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Emily the Strange (Dark Horse Comics Book single issues) #1-3
Emily The Strange: Lost, Dark, and Boring
Emily the Strange is not your ordinary thirteen-year-old girl - she's got a razor-sharp wit as dark as her jet-black hair, a posse of moody black cats and famous friends in very odd places! She's got a broodingly unique way of experiencing the world, and you're invited along for the ride. Legions of fans worldwide have joined forces to make Emily a pop-culture phenomenon.
148 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2002
17 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Rob Reger
56 books383 followersReger's friend Nathan Carrico designed Emily in 1991 for a skateboard company in Santa Cruz, where Cosmic Debris was born. In his Santa Cruz garage (and later an artist warehouse in San Francisco) Reger created the designs, and with Matt Reed brought them into the fashion world by creating t-shirt designs that captured the essence of this mysterious young girl with 4 black cats. Since then, Cosmic Debris has grown into a multi-million dollar firm with dozens of employees.
Cosmic Debris has most recently moved its operations to Berkeley, California, and plans to open an Emily retail store there soon. With the momentum of mainstream success, several comics about Emily have also been made. Key creative people over the years (designers, graphic artists, illustrators), who have worked with Reger's Cosmic Debris design house are Buzz Parker, Brian Brooks, Grace Fontaine, Liz Baca, Noel Tolentino, Fawn Gehweiler, Jessica Gruner, Adele Pedersen and Nicomi "Nix" Turner. Rob Reger remains the key creative force behind the brand, and Buzz Parker is the key illustrator for the comic books and website.
Cosmic Debris has most recently moved its operations to Berkeley, California, and plans to open an Emily retail store there soon. With the momentum of mainstream success, several comics about Emily have also been made. Key creative people over the years (designers, graphic artists, illustrators), who have worked with Reger's Cosmic Debris design house are Buzz Parker, Brian Brooks, Grace Fontaine, Liz Baca, Noel Tolentino, Fawn Gehweiler, Jessica Gruner, Adele Pedersen and Nicomi "Nix" Turner. Rob Reger remains the key creative force behind the brand, and Buzz Parker is the key illustrator for the comic books and website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 24, 2023
The fanciful and morbid adventures of Emily, a VERY quirky young heroine, and her cats.
A dark, creepy, extremely freaky, cynical, nihilistic and, yes, strange, elaborate book, which is especially entertaining for the followers of Dark culture. 5 Stars.
A dark, creepy, extremely freaky, cynical, nihilistic and, yes, strange, elaborate book, which is especially entertaining for the followers of Dark culture. 5 Stars.
May 12, 2015
I've always liked the images from Emily the Strange, but up until now I'd never come across any of the actual comics. I found one on sale and thought, "what the hell..."
Well. Yeah. I'm feeling pretty meh about the whole thing.
There's a lot of tongue in cheek, darkly cute references to things I like...but it's not enough to make up for the fact that Emily isn't a fleshed character, there are no plots at all, and that really it's just artistic masturbation in blacks and reds with a cute girl as the touchstone.
I have little patience for graphic work that has no story - even if the story is loose, thin, bewildering, or very very weird. Neat art isn't enough (unless the art is telling the story, which I've seen done and done well). Repeating the words bored, lost, dark, black, and cat over and over (and over and over and over and...) isn't either. Emily, while indeed adorable, isn't enough.
So I was pretty disappointed. I still like the images and if I stumble on stationery or something I might yet pick it up...but as far as taking time/money for another book, I don't see that happening. This book has not turned me into a fan.
Well. Yeah. I'm feeling pretty meh about the whole thing.
There's a lot of tongue in cheek, darkly cute references to things I like...but it's not enough to make up for the fact that Emily isn't a fleshed character, there are no plots at all, and that really it's just artistic masturbation in blacks and reds with a cute girl as the touchstone.
I have little patience for graphic work that has no story - even if the story is loose, thin, bewildering, or very very weird. Neat art isn't enough (unless the art is telling the story, which I've seen done and done well). Repeating the words bored, lost, dark, black, and cat over and over (and over and over and over and...) isn't either. Emily, while indeed adorable, isn't enough.
So I was pretty disappointed. I still like the images and if I stumble on stationery or something I might yet pick it up...but as far as taking time/money for another book, I don't see that happening. This book has not turned me into a fan.
March 8, 2016
dumb and just blah. Only liked how dark it was.
March 8, 2018
I have the graphic novels and books from Emily the Strange for more than 10 years in my bookcase and other collectables. I've known this novels since my early 20's and I just love Emily's cuteness and sarcasme, along with het lost black kitties. It was interesting to see that this novel included references to books, music and artists.
April 9, 2011
Meh... am not overly thrilled with this series so far. I have book two already so I'm sure I'll read it one day, but I don't plan on seeking out any more of the series. I usually like these kinds of gothic comics, but this one just fails in comparison to some of the others I've read.
August 3, 2015
Sadly I ended up not enjoying this at all. I've read most of the Emily the Strange novels and I was expecting something similar, or at least a coherent story. Instead these are a million mini stories all put into one comic book that really make no sense and have no point. Very disappointed.
May 13, 2017
Reading this reminded me of Hot Topic, back when the store seemed to be the mall haven for goth kids. I liked the format of vignettes instead of a linear storyline. I'm glad I picked this up but don't feel bad about not reading it sooner.
June 4, 2021
Well, crap. That was disappointing.
September 24, 2022
Not what I expected...
October 13, 2018
Tento komiks jsem objevila v knihovně mezi dětskými komiksy. Zběžně jsem do něj nahlédla a zaujal mě. Po dočtení jsem však v šoku.
Toto čtení bych rozhodně nedoporučovala dětem! Postava Emily v příběhu (který tam vlastně ani žádný není) je holka, která má ráda černou. Což není nic divného. Ale ona exceluje v nudění se. Svůj volný čas tráví na hřbitově s mrtvolami nebo na místě, kde se vycpávají zvířata. Je zvrácená a temná. A znuděná. Tohle není čtení pro děti. Co si z toho odnesou? Že by měly najít hlavu kohouta a přišít ji k tělu klokana? Že nalejou na sekanou divnou omáčku a z lidí se stanou zrůdy?!
Tohle opravdu NE! A 2 hvězdičky dávám za ilustrace... obsah je příšerný!
Toto čtení bych rozhodně nedoporučovala dětem! Postava Emily v příběhu (který tam vlastně ani žádný není) je holka, která má ráda černou. Což není nic divného. Ale ona exceluje v nudění se. Svůj volný čas tráví na hřbitově s mrtvolami nebo na místě, kde se vycpávají zvířata. Je zvrácená a temná. A znuděná. Tohle není čtení pro děti. Co si z toho odnesou? Že by měly najít hlavu kohouta a přišít ji k tělu klokana? Že nalejou na sekanou divnou omáčku a z lidí se stanou zrůdy?!
Tohle opravdu NE! A 2 hvězdičky dávám za ilustrace... obsah je příšerný!
August 11, 2020
this was a reread and i still loved it!! :)
Read
October 9, 2012Emily the Strange is the same. I expect that had I been acquainted with Emily as a teen, I would be have smitten by her unapologetic wit and refusal to conform. I could relate to her constant boredom due to being an introvert and the fact that she dealt with it in grotesque, absurd ways; like transforming her classmates into monsters with a sandwich sauce and playing croquet with the damned. I was expected there to be more of a narrative throughout, which would have appealed to me more, but the fact that the comic was broken down episodically might work better for today’s kids who are more apt to take the time to watch TV than read a full length storyline, whether visual or not.
I’d been looking forward to scooping up Emily the Strange as soon as my semester was over and I wanted to like the comic more… really I did. What I clung to most throughout was her cheeky pop culture references throughout, mostly because they were music references (Beatles, Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne). The Marilyn Manson bit in its entirety was fantastic, particularly because the Manson responses throughout the interview were written by the man himself. The Lostco scene was also quite hysterical; the mockery of Costco had endless supplies of free samples that mind-freaked its shoppers into dishing out tons of cash on ridiculous foods: ”Taco Flavored Bubble Tea! Pineapple Gravy! Oatmeal Salsa! Candied Arugula! I want it all!” Her imaginative, morbid takes on traditional fairy tales were a treat as well. Okay, so perhaps I enjoyed more than I admitted to, but beyond the clever bits, Emily’s character was just too beyond my reach.
The origin of Emily the Strange is quite extraordinary as well, as is her message to girls; according to blogs and unreliable sources, Emily seemed to have started as a advertising mascot for Rob Reger’s Cosmic Debris, and her personality snowballed as her image started appearing on stickers and merchandising at comic and record shops in the ’90s. Since then four international flagship Emily the Strange stores have popped up, four graphic novellas and there’s talk of a film in development as well. Since the novellas, it seems that there is a monthly issue of Emily the Strange that’s been released for at least three years now. I love what she stands for, even if I didn’t identify with her interests; she is the antithesis for all things feminine, and in hating the world she exudes individuality and alternative culture.
I’d been looking forward to scooping up Emily the Strange as soon as my semester was over and I wanted to like the comic more… really I did. What I clung to most throughout was her cheeky pop culture references throughout, mostly because they were music references (Beatles, Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne). The Marilyn Manson bit in its entirety was fantastic, particularly because the Manson responses throughout the interview were written by the man himself. The Lostco scene was also quite hysterical; the mockery of Costco had endless supplies of free samples that mind-freaked its shoppers into dishing out tons of cash on ridiculous foods: ”Taco Flavored Bubble Tea! Pineapple Gravy! Oatmeal Salsa! Candied Arugula! I want it all!” Her imaginative, morbid takes on traditional fairy tales were a treat as well. Okay, so perhaps I enjoyed more than I admitted to, but beyond the clever bits, Emily’s character was just too beyond my reach.
The origin of Emily the Strange is quite extraordinary as well, as is her message to girls; according to blogs and unreliable sources, Emily seemed to have started as a advertising mascot for Rob Reger’s Cosmic Debris, and her personality snowballed as her image started appearing on stickers and merchandising at comic and record shops in the ’90s. Since then four international flagship Emily the Strange stores have popped up, four graphic novellas and there’s talk of a film in development as well. Since the novellas, it seems that there is a monthly issue of Emily the Strange that’s been released for at least three years now. I love what she stands for, even if I didn’t identify with her interests; she is the antithesis for all things feminine, and in hating the world she exudes individuality and alternative culture.
August 14, 2015
Ak by som mala porovnať dej medzi knihami a komiksom, samozrejme, že knihy vedú na plnej čiare. Pochopiteľne. Celé je to totižto rozdelené na krátke kapitoly a tak ten dej sa samozrejme nikam neuberá. Knihy boli naozaj vtipné, zatiaľ čo komiks je na tom tak pol na pol. Niečo ma bavilo, a niečo som prelistovala len tak bezducho. Ale ako som spomínala, veľmi veľkú pozornosť som venovala ilustráciám a ako dobre viete, v komikse je ich vždy hojne.
February 7, 2016
Strange and dark for sure. It didn't connect with me. I had a preconceived idea what the character Emily was going to be like based on an ALA poster campaign for reading. I guess I thought Emily would be more of a sassy, hipster girl that would make me laugh....instead I felt like locking the doors so Emily couldn't get in my house!
April 8, 2009
I LOVED it. It was dark, Of course, just look at the title.
But it was really good and had allot of movie and book references, which I found amusing. I really want to read more, but for now I only have this one...READ IT!
But it was really good and had allot of movie and book references, which I found amusing. I really want to read more, but for now I only have this one...READ IT!
August 28, 2013
I made the Czech lettering.
January 21, 2020
Po grafické stránce se mi to celkem i líbilo, bavila mne ta kombinace barev, je to vskutku temné - což odpovídalo i náladám hlavní hrdinky Emily. Ale co se příběhu týče, je to teda solidní slátanina. Autoři přeskakují od jednoho motivu k druhému a kde nic, tu nic. Děj to nemá takřka žádný, je to jen splácanina jakýchsi nesourodých maleb, kreseb či skečů o tom, jak se depresivně naladěná Emily brutálně nudí a přemýšlí nad smrtí a dalšími makabrózními věcmi. Většinu knihy jsem si přitom říkala, co ti autoři sakra berou za drogy, že z toho vznikl tenhle komiks. Něco tak děsně divného jsem už dlouho neviděla. :-D
March 2, 2017
I just absolutely love Emily the Strange; she is so cute and is a loveable blend of cute uniqueness with a spot on blend of dark perfection we all wished we could have achieved at thirteen. She was her own clique she didn't need anyone else, except her four funky feline furry friends!! Yaaaaas Kweeeeeen!
I love the artwork, it is awesome, sweetly dark, inspiring, and was the cutest merch for a generation, remember??!
I love the artwork, it is awesome, sweetly dark, inspiring, and was the cutest merch for a generation, remember??!
June 30, 2023
De pequeña me regalaron un libro de esta y me gustó tanto lo oscura que era que he decidido recordar sus locuras con este cómic, sinceramente he ido con la mentalidad de que es un libro mas bien para los más pequeños pero me ha sorprendido como está escrito y aparte el personaje de Emily tan loca como siempre, lo que más ne ha hecho gracia ha sido que hay un apartado que hace como entrevistas a personajes como Marilyn manson o Elvira y me ya sorprendido mucho y me he reído también.
June 6, 2021
No shade, but I probably would have liked this much more in my emo early 2000 middle/high school days when I frequented Hot Topic and pretended to like metal. Now as an adult who still enjoys the curious and creepy side of life, I can see what all the hype is about. Emily and her black cats are indeed cheeky, dark, and adorably strange.
October 13, 2017
Sammelband einzelner Comicstrips, die selten einen Plot haben und auch keine Botschaft oder eine Pointe in sich tragen. Künstlerisch aufwändig gestaltet, aber inhaltlich leider ziemlich leer und substanzlos.
March 23, 2018
It was strange alright.
I don't honestly know how I feel about this. It was weird, but there didn't seem to be any real purpose to it existing it just existed. It has beautiful artwork though.
I don't honestly know how I feel about this. It was weird, but there didn't seem to be any real purpose to it existing it just existed. It has beautiful artwork though.
February 24, 2019
Got out of my usual reading with this one. It was interesting, but I can't say that I "get" it. I liked the art, the word play, and the sassy girl. I could see a lot of April Ludgate in the character of Emily. Overall though, this was just ok for me.
December 18, 2019
Delightfully absurd, macabre collection of comics featuring Emily, a young goth girl (think Wednesday Adams) as she terrorizes her neighborhood and lets her imagination run wild. Dark and zany, the illustrations will make you question your sanity.
February 12, 2020
Well this is sure different than the other novels I read of her. In the novels it’s more midd grade teen I’d say but this is not for young teens more like mature teens to adults. Still fairly fun to read. Just random dark adventures to read while you’re lost or bored.
January 29, 2018
Se me hace un poco vacío para lo geniales que son las novelas.
February 27, 2019
Very interesting read, love the illustrations
March 8, 2019
Don't know what I expected. Not my cup of tea at all 😞
July 15, 2019
Emily Strange is strange
Hm, didn't get it. Didn't like it. No overarching plot I could detect. Art is darkly detailed in black, white, shades of grey and red.
Hm, didn't get it. Didn't like it. No overarching plot I could detect. Art is darkly detailed in black, white, shades of grey and red.
December 22, 2019
Emily je vážně divná. Má ráda temné věci a hlavně Marylina Masona! Neustále ji doprovází pár černých koček.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews