enjoyed it.
Grease Monkey tells the story of a young mechanic on a space station and the sentient ape who mentors him. This is a coming of age story, very much along the lines of a Heinlein juvenile. In this story, much of the Earth’s population was destroyed by aliens. Another group of aliens showed up and elevated gorillas to sentience to help in the war. Currently Earth is preparing for war.
The story is well-told and the illustrations add a lot to the story. I can’t wait till book two comes out.
Grease Monkey tells the story of a young mechanic on a space station and the sentient ape who mentors him. This is a coming of age story, very much along the lines of a Heinlein juvenile. In this story, much of the Earth’s population was destroyed by aliens. Another group of aliens showed up and elevated gorillas to sentience to help in the war. Currently Earth is preparing for war.
The story is well-told and the illustrations add a lot to the story. I can’t wait till book two comes out.
July 19, 2007
This book was an archie meets sci-fi combo. In the ending comments the author states that he wanted to write a graphic novel that reflects real life issues. Sadly, in this graphic novel, real life seems to bring about boredom and dropey eyelids. NOTHING really happens. I was waiting for the story to pick up and a plot to come in play....like maybe a WAR since they are on a ship endlessly practicing for war. Battles are good. Conflict is highly appreciated.
September 13, 2008
Fan-freakin'-tastic.
Eldred worked on this off and on for about ten years, just because he wanted to, and boy does his enthusiasm show! Well plotted, with fun characters and a fascinating future world, I loved every chapter. The pics were great, and well organized (a problem in some graphic novels), so that the story flowed along with the perfect blend of words and pictures.
So much fun, when I got to the end I wanted to scream More! More!
Eldred worked on this off and on for about ten years, just because he wanted to, and boy does his enthusiasm show! Well plotted, with fun characters and a fascinating future world, I loved every chapter. The pics were great, and well organized (a problem in some graphic novels), so that the story flowed along with the perfect blend of words and pictures.
So much fun, when I got to the end I wanted to scream More! More!
August 26, 2008
Following a devastating attack from space earth is rebuilt with the help of other alien powers, who enlist the survivors in their war against the attackers. Since the majority of humanity was killed in the attack, the friendly powers upgrade the intelligence of the apes to fight along side humanity. So when young mechanic Robin Plotnik reports to his squadron he finds that his chief is a very large and short tempered silverback gorilla named McGimben Gimbinsky.
November 29, 2009
A talking gorilla in space. Combining those two ingredients sounds awful to me. But it works.
Most of the stories revolve around Robin, a new mechanic cadet and his new boss, Mac, the talking gorilla. It'll take a few chapters before you finally understand why there is a talking gorilla on a spaceship
It's a fascinating backdrop to the story. But the heart of book is a coming of age story for both Robin and Mac.
July 2, 2011
This comic book-style story is about a space cadet named Robin Plotnik & Mcgimben Gimbensky (he prefers to go by Mac). This story takes place after an alien horde kills more than 60% of the human civilization. The Benefactors want to help Earth, so they give higher intelligence to the dolphins. They didn't want any part of it. So the Benefactors give intelligence to the gorillas. This is a sci-fi adventure that you won't want to put down.
Read
June 3, 2013Wow! Fun book to read. Very long but keeps you going. Loved the bond between the main two characters--and the non-Disney ending. The author notes at the end are very humble but also intriguing, a view into the making of a successful graphic novel. I'd like to read his other stuff. Grateful to my son for bringing me this book: "Mom, I want you to read this." I handed it back after, saying he'd probably enjoy reading the author notes as well.
March 6, 2015
Grease Monkey is a collection of 24 episodes and a few vignettes that were originally published in late 90s.
The stories are interesting enough, at times funny, and surprisingly connected, but unfortunately most of time the humor is a bit naive and childish, and the episodes can get a bit repetitive.
The art looks pretty good most of the time, and a few pages that are heavier on shadows and thus look darker are especially great.
Overall, an OK read, especially for younger audience.
The stories are interesting enough, at times funny, and surprisingly connected, but unfortunately most of time the humor is a bit naive and childish, and the episodes can get a bit repetitive.
The art looks pretty good most of the time, and a few pages that are heavier on shadows and thus look darker are especially great.
Overall, an OK read, especially for younger audience.
January 5, 2015
I fell in love with "Grease Monkey" instantly. Each chapter about Mac and Robin and the Barbarians holds significance on many levels. You can read for the pure entertainment factor or for the deeper, continually relevant societal issues they explore. Eldred crafted a gem here. I wish there was more.
April 8, 2008
A series of comic books, collected in to one large hardcover GN. I'm not sure whether the 2nd volume is out yet, but I'd read it if I ran across it. I liked the story of the book's inception at the end, and the explanations of episodes.
July 7, 2009
Excellent - an all-ages comic that isn't childish. The art is extremely clean, and the story is engaging. Young mechanic signs up for work on a carrier and meets his boss, an intelligence-advanced gorilla, and his crew of hot-shot female fighter pilots. Humor, love, politics, all in a neat package.
March 9, 2012
Wonderful read - solid artwork, humorous and earnest story-telling with many tongue-in-cheek gags and pop culture references. If you're a fan of space opera, coming of age stories, and indie comics, you really cannot go wrong with this - put it on your "must read" list and read it.
September 26, 2012
I liked this more than I expected to. Well-assembled story with multiple interesting storylines, solid and engaging art, and does some interesting exploration of bigotry against gorillas without first wiping out any diversity amidst the humans...although there isn't much, anyway.
July 6, 2007
This book was good, though a bit simplistic at times. Actually, it's very simplistic, but then surprises you at being rather well thought out.
It would make a good adolescent read I think.
It would make a good adolescent read I think.
March 1, 2008
Cute, old-fashioned SF(but not in a bad way), a bit like a cross between Babylon 5 and Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys, with some early Heinlein thrown in for texture.
August 11, 2008
After bracing myself for a concept that on outward appearances looks cheesey, I was pleasantly surprised to find characters and storylines that kept me engaged.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews