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Johnny the Homicidal Maniac #1
Johnny The Homicidal Maniac #1
The series focuses on the 20-something year old anti-hero Johnny C, also known as "NNY" (pronounced 'knee'). He is a deranged serial killer, mass murderer, and spree killer who interacts with various other characters, generally by murdering them. He elaborately kills anyone who even slightly irritates him, then drains their blood and paints one of the walls in his house with it. Johnny is also willing to murder "innocent" people who, in his twisted mind, deserve their fate for some reason or another. The number of Johnny’s victims is in the dozens, if not hundreds — or perhaps even thousands. Authorities are unable to capture Johnny and seem unaware of his existence, even though his crimes are often witnessed in public and reported by the few who manage to survive.
24 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1995
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5137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 22, 2016
you might ask me, Chloe, why are you rereading JTHM in the year of our lord 2016, at the ripe old age of 21? and the answer is: because I love to suffer and engage with Bad Content. Truly, I am doing this for the rest of you, so that you don't have to.
April 14, 2016
I'm ... not exactly sure what I just read. This is dark humor, but it is dark humor that I don't get. It's gore ... but it's gore without purpose. Hyperbolic gore, and hyperbolic rage. I guess I am not enjoying the combination. I am also not liking the fact that it is a bunch of shorts. I was expecting ... well, I can't really say I was expecting much. I assumed a seven issue comic would have some cohesive story, but these just seem like what are supposed to be "shocking ramblings." I might have enjoyed this as a teenager.
My plan is to finish reading these. I mean, I bought them thinking I would like them as they came so highly recommended. Maybe my opinion will change in the next issue. This issue ... I'd say the humor was in the ballpark of Will Farrell gone 90s emo-goth. The humor just seems uninspired, random, and primarily meant for the ick factor. It just doesn't move me.
Read more commentary and add your own here: http://www.rjspindle.com/content/john...
My plan is to finish reading these. I mean, I bought them thinking I would like them as they came so highly recommended. Maybe my opinion will change in the next issue. This issue ... I'd say the humor was in the ballpark of Will Farrell gone 90s emo-goth. The humor just seems uninspired, random, and primarily meant for the ick factor. It just doesn't move me.
Read more commentary and add your own here: http://www.rjspindle.com/content/john...
July 3, 2011
I enjoyed the series very much. I thought the art used by Vasquez made the books far more creepy and more disturbing. Their was a lot of gore and somehow that made it funny. The sarcastic humor was great too, and make me laugh, but it also made me question myself at the same time.
I also enjoyed some of the ideas behind the book like being a slave to yourself and others as well as the insanity. I think the "Salve to yourself" some of it is a little to over thought, by the protagonist, and I don't necessarily agree with what the protagonist is saying.
Some of the book is a little haphazard and you can tell that Vasquez was winging it when he wrote it. Some of the ideas aren't completely developed and the way the story was put together is a little chaotic. Yet it's still VERY good.
I also enjoyed some of the ideas behind the book like being a slave to yourself and others as well as the insanity. I think the "Salve to yourself" some of it is a little to over thought, by the protagonist, and I don't necessarily agree with what the protagonist is saying.
Some of the book is a little haphazard and you can tell that Vasquez was winging it when he wrote it. Some of the ideas aren't completely developed and the way the story was put together is a little chaotic. Yet it's still VERY good.
February 15, 2021
Yummy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2014
(Since I cannot be bothered to write a review for each installment, this is an overview of the entire series. As such there will be spoilers, however incoherent.)
Rating. 4.5
My enjoyment of this series kind of disturbs me. But I guess my humor is much more dark than I would like to admit.
Each installment includes a sort of foreword by the author. A tongue in cheek look at his cynical nature, dark sense of humor and apparently shitty life. All of them offer funny insights into Jhonen, his style as an artist, his sense of humor and his various philosophies. Whilst always taking a humorous look at society at large.
The series centers around Johnny, also known as "Nny" once a possibly highly talented artist now turned psychopath and deranged serial killer. Nny oscillates between killing sprees and attempted suicide every couple of chapters or so. Each are devilishly humorous and satirical. He is aided (and I use the term loosely) by the voices in his head, represented by two seemingly sentient plastic figurines, Psycho- Doughboy aka D Boy and Mr Eff and, of course, Nail Bunny. A pet rabbit Nny once fed and then nailed to the wall. And later, Reverend Meat.
Nail Bunny seems to act more as a conscious, which causes Nny to ponder some existential questions about himself, his life and what little he remembers about the time before his killing rampages. Mr Eff and D Boy seem to act on behalf of "Moose." A wall monster somehow imprisoned in Nny' house and held at bay by freshly coated blood on the walls. Although each has a different approach to "helping" their seemingly evil master. Whilst Nny seems to argue and actively dislike Reverend Meat. Even ignoring him in favor of Mr Samsa. A cockroach that Nny thinks is immortal because he keeps on killing him.
Nny also manages to interact with the world he inhabits, albeit with extreme violence and somehow indifference at the same time.
His most.......er gentle relationship is with his next door neighbor, Todd aka Squee. Squee is kind of like a very shy Butters, if he had even shittier parents, a somehow even worse life and constantly interacted with a serial killer that is.
Nny seems to be genuinely concerned for Squee, even going so far as to actively protect him at certain moments. Nny attempts to form something of a mentor like relationship with Squee, teaching and looking out for him, although he scares the absolute shit out of him during all their encounters. Which hinders the process somewhat. =)
The relationship between Squee and Nny is one of my favorites of the series. Showing Nny is still human (albeit just barely.) Plus Squee is freaking adorable. Seriously I want to adopt him, like now! I'd even take in Schmee, Squee's kind of creepy potentially evil sponge-like teddy bear. D'awww!
Throughout the series, Nny learns about his purpose, meets the Devil, kills a man without it giving him any pleasure, gains an apprentice of sorts, tries to retain a girlfriend and interacts with parodies of Goths.
But Johnny's quest isn't the only story we get. Each installment has a few random segments interspersed throughout. We get a few violent, seemingly random but funny self contained stories, a couple of Devi D's horrible dates, the ever arrogant Wobbly Headed Bob and of course everyone's favorite random bat shit insane character. Happy Noodle Boy.
Although the series at first seems grotesque and ultra violent, it does form something of a coherent storyline, has a bit of social commentary, some philosophical musings and is all around absurdly funny.
The art style can be kind of harsh, offering no color save for the title pages and the violence is shown in all it's black and white glory. But I quite enjoyed it and it's plot.
Rating. 4.5
My enjoyment of this series kind of disturbs me. But I guess my humor is much more dark than I would like to admit.
Each installment includes a sort of foreword by the author. A tongue in cheek look at his cynical nature, dark sense of humor and apparently shitty life. All of them offer funny insights into Jhonen, his style as an artist, his sense of humor and his various philosophies. Whilst always taking a humorous look at society at large.
The series centers around Johnny, also known as "Nny" once a possibly highly talented artist now turned psychopath and deranged serial killer. Nny oscillates between killing sprees and attempted suicide every couple of chapters or so. Each are devilishly humorous and satirical. He is aided (and I use the term loosely) by the voices in his head, represented by two seemingly sentient plastic figurines, Psycho- Doughboy aka D Boy and Mr Eff and, of course, Nail Bunny. A pet rabbit Nny once fed and then nailed to the wall. And later, Reverend Meat.
Nail Bunny seems to act more as a conscious, which causes Nny to ponder some existential questions about himself, his life and what little he remembers about the time before his killing rampages. Mr Eff and D Boy seem to act on behalf of "Moose." A wall monster somehow imprisoned in Nny' house and held at bay by freshly coated blood on the walls. Although each has a different approach to "helping" their seemingly evil master. Whilst Nny seems to argue and actively dislike Reverend Meat. Even ignoring him in favor of Mr Samsa. A cockroach that Nny thinks is immortal because he keeps on killing him.
Nny also manages to interact with the world he inhabits, albeit with extreme violence and somehow indifference at the same time.
His most.......er gentle relationship is with his next door neighbor, Todd aka Squee. Squee is kind of like a very shy Butters, if he had even shittier parents, a somehow even worse life and constantly interacted with a serial killer that is.
Nny seems to be genuinely concerned for Squee, even going so far as to actively protect him at certain moments. Nny attempts to form something of a mentor like relationship with Squee, teaching and looking out for him, although he scares the absolute shit out of him during all their encounters. Which hinders the process somewhat. =)
The relationship between Squee and Nny is one of my favorites of the series. Showing Nny is still human (albeit just barely.) Plus Squee is freaking adorable. Seriously I want to adopt him, like now! I'd even take in Schmee, Squee's kind of creepy potentially evil sponge-like teddy bear. D'awww!
Throughout the series, Nny learns about his purpose, meets the Devil, kills a man without it giving him any pleasure, gains an apprentice of sorts, tries to retain a girlfriend and interacts with parodies of Goths.
But Johnny's quest isn't the only story we get. Each installment has a few random segments interspersed throughout. We get a few violent, seemingly random but funny self contained stories, a couple of Devi D's horrible dates, the ever arrogant Wobbly Headed Bob and of course everyone's favorite random bat shit insane character. Happy Noodle Boy.
Although the series at first seems grotesque and ultra violent, it does form something of a coherent storyline, has a bit of social commentary, some philosophical musings and is all around absurdly funny.
The art style can be kind of harsh, offering no color save for the title pages and the violence is shown in all it's black and white glory. But I quite enjoyed it and it's plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2011
I'm no fan of gore or strong themes just like these, but after the third book, I got the hang of it and enjoyed the insane (but overall creative) storyline.
Still, I had sense of guilt (in a way) because even though I laughed at the things that happened, it made me question myself. It also made me analyze over a whole lot of things, for example... to be careful what I say and what I do for it could cause that other person's insanity/death... or cause you to lose your life. And that there really are people who have their minds twisted because of cruel sucessions in life and killing is their only way to find reason for existing. (Johnny is a special case. :P)
Life is so mysterious and there is no way to know of the future or who you will come across. Motivation enough for me to treat others fairly.
Still, I had sense of guilt (in a way) because even though I laughed at the things that happened, it made me question myself. It also made me analyze over a whole lot of things, for example... to be careful what I say and what I do for it could cause that other person's insanity/death... or cause you to lose your life. And that there really are people who have their minds twisted because of cruel sucessions in life and killing is their only way to find reason for existing. (Johnny is a special case. :P)
Life is so mysterious and there is no way to know of the future or who you will come across. Motivation enough for me to treat others fairly.
February 17, 2015
Don't know what I expected out of these comics but I can be assured it wasn't this. A good portion of all these comics just felt like it was a giant long winded rant, and only started to develop a plot near the 5th comic. It had potential to develop into something with all the psycho-babble you had to read through in the first few comics but nope. Nothing. It was unique though, I'll give it that and the ink work Was brilliant in some places even with the spelling errors that I kept finding. I'm just glad I get to finally cross these comics off my reading list.
November 19, 2019
When I was 12 I really did think this was the coolest thing ever.
April 9, 2021
I came across this and decided to give the first issue a try, to check if the rest was worth it or not. It's sadly an incoherent and unfunny 90s... something. I ignore what purpose it might have had, or what sort of bubble it was involved in... but yeah, didn't like it.
February 26, 2018
I can see where all JV's other characters come from now. Loved the reference to Alien.
June 28, 2022
Jhonen Vasquez's work always takes me back to my high school days. It's a fun blast of nostalgia.
December 15, 2010
I bought it for the art work.
March 27, 2018
i read the entire series, which is about a very sad man named johnny, or nny, who is a homicidal maniac. he despises humanity, so he kills or tortures people who he believes are part of the problem. people who make fun of his unusual appearance, or are just all round bad people. however, after a while he realizes that he doesn't want to be killing people, it doesn't make him happy anymore, but he has to because there is a wall in his house painted with blood that he needs to keep repainting to keep it from drying and changing color. many things happen, involving monsters, god, love and the devil.
one of the reasons i liked this series so much, is because even though nny is a homicidal maniac who tortures people in his basement, he is still so likable. there is a lot of depth in his character, and we see everything he does from his perspective so we also see his sadness. he always has a reason for who he kills and sometimes he doesn't want to, but he thinks he has to, and you can see that it really hurts him. because his character has so much depth we see how messed up his mind is, and how much pain hes in all the time, which makes it easier for me to sympathize with him, and other than the fact that he kills people he is actually a really nice guy. i also liked how the comic points out hypocrisy everywhere in society, and nny has these long monologues about whats wrong with it, and hes always talking about how ignorant and inconsiderate comments are harmful.
johnny the homicidal maniac is hilarious, but definitely not appropriate for kids under the age of around 13.
one of the reasons i liked this series so much, is because even though nny is a homicidal maniac who tortures people in his basement, he is still so likable. there is a lot of depth in his character, and we see everything he does from his perspective so we also see his sadness. he always has a reason for who he kills and sometimes he doesn't want to, but he thinks he has to, and you can see that it really hurts him. because his character has so much depth we see how messed up his mind is, and how much pain hes in all the time, which makes it easier for me to sympathize with him, and other than the fact that he kills people he is actually a really nice guy. i also liked how the comic points out hypocrisy everywhere in society, and nny has these long monologues about whats wrong with it, and hes always talking about how ignorant and inconsiderate comments are harmful.
johnny the homicidal maniac is hilarious, but definitely not appropriate for kids under the age of around 13.
January 21, 2024
--1.5 stars rounded down--
I found this really dull most of the way through. The Johnny stories were certainly less tedious than the others, which managed to draw absolutely no interest from me, but still I found the Johnny stuff quite boring and overwritten.
A lot of it amounted to unfocused rants from the author which, knowing that he was 21-23 at the time of writing this series, really makes sense, as I remember my own creative that period had a similar problem and was similarly lacking in perspective.
Still, despite not enjoying this comic overall, there was one short story revolving around the word 'wacky' that I thought was really funny and a lot of the art was quite cool (although I didn't find the lettering very readable). Unfortunately though, it's just not enough to warrant reading the whole book.
I found this really dull most of the way through. The Johnny stories were certainly less tedious than the others, which managed to draw absolutely no interest from me, but still I found the Johnny stuff quite boring and overwritten.
A lot of it amounted to unfocused rants from the author which, knowing that he was 21-23 at the time of writing this series, really makes sense, as I remember my own creative that period had a similar problem and was similarly lacking in perspective.
Still, despite not enjoying this comic overall, there was one short story revolving around the word 'wacky' that I thought was really funny and a lot of the art was quite cool (although I didn't find the lettering very readable). Unfortunately though, it's just not enough to warrant reading the whole book.
August 18, 2024
i feel like an edgy 17 year old that works at hot topic wrote this. this whole book was just a black and white gorefest mixed in with some edgy meaningless rants about how HOOOOORIBLE the world is. also, it was extremely hard to read with the jarring lengthy texts in the small speech bubbles.
jhonen vasquez is only appealing when his ideas go through a filter (the filter being nickelodeon when he was working invader zim) because he tries SO hard to be edgy and philosophical. i love invader zim but hate this. what an insanely stupid view of the world.
i think the artstyle and some character designs are pretty cool tho but that’s about it.
at least it unique ???? i guess?? man idk why tf i decided to read this in 2024 why do i do this to myself
jhonen vasquez is only appealing when his ideas go through a filter (the filter being nickelodeon when he was working invader zim) because he tries SO hard to be edgy and philosophical. i love invader zim but hate this. what an insanely stupid view of the world.
i think the artstyle and some character designs are pretty cool tho but that’s about it.
at least it unique ???? i guess?? man idk why tf i decided to read this in 2024 why do i do this to myself
October 2, 2025
the chunk of texts in the word bubble irks me, the font annoys me.
the emo vibe was interesting for about 5mins before I could chalk them all to teenage angst. black and white cartoon gore doesn't look gory to me nor do they serve a purpose in the story.
the nailed-slash-modified scream doorbell is kinda interesting.
art looks like invader zim but i couldn't be bothered to check because i will not be continuing this series.
the emo vibe was interesting for about 5mins before I could chalk them all to teenage angst. black and white cartoon gore doesn't look gory to me nor do they serve a purpose in the story.
the nailed-slash-modified scream doorbell is kinda interesting.
art looks like invader zim but i couldn't be bothered to check because i will not be continuing this series.
November 26, 2025
Me acabo de dar cuenta que no tengo esto marcado. ¡Este comic es demasiado bueno! Y eso que yo detestaba Invasor Zim (todavía). Pero con esta historia me reconcilié con el Vásquez.
La historia igual es grotesca, pero se me hace que Invasor Zim tenía partes más asquerosas y por eso no me gustaba. En Johnny The Homicidal Maniac lo que hay es momentos muy gore y un humor muuuy negro. Uno se pregunta como con estos antecedentes Vásquez terminó haciendo un programa infantil jajajaja.
La historia igual es grotesca, pero se me hace que Invasor Zim tenía partes más asquerosas y por eso no me gustaba. En Johnny The Homicidal Maniac lo que hay es momentos muy gore y un humor muuuy negro. Uno se pregunta como con estos antecedentes Vásquez terminó haciendo un programa infantil jajajaja.
October 17, 2019
I remember these JTHM comics on the shelves of Hot Topic circa 2002 or 2003 (when I went through my “goth” phase.) I never actually had gotten around to reading them so I guess I decided to start the series for nostalgia purposes. I also think the creator, Jhonen Vasquez, is interesting as a person.
Predictably, issue one is angsty but oddly still relevant.
Predictably, issue one is angsty but oddly still relevant.
January 23, 2022
Ilustraciones impresionantes, y una descripción de la mente criminal en primera persona. El asesino psicópata esquizofrénico, que escucha voces perseguidoras y voces amigables. Que intenta que la realidad SEA como él quiere, pero no termina de lograr controlar todos los detalles, que lo llevan a matar. Hermosa creación de Vazquez.
June 8, 2024
Can’t believe I’m reading this in 2024. I was lucky enough to score the whole set at a farmers market.
This is a dark comedy, if you don’t like that sort of thing don’t read this. I found that my favorite story in this issue wasn’t about Johnny, but the crossing guard fight towards the end. I’m excited to see how the art & story progresses.
This is a dark comedy, if you don’t like that sort of thing don’t read this. I found that my favorite story in this issue wasn’t about Johnny, but the crossing guard fight towards the end. I’m excited to see how the art & story progresses.
September 2, 2019
A friend introduced me to this series back in high school (mid-00's), and I thought it was insanely hilarious. Even though black-and-white art isn't my normal forte with comics, this was too much craziness to pass up.
February 28, 2022
Dark and gritty while being equally hilarious. I never heard of this series before last week when my boss recommended it after some dark humor banter we were having. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
March 22, 2018
me encantó la introducción de los personajes 💖
March 29, 2018
Best suited for teens. Contains very black humour, and for those who seek it, Vasquez does include some social commentary even though the content is very violent.
June 7, 2018
The work that got me into comics
October 3, 2019
It's really dark and satirical and a very entertaining read.
May 10, 2020
Really clever subject, nice artwork reminding fanzine, smart dialogues but it bored me.. In the end is just a matter of preference, but isn't what books is all about after all?
July 29, 2021
This one's right up my alley. Very dark, funny, and intellectual.
September 7, 2021
I’m sorry but the art is just not for me. Also what’s with all the people simping after this dude. Wtf?
May 28, 2022
I LOVE THIS IS SHIT
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews