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Black Metal #1
Black Metal Volume 1
Twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, aren't your typical kids - sure, their dark moodiness and deep dedication to metal isn't that unusual but their mysterious parentage sure is! Empowered by the legendary sword of Atoll, these kids are determined to thrash and wail on however many demons they have to in order to fulfill the ancient prophecy and regain their rightful position as Hell Baron of the Pit. Loud, fast and heavy like the music it is inspired by, Black Metal ties into the youth culture that has grown up around this ferocious sound. Then infused with a shot of ancient myth and a healthy dose of high adventure, it rises to the level of a truly epic tale.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
About the author
Rick Spears
81 books22 followersRick Spears is an American comic book writer, best known for Teenagers from Mars and other independent comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 28, 2018
"First there was blackness. Then.... there was metal. 🤘
It’s pretty sad that my favorite character was a booger eater.
It’s pretty sad that my favorite character was a booger eater.
June 14, 2024
3⭐ e mezzo.
È il primo fumetto che leggo di Rick Spears e Chuck BB. Ovviamente lo si apprezza molto di più se hai vissuto "la cultura metal" sulla tua pelle, seppur il fumetto sia una parodia esagerata, simil-comica...
È comunque un bel modo per impiegare il proprio tempo.
Consigliato
È il primo fumetto che leggo di Rick Spears e Chuck BB. Ovviamente lo si apprezza molto di più se hai vissuto "la cultura metal" sulla tua pelle, seppur il fumetto sia una parodia esagerata, simil-comica...
È comunque un bel modo per impiegare il proprio tempo.
Consigliato
January 27, 2019
The description tempted me, but boy did this seem amateurish. Couldn't even finish it. meh.
September 5, 2023
So fun!
January 9, 2008
During my travails as a graphic novel reviewer for Publisher's Weekly magazine I'm usually buried beneath mountains of shit that I wouldn't use to wrap fish, but every now and then my efforts are rewarded by having a truly fun book I would otherwise never have heard of fall into my lap. Such a book is Oni Press' BLACK METAL VOLUME 1.
Heavy Metal is a rock ’n’ roll genre known for its guitar-worship/masturbation (yeah, I'm talkin' about YOU, Yngwie Malmsteen; "I Am A Viking?" Nigga, please...), bombast and pomposity serving to fuel young men’s fantasies of heroism and machismo, sometimes involving elder gods, their amoral mythologies, and their inevitable return, in other words a subject ripe for lampooning, and this graphic novel just may be the funniest take on the clichés of the genre to come along since THIS IS SPINAL TAP.
Upon playing a Frost Axe LP backwards, black-clad metalhead twins Shawn and Sam — who look like the bastard tweener sons of King Diamond — discover their true arcane heritage, obtain the mythic Sword of Atoll, and embark on a mission to conquer Hell itself. Demons, dark lords, Norse deities (accurately portrayed for a change), a black metal band that goes out of their way to practice what they preach, armies of the damned and even Satan himself all turn up and provide fodder for hilarity that wouldn’t stand a chance in Hell of being endorsed by the Church. Cartoon mayhem of the most entertaining order, BLACK METAL comes highly recommended and ends much too soon, leaving the reader foaming at the mouth, hands upright and flashing “the horns,” anxiously awaiting the next installment. Creators Rick Spears and Chuck BB obviously get this shit, and their understanding of the whole Metal ethos lends the skewering an informed brilliance instead of what could have been a lazy stab made by a couple of know-nothing douchebags. Great work, dudes.
No bullshit, this is the perfect book to read while listening to Mercyful Fate's DON'T BREAK THE OATH, and a higher compliment I would be hard pressed to give. And it's even appropriate for the 10-and-ups, so become the bad influence your kids/nieces/nephews/younger siblings need and get them a copy.
Heavy Metal is a rock ’n’ roll genre known for its guitar-worship/masturbation (yeah, I'm talkin' about YOU, Yngwie Malmsteen; "I Am A Viking?" Nigga, please...), bombast and pomposity serving to fuel young men’s fantasies of heroism and machismo, sometimes involving elder gods, their amoral mythologies, and their inevitable return, in other words a subject ripe for lampooning, and this graphic novel just may be the funniest take on the clichés of the genre to come along since THIS IS SPINAL TAP.
Upon playing a Frost Axe LP backwards, black-clad metalhead twins Shawn and Sam — who look like the bastard tweener sons of King Diamond — discover their true arcane heritage, obtain the mythic Sword of Atoll, and embark on a mission to conquer Hell itself. Demons, dark lords, Norse deities (accurately portrayed for a change), a black metal band that goes out of their way to practice what they preach, armies of the damned and even Satan himself all turn up and provide fodder for hilarity that wouldn’t stand a chance in Hell of being endorsed by the Church. Cartoon mayhem of the most entertaining order, BLACK METAL comes highly recommended and ends much too soon, leaving the reader foaming at the mouth, hands upright and flashing “the horns,” anxiously awaiting the next installment. Creators Rick Spears and Chuck BB obviously get this shit, and their understanding of the whole Metal ethos lends the skewering an informed brilliance instead of what could have been a lazy stab made by a couple of know-nothing douchebags. Great work, dudes.
No bullshit, this is the perfect book to read while listening to Mercyful Fate's DON'T BREAK THE OATH, and a higher compliment I would be hard pressed to give. And it's even appropriate for the 10-and-ups, so become the bad influence your kids/nieces/nephews/younger siblings need and get them a copy.
May 13, 2008
Overall Rating: 666 (the equivalent of an A+)
Synopsis: Black Metal, by Rick Spears and Chuck BB, follows twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, who are a little...different from the other kids. To start with, these brothers are totally brutal, and are seriously metal. Their favorite band is Frost Axe, and their parentage is mysterious to say the least - though their foster mother is hilariously normal. Soon we learn that they may be the reincarnation of the demon Roth, and they have to fulfill the dark and totally grim prophecy of the Hell Baron.
Ok, so Black Metal may not be manga in the strictest sense, but that all depends on your definition of manga. That's a discussion for another day, but I will say that Black Metal is definitely manga sized if nothing else. So, I'm reviewing it, and there's not much you can do about it. Except go out and buy the book, because it's bad ass.
I picked up the first volume of the series at Comic Con this year, and I knew it was going to be good, because I got a free guitar pick of someone throwing the horns. I read it all that night, and then ran into Rick and Chuck at the con the next day. The book kicked ass and the guys were awesome. I bought a totally grim poster from them, and they gave me a cd by Satyricon.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when the boys' foster mother takes them shopping for school clothes. Looking around the store, they comment that "this store is ripe for the apocalypse". If you've ever been the weird kid, and especially if you're into metal, goth, punk, etc., you will love this book. The second half of the book follows the boys as they learn of their brutal heritage, and the prophecy they must fulfill. Part mythology, part high adventure, and all hilarious, Black Metal is totally necro!
For more manga and anime reviews, please check out Hobotaku.
Synopsis: Black Metal, by Rick Spears and Chuck BB, follows twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, who are a little...different from the other kids. To start with, these brothers are totally brutal, and are seriously metal. Their favorite band is Frost Axe, and their parentage is mysterious to say the least - though their foster mother is hilariously normal. Soon we learn that they may be the reincarnation of the demon Roth, and they have to fulfill the dark and totally grim prophecy of the Hell Baron.
Ok, so Black Metal may not be manga in the strictest sense, but that all depends on your definition of manga. That's a discussion for another day, but I will say that Black Metal is definitely manga sized if nothing else. So, I'm reviewing it, and there's not much you can do about it. Except go out and buy the book, because it's bad ass.
I picked up the first volume of the series at Comic Con this year, and I knew it was going to be good, because I got a free guitar pick of someone throwing the horns. I read it all that night, and then ran into Rick and Chuck at the con the next day. The book kicked ass and the guys were awesome. I bought a totally grim poster from them, and they gave me a cd by Satyricon.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when the boys' foster mother takes them shopping for school clothes. Looking around the store, they comment that "this store is ripe for the apocalypse". If you've ever been the weird kid, and especially if you're into metal, goth, punk, etc., you will love this book. The second half of the book follows the boys as they learn of their brutal heritage, and the prophecy they must fulfill. Part mythology, part high adventure, and all hilarious, Black Metal is totally necro!
For more manga and anime reviews, please check out Hobotaku.
June 2, 2019
I wanted to like this more than I did. The artwork is nice, if a little hard to make out in places, and the story, like the video game "Brutal Legend," is about the awesome power of metal, but the narrative feels rushed, the characters one-dimensional, and the humor more juvenile than genuinely funny.
It feels like Spears tried to cram too much into one book and didn't have the time to develop anything more fully. Still, I enjoyed enough of what I read.
It feels like Spears tried to cram too much into one book and didn't have the time to develop anything more fully. Still, I enjoyed enough of what I read.
September 7, 2020
Carino, molto demenziale e caricaturale, ottimo se vuoi farti una risata. Solo che non mi ha dato quell'input a comprare un altro numero
November 17, 2021
A fun concept for those who have a penchant for the black metal genre and style, but often awkwardly phrased which makes the plot feel clumsily delivered.
February 14, 2023
I hate when series abruptly end. It sux.
August 10, 2023
This needs a fifty-seven star review. Epic beyond words!!!
December 9, 2024
Sooooo funny
May 8, 2025
Didn't get it. Not into music too much, and there's little to no story.
September 24, 2015
This was quite the read. It had everything, from hilarious lines, gut wrenching coming of age panels, and epic battles against demons. Black Metal is quite an impressive read.
Everything comes by so fast that you won't even notice you're at the end. The storytelling came off brilliantly, really. It's a graphic novel you'd find hard to put down as you read it. It remains true to its inspirations up to the dialogues that our characters use. It's really evil. Truly evil. Hahah. Oh and the illustrations were great! Like in the most evil sense of the word great. It's brilliant and clearly depicted. The cartoonish take of it all makes the whole mindwarping evil plot ironic, and that's exactly why I love it!!!
Here we get a story about the twins Sam and Shawn, who basically feels bored with mundane things. After listening to a black metal record they purchased at a public mall. They've come to the realization that they are descendants of some great demon hero, Roth. From then on, they start a wild journey to the underworld and battled every one that were against them in reclaiming their rightful throne. It's a fun epic adventure that is truly evil and metal and black on all proportions. I cannot wait to get started on the next volume.
It's a very good read. It's a fun read. I'd gladly recommend this to everyone.
Everything comes by so fast that you won't even notice you're at the end. The storytelling came off brilliantly, really. It's a graphic novel you'd find hard to put down as you read it. It remains true to its inspirations up to the dialogues that our characters use. It's really evil. Truly evil. Hahah. Oh and the illustrations were great! Like in the most evil sense of the word great. It's brilliant and clearly depicted. The cartoonish take of it all makes the whole mindwarping evil plot ironic, and that's exactly why I love it!!!
Here we get a story about the twins Sam and Shawn, who basically feels bored with mundane things. After listening to a black metal record they purchased at a public mall. They've come to the realization that they are descendants of some great demon hero, Roth. From then on, they start a wild journey to the underworld and battled every one that were against them in reclaiming their rightful throne. It's a fun epic adventure that is truly evil and metal and black on all proportions. I cannot wait to get started on the next volume.
It's a very good read. It's a fun read. I'd gladly recommend this to everyone.
October 22, 2015
This book seems to want to be taken super seriously, which is really hard to do with the art style. Two very metal teens (don't call them Goth) start off getting kicked out of school (again), and end up chasing a legendary sword and taking on the legions of hell. Destinies come forth, epic battles against raging demons, it all feels like a heavy metal cover come to life, but the artwork is black and white and so cartoonish that it can never really get over the disconnect between content and style. Some of it is played for laughs, but it just feels very inconsistent in tone and content. Granted I'm not into heavy metal, so I'm not the target audience, but I can't see myself moving on to the next volume to see where it goes. It ends in a good enough place here, and there's nothing inspiring enough to continue on.
May 5, 2008
Good parts:
- Easy read
- Very brilliantly illustrated
Bad parts:
- Too short (but then again, graphic novels tend to be more about the graphics than the stories)
- A little too dramatic of a story-- way over-exaggerated
Had this novel been longer, I probably wouldn't have liked it. Then again, it was way too short for me to buy them very often (read in less than a day); at $10-$12 each, it would be quite expensive for me to keep buying them. I may get the second book, just for something different to read (break up monotony).
- Easy read
- Very brilliantly illustrated
Bad parts:
- Too short (but then again, graphic novels tend to be more about the graphics than the stories)
- A little too dramatic of a story-- way over-exaggerated
Had this novel been longer, I probably wouldn't have liked it. Then again, it was way too short for me to buy them very often (read in less than a day); at $10-$12 each, it would be quite expensive for me to keep buying them. I may get the second book, just for something different to read (break up monotony).
Read
May 11, 2012more metal than a metal sword (there's only one person i know who will understand that joke, and he's probably not on goodreads).
in any case, this is one of those scott pilgrim books where things seem fairly normal until they take a massive left turn into oncoming traffic. who would have known that a couple of metalhead brothers would actually be the reincarnation of an ancient god, sent to destroy satan and discover magic and monsters in suburbia?
i should also add that reading this before i began playing d&d was a fantastic idea.
in any case, this is one of those scott pilgrim books where things seem fairly normal until they take a massive left turn into oncoming traffic. who would have known that a couple of metalhead brothers would actually be the reincarnation of an ancient god, sent to destroy satan and discover magic and monsters in suburbia?
i should also add that reading this before i began playing d&d was a fantastic idea.
July 25, 2016
I'm a big fan of black metal music and metal in general, and I think that a black metal-influenced comic is a great idea. This ain't it, though.
I mostly enjoyed the art, with the exception of the incredibly annoying tendency of characters to always be drawn with their mouths open, making them look slack-jawed. The illustrations seem to be a blend of Penny Arcade and Scott Pilgrim, with just a bit of Gorillaz.
The writing is nothing special at all. If you love Brutal Legend and Tenacious D, but found them too clever and subtle, this graphic novel is for you.
I mostly enjoyed the art, with the exception of the incredibly annoying tendency of characters to always be drawn with their mouths open, making them look slack-jawed. The illustrations seem to be a blend of Penny Arcade and Scott Pilgrim, with just a bit of Gorillaz.
The writing is nothing special at all. If you love Brutal Legend and Tenacious D, but found them too clever and subtle, this graphic novel is for you.
December 1, 2016
This comic was ridiculously adorable and I loved every minute of it.
I read it in my car outside of El Corazon waiting for a metal show (Sonata Arctica, Powerish metal rather than TNBM, but I think I can be forgiven for the spirit of things), and I couldn't stop smiling, to the point that the bouncer remarked upon my reading habits once I ventured out of my car to join the fold in line.
Very worth the $5 I found it for. Art is fun, lively, and appropriately dark, so I think this could work for teen readers.
I read it in my car outside of El Corazon waiting for a metal show (Sonata Arctica, Powerish metal rather than TNBM, but I think I can be forgiven for the spirit of things), and I couldn't stop smiling, to the point that the bouncer remarked upon my reading habits once I ventured out of my car to join the fold in line.
Very worth the $5 I found it for. Art is fun, lively, and appropriately dark, so I think this could work for teen readers.
October 5, 2010
I am so going to play all my vinyl backwards in hopes of a big ass sword! This was a great way to spend my lunch break i can;t wait for the next volume.
My favorite part?
"Tell us a bit about yourselves..." I won't do the whole thing for obvious reasons, but i remember being the new kid and if i had been a bit funnier or confident i may have tried the blunt approach just to see the looks on my classmates faces.
My favorite part?
"Tell us a bit about yourselves..." I won't do the whole thing for obvious reasons, but i remember being the new kid and if i had been a bit funnier or confident i may have tried the blunt approach just to see the looks on my classmates faces.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2011
Dating a guy who is in a death metal band really helped me to appreciate this story, now that I've been exposed to the Extreme Seriousness of Black Metal. The basis of the adventure in this story is hilarious and rings very true. Bonus points for having characters look very similar but still be distinguishable from each other, and for making a realistically gross hell, but also cutely cartoonish.
March 6, 2012
Fun comic novel about a pair of adopted death metal twins who can't fit in Suburbia USA but learn they're in reality the spirit of a Nordic warrior god split in half. Liked the artwork by BB a lot, scriptwise as long as the kids stayed in Squaresville they were fun to follow, however once they got into Thor Warriorland the whole megilla falls to shit. Too bad - that's why it drops a star on the way to Planet GoodReads. Donovan says hi.
October 28, 2011
Fun and way over the top. Clearly the creators know their metal. Twin teenage boys who are belligerently outsiders dressed in black, wearing corpse paint, and throwing the devil horns discover their true nature after playing their new album backwards. Mayhem (not the band) ensues. I need volume 2 stat.
October 24, 2012
"Black Metal" is "Metalocalypse" meets "Dexter's Lab". If you like both of those cartoons this comic is for you. It's probably not meant for children younger than 12 or so, but considering the Satanic powers that play a part in the story the authors do an admirable job of walking the exact line of bad-ass and acceptable for children (or acceptable for parents of tween children rather).
September 16, 2015
Epic !!! Scott Pilgrim go extreme metal !!!
Totally loved this comic. Tell you the truth, I started reading it with some kind of doubts, I didn't know what I was going to find, but, after some pages of reading I felt in love with this comic. The creators have metal knowledge, and you can even say that they love the genre.
I can't wait to read Vol. 2 and see how this series continues ...
5/5
Totally loved this comic. Tell you the truth, I started reading it with some kind of doubts, I didn't know what I was going to find, but, after some pages of reading I felt in love with this comic. The creators have metal knowledge, and you can even say that they love the genre.
I can't wait to read Vol. 2 and see how this series continues ...
5/5
November 13, 2010
I was highly amused by this, which took me about an hour to read, so I gave it 4 stars. Otherwise, it might have only deserved 3 or 3 and a half. The art is very Hellboy... but then again the story is a little bit Hellboy, a little bit Ghost World.
March 12, 2011
This book is probably one of my favorite graphic novels of all time. As a huge metalhead I loved all the band references and the book in itself was hilarious and had great inguinity.
Two thumbs up!
Two thumbs up!
January 7, 2008
Great art, kind of funny, but pretty dang dark. People who don't see the humor in a lusty cry of "Hail Satan!" might be offended.
January 8, 2008
F'in metal! I love the fact that these boys are unapologetically bad. They are children of evil; black metal is their siren song.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2008
A little on the dark side (duh!) this graphic novel has great dialogue and a decent sense of humor. Would most likely have huge teen appeal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews