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Quick Stops: Anecdotes From the Annals of the Askewniverse
Before there was a Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Extended Universe, or Harry Potterverse; There was Kevin Smith’s Askewniverse—a series of interconnected films featuring a cast of characters crossing over in multiple movies!
And following on the heels of Clerks III , the Askewniverse is expanding with Quick Stops —a black and white anthology series full of all new tales of retail from the Jersey world of Kevin Smith’s classic comedies!
Featuring four never-before-told stores from the Quick Stop family of characters that populate Smith’s films Mallrats , Chasing Amy , Dogma , Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot , and of course, the Clerks trilogy!
From the secret origin of where Holden McNeil got the idea for a Bluntman and Chronic comic from Jay & Silent Bob, to Elias and the parable of PillowPants, this collection of black and white comic shorts will be a must have book for any lifelong Clerks or Kevin Smith apologist!
Collects Quick Stops issues #1–#4.
And following on the heels of Clerks III , the Askewniverse is expanding with Quick Stops —a black and white anthology series full of all new tales of retail from the Jersey world of Kevin Smith’s classic comedies!
Featuring four never-before-told stores from the Quick Stop family of characters that populate Smith’s films Mallrats , Chasing Amy , Dogma , Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot , and of course, the Clerks trilogy!
From the secret origin of where Holden McNeil got the idea for a Bluntman and Chronic comic from Jay & Silent Bob, to Elias and the parable of PillowPants, this collection of black and white comic shorts will be a must have book for any lifelong Clerks or Kevin Smith apologist!
Collects Quick Stops issues #1–#4.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
104 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 2023
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19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 6, 2024
An anthology of short stories set in Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse written by the man himself. There's nothing essential here, but it's a nice chance to visit with familiar characters and get some chuckles from Smith's trademark dirty jokes.
• Holden Back the Years
A sort of deleted scene from the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie has Chasing Amy's Holden McNeil and Alyssa Jones taking audience questions as they record a podcast at a panel at the Chronic-Con Jay and Silent Bob are about to crash.
• Waking Walter
Set before the first Clerks movie, this story has cousins Randal Graves and Brodie Bruce (of Mallrats) attending the wake of another cousin, Walter Graves, whose unseemly cause of death was discussed in the film.
• Pious Elias and the Crypto Kid
In Clerks II, Mooby's employee Elias discusses some mistaken notions he has about trolls and sex. The flashback in this story tells about the summer at Bible camp where he came by the bad information while a flash forward gives him a chance to finally put it behind him.
• Sticks Nix Hicks Pix!
Another story set before Clerks has Randal tagging along with Dante Hicks and Veronica Loughran to a Hicks family reunion -- see the Hicks cousins all gathered in one place! -- while Jay and Silent Bob mind the Quick Stop for them.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Holden Back the Years [Issue #1] / Jeremy Simser, illustrator -- Waking Walter [Issue #2] / Phil Hester and Ande Parks, illustrators -- Pious Elias and the Crypto Kid [Issue #3] / Tango, illustrator -- Sticks Nix Hicks Pix! [Issue #4] / Ahmed Rafaat, illustrator -- Covers / John Sprengelmeyer, Phil Hester and Ande Parks, Mark Gonyea, Ahmed Rafaat, Jeremy Simser, Andrew Thomas, Michael Allred, Chogrin, Jeff Quigley, Erik Pflueger, Walt Flanagan, David Van Dyke, and Raya Golden, illustrators
• Holden Back the Years
A sort of deleted scene from the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie has Chasing Amy's Holden McNeil and Alyssa Jones taking audience questions as they record a podcast at a panel at the Chronic-Con Jay and Silent Bob are about to crash.
• Waking Walter
Set before the first Clerks movie, this story has cousins Randal Graves and Brodie Bruce (of Mallrats) attending the wake of another cousin, Walter Graves, whose unseemly cause of death was discussed in the film.
• Pious Elias and the Crypto Kid
In Clerks II, Mooby's employee Elias discusses some mistaken notions he has about trolls and sex. The flashback in this story tells about the summer at Bible camp where he came by the bad information while a flash forward gives him a chance to finally put it behind him.
• Sticks Nix Hicks Pix!
Another story set before Clerks has Randal tagging along with Dante Hicks and Veronica Loughran to a Hicks family reunion -- see the Hicks cousins all gathered in one place! -- while Jay and Silent Bob mind the Quick Stop for them.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Holden Back the Years [Issue #1] / Jeremy Simser, illustrator -- Waking Walter [Issue #2] / Phil Hester and Ande Parks, illustrators -- Pious Elias and the Crypto Kid [Issue #3] / Tango, illustrator -- Sticks Nix Hicks Pix! [Issue #4] / Ahmed Rafaat, illustrator -- Covers / John Sprengelmeyer, Phil Hester and Ande Parks, Mark Gonyea, Ahmed Rafaat, Jeremy Simser, Andrew Thomas, Michael Allred, Chogrin, Jeff Quigley, Erik Pflueger, Walt Flanagan, David Van Dyke, and Raya Golden, illustrators
April 30, 2024
I know from his podcast that Kevin Smith loved these stories he wrote. But while not bad they are a bit less than some of the movies he got these ideas from. It is just all kinds of average.
August 25, 2025
Quick Stops is Kevin Smith's love letter to his own cinematic universe, and it's a nostalgic, fan-pleasing ride for anyone who grew up with his films. Each issue is a self-contained vignette, offering a glimpse into the lives of characters from movies like Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy, all centered around the iconic Quick Stop convenience store.
What makes this series work is that it isn't trying to be a grand epic. Instead, it's a collection of small, character-driven moments. You get to see what happens to familiar faces years after their big-screen debuts, and Smith captures their voices perfectly. The dialogue is sharp, funny, and full of the witty banter and pop culture references that are the hallmarks of his work. It feels less like a traditional comic and more like a series of deleted scenes or mini-sequels.
For longtime fans of the View Askewniverse, this is a must-read. It's a chance to revisit old friends and enjoy new stories that feel right at home. However, if you're not familiar with Smith's movies, you'll probably be a little lost. The series assumes you know the characters and their backstories, and there's not much here to bring a newcomer up to speed.
In the end, Quick Stops is a fun, lighthearted trip down memory lane. It's not groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. It's exactly what it promises: a quick stop back in the world of Kevin Smith, and it’s a blast for those who already have a ticket.
What makes this series work is that it isn't trying to be a grand epic. Instead, it's a collection of small, character-driven moments. You get to see what happens to familiar faces years after their big-screen debuts, and Smith captures their voices perfectly. The dialogue is sharp, funny, and full of the witty banter and pop culture references that are the hallmarks of his work. It feels less like a traditional comic and more like a series of deleted scenes or mini-sequels.
For longtime fans of the View Askewniverse, this is a must-read. It's a chance to revisit old friends and enjoy new stories that feel right at home. However, if you're not familiar with Smith's movies, you'll probably be a little lost. The series assumes you know the characters and their backstories, and there's not much here to bring a newcomer up to speed.
In the end, Quick Stops is a fun, lighthearted trip down memory lane. It's not groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. It's exactly what it promises: a quick stop back in the world of Kevin Smith, and it’s a blast for those who already have a ticket.
July 25, 2023
I think at this point in time, you know if you're a fan of Kevin Smith or not.
What's good about books and comics is that they take a little more effort, so while people can sit back and just let a Kevin Smith movie wash over them, then run to Rotten Tomatoes and trash it, they're less likely to do it with a book because you have to lift a goddamn finger.
I like Kevin Smith, the guy, a whole lot. He seems very nice, his story is inspiring, and I think he's fiercely loyal to his friends and loved ones in a way that we all try to be.
This book in particular reminded me of the old View Askew days.
Children born into the smartphone era, let me set the scene a little:
Kevin Smith made a set of movies (Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy) that were pretty beloved. They were fun, they were funny, they were interesting.
These movies were like...you know how someone will talk about a shitty band and say, "Listen, they didn't sell a lot of records, but dozens of other bands were launched because of this band"? Kevin Smith was like that, but the movies themselves were also good! It was the perfect combo of enjoyable movies and something that seemed accessible.
Then there was the peripheral stuff. There was the Clerks cartoon (which is fucking hilarious, BTW. I don't know who was asleep at the wheel and let all that shit fly, but things worked out there), there were comics, and there was the View Askew message board, which was the fetal version of what would grow into social media.
Think Reddit, but instead of having separate boards for different topics, people would create threads for whatever. Sometimes they were Askew related, sometimes they were totally unrelated.
And in these early days, Smith himself, and other Askewniverse people, would actually get on the boards and chat with people. It was such a weird, brave new world where you could type something and maybe chat with a real movie director. At this time, this was kind of unheard of. It's not like Scorsese was chatting with you online, you know?
And Smith expanded into Smodcast, which was one of the first big podcasts and podcast networks.
Not to mention opening a real-world comic store. It was a life goal of mine to go there, which I did in...maybe 2012 or so?
Anyway, Smith's movies, I think what I want to say about them is that he made several movies that were for me, and he's made some movies that aren't, and that's totally fine. Even if some of his movies are for him, I don't have a problem with that, and really, nobody should. It's not like anyone is forcing you to go see them. I wouldn't say they're overhyped. They're not unavoidable like a Star War or something.
I think, at this point, when you get into Kevin Smith media, you know that you're getting into Kevin Smith media.
So, my review of this book goes like this: if you think you'll like it, you probably will. If you don't, you're probably right.
Read accordingly.
What's good about books and comics is that they take a little more effort, so while people can sit back and just let a Kevin Smith movie wash over them, then run to Rotten Tomatoes and trash it, they're less likely to do it with a book because you have to lift a goddamn finger.
I like Kevin Smith, the guy, a whole lot. He seems very nice, his story is inspiring, and I think he's fiercely loyal to his friends and loved ones in a way that we all try to be.
This book in particular reminded me of the old View Askew days.
Children born into the smartphone era, let me set the scene a little:
Kevin Smith made a set of movies (Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy) that were pretty beloved. They were fun, they were funny, they were interesting.
These movies were like...you know how someone will talk about a shitty band and say, "Listen, they didn't sell a lot of records, but dozens of other bands were launched because of this band"? Kevin Smith was like that, but the movies themselves were also good! It was the perfect combo of enjoyable movies and something that seemed accessible.
Then there was the peripheral stuff. There was the Clerks cartoon (which is fucking hilarious, BTW. I don't know who was asleep at the wheel and let all that shit fly, but things worked out there), there were comics, and there was the View Askew message board, which was the fetal version of what would grow into social media.
Think Reddit, but instead of having separate boards for different topics, people would create threads for whatever. Sometimes they were Askew related, sometimes they were totally unrelated.
And in these early days, Smith himself, and other Askewniverse people, would actually get on the boards and chat with people. It was such a weird, brave new world where you could type something and maybe chat with a real movie director. At this time, this was kind of unheard of. It's not like Scorsese was chatting with you online, you know?
And Smith expanded into Smodcast, which was one of the first big podcasts and podcast networks.
Not to mention opening a real-world comic store. It was a life goal of mine to go there, which I did in...maybe 2012 or so?
Anyway, Smith's movies, I think what I want to say about them is that he made several movies that were for me, and he's made some movies that aren't, and that's totally fine. Even if some of his movies are for him, I don't have a problem with that, and really, nobody should. It's not like anyone is forcing you to go see them. I wouldn't say they're overhyped. They're not unavoidable like a Star War or something.
I think, at this point, when you get into Kevin Smith media, you know that you're getting into Kevin Smith media.
So, my review of this book goes like this: if you think you'll like it, you probably will. If you don't, you're probably right.
Read accordingly.
February 8, 2025
I was a Kevin Smith fan back in the day, but I grew up, and unfortunately, he didn’t.
Now I’m not saying “not grown up” in the sense of a lack of maturity, it’s the fact that he hasn’t grown beyond these stories or characters.
I know Smith writes for only one audience: his fan base. But surely even his fan base must be tired of hearing the same stories told over and over again. Telling the same jokes, quoting the same lines of dialogue, referencing things that have been referenced before in his film, his stand-up, his podcast, his comics, his Q&A’s, every single interview he does…
His fans have heard these stories many times before and now he’s just delivering those stories again in comic form. Maybe he’ll turn this into a film once again (like how Chasing Dogma basically became the template for “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”)
I wanted to give this book a chance because I genuinely love the comics Smith produced with Jim Mahfood. Those stories existed in the same world as Clerks but he actually built on the world and the characters. There was an actual story in those issues instead of endless callbacks like this book was.
The first chapter was just callbacks to Chasing Amy lines as often as possible. The second story combined two of my favourite characters, but they just quoted old lines of dialogue to each other from their respective films and framed the story through the lens of a throwaway joke that connected the first Clerks and Mallrats. Then there was the Elias story, a character who should have stayed in Clerks II and was given way too much screen time in Clerks III, to once again, make lots of references to Clerks II and tell us the origin story of the pussy troll. The last story was more of the same: Dante, Randall, Veronica, Jay & Silent Bob repeating catchphrases and adding nothing to these characters that we don’t already know.
Unfortunately I bought the second volume so I imagine I’m in for more of the same, but I’d be happy to be wrong.
If you’re a die hard fan of Smith, you are going to love it regardless of this review, but I just can’t love it regardless anymore. I need more than callbacks, references to things I’ve seen before, and just “new stories” which have been told on a podcast, interview or Q&A session before…
Now I’m not saying “not grown up” in the sense of a lack of maturity, it’s the fact that he hasn’t grown beyond these stories or characters.
I know Smith writes for only one audience: his fan base. But surely even his fan base must be tired of hearing the same stories told over and over again. Telling the same jokes, quoting the same lines of dialogue, referencing things that have been referenced before in his film, his stand-up, his podcast, his comics, his Q&A’s, every single interview he does…
His fans have heard these stories many times before and now he’s just delivering those stories again in comic form. Maybe he’ll turn this into a film once again (like how Chasing Dogma basically became the template for “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”)
I wanted to give this book a chance because I genuinely love the comics Smith produced with Jim Mahfood. Those stories existed in the same world as Clerks but he actually built on the world and the characters. There was an actual story in those issues instead of endless callbacks like this book was.
The first chapter was just callbacks to Chasing Amy lines as often as possible. The second story combined two of my favourite characters, but they just quoted old lines of dialogue to each other from their respective films and framed the story through the lens of a throwaway joke that connected the first Clerks and Mallrats. Then there was the Elias story, a character who should have stayed in Clerks II and was given way too much screen time in Clerks III, to once again, make lots of references to Clerks II and tell us the origin story of the pussy troll. The last story was more of the same: Dante, Randall, Veronica, Jay & Silent Bob repeating catchphrases and adding nothing to these characters that we don’t already know.
Unfortunately I bought the second volume so I imagine I’m in for more of the same, but I’d be happy to be wrong.
If you’re a die hard fan of Smith, you are going to love it regardless of this review, but I just can’t love it regardless anymore. I need more than callbacks, references to things I’ve seen before, and just “new stories” which have been told on a podcast, interview or Q&A session before…
November 29, 2024
Asi nemám co vytknout! Je to přijemné rozsireni Smithovskýho univerza, ktere vyplnuje díry z filmů.
Pribehy me bavily, zafungovala i nostalgie a hlavne mi prislo ze tu Smith je vice ve forme nez v jeho nejnovejsich filmech.
Celý komiks je navic delany formou antalogie, takze kazdej sesit odlišný pribeh a jinej kreslir. Nastesti je tu art fajn a nikdo neni vylozene spatnej.
Nejlepsi pribehy: Brodie a Randall na pohrbu bratrance co si zlomil vaz pri koureni si vlastniho péra.
Elias na biblickém kempu a jak vlastne vznikla legenda o Skritku Polštářičkovi ktery zije v damskem prirozeni a do 21 let.
Ostatni pribehy ale byli taky nadprumerny a fajn. 9/10. Nejak nemam co vytknout. Max jen presprilis velkou sazku na jistotu.
Pribehy me bavily, zafungovala i nostalgie a hlavne mi prislo ze tu Smith je vice ve forme nez v jeho nejnovejsich filmech.
Celý komiks je navic delany formou antalogie, takze kazdej sesit odlišný pribeh a jinej kreslir. Nastesti je tu art fajn a nikdo neni vylozene spatnej.
Nejlepsi pribehy: Brodie a Randall na pohrbu bratrance co si zlomil vaz pri koureni si vlastniho péra.
Elias na biblickém kempu a jak vlastne vznikla legenda o Skritku Polštářičkovi ktery zije v damskem prirozeni a do 21 let.
Ostatni pribehy ale byli taky nadprumerny a fajn. 9/10. Nejak nemam co vytknout. Max jen presprilis velkou sazku na jistotu.
March 6, 2023
A fun collection of stories that adds to View Askew Expanded Universe. I have loved some of these characters since I first saw the Clerks trailer when I was fourteen and sought out the VHS to watch. I really loved seeing various characters cross over from different movies and come together and share the printed page together. I'm hoping that we'll get more of these stories in the future as I would love to see a return of so many of my beloved favorites and more blanks filled in over the (almost) thirty years of the View Askewniverse.
Special Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC.
Special Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC.
June 29, 2025
Sing it with me...
'CAAAAAAAAASH GRABBIN'
Lately, all I can handle of Kevin Smith movies/stories is the smallest of bites. Once he, in my opinion, hit the weed smoking years he lost the plot and gave up. When that phase ended, it was back to leaning on his original classics and getting those mad duckets.
These Dark Horse short stories are all shorts that fill in gaps of the Kevin Smith films. Just short enough to hit the punchline and RUN.
---
Bonus: Did we really need a Pillow Pants origin story?
'CAAAAAAAAASH GRABBIN'
Lately, all I can handle of Kevin Smith movies/stories is the smallest of bites. Once he, in my opinion, hit the weed smoking years he lost the plot and gave up. When that phase ended, it was back to leaning on his original classics and getting those mad duckets.
These Dark Horse short stories are all shorts that fill in gaps of the Kevin Smith films. Just short enough to hit the punchline and RUN.
---
Bonus: Did we really need a Pillow Pants origin story?
April 8, 2023
Kevin Smith returns to tell 4 solo tales set in the Askewniverse. It answers questions like where Holden came up with the idea of Bluntman and Chronic and why Elias thought there was a troll in girls' pants. It's fine and I'm still down for everything Smith does but his writing isn't quite what it used to be.
July 28, 2023
It's OK. It's fun to see some of the character matchups that we never got in the movies and some of it's funny, but the Elias story is just as abysmal as he is in the Clerks movies and, being a Kevin Smith thing, there's an over-reliance on references to past things. But it's fine.
August 27, 2025
There are worse ways to spend an hour. This collection of four short stories are entertaining glimpses into some off-screen events from Clerks I&II. The art is serviceable, but nothing extraordinary. Fun to revisit these characters.
December 29, 2023
A really fun visit with the characters from the Askewniverse
March 8, 2024
Wait, how is there a Matrix reference in a story that supposed to take place in the early '90's?
August 5, 2024
Typical Smith, great art
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews