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Godspeed: the Kurt Cobain graphic
GodSpeed: The Kurt Cobain Graphic tells Cobain's story in the format of a totally unique graphic novel.
Writers Barnaby Legg and Jim McCarthy have constructed their story using biographical fact interwoven with references to the singer's tortured self image. The vibrant art by Flameboy captures both the subjective dreamscape and the objective reality that form the heart of this examination of a tragic musical legend.
Much more than a biography, GodSpeed is unlike anything published about Kurt Cobain before. Going beyond the facts, it transmutes an extraordinary life into an equally extraordinary work of art...
Writers Barnaby Legg and Jim McCarthy have constructed their story using biographical fact interwoven with references to the singer's tortured self image. The vibrant art by Flameboy captures both the subjective dreamscape and the objective reality that form the heart of this examination of a tragic musical legend.
Much more than a biography, GodSpeed is unlike anything published about Kurt Cobain before. Going beyond the facts, it transmutes an extraordinary life into an equally extraordinary work of art...
96 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
18 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 8, 2024
Unique look at the life of this influential artist who struggled to balance his creativity with the destructive tendencies that ended his life. One of my closest friends was a big fan, he really had a hard time getting over this tragic parting. Hope he is now at peace and can rest knowing how many people he touched.
January 4, 2017
always a pleasure to read different versions of his story to learn more about this amazing person
February 13, 2013
It's a little hard to rate this book fairly. I'm a huge Cobain fan and I understand how a graphic novel differs from a full-on novel. The art is supposed to speak the words that are not written. This is a very scaled-down version of his life from Kurt's POV. Having read/watched/listened to many of the documentaries, interviews, biographies, and auto-biographical journals released on Cobain, I'm on data overload on things that supposedly went on during this time. I do recognize a lot of the writing in this graphic novel as things said in actual interviews and taken from his own notebooks, but I still feel like reading this book was only look at Cobain's life filtered through cloudy, tinted glass. I can't even hate on the writers for trying to portray Courtney Love in a positive light, because from the footage I've seen of Kurt talking about his wife, he really did love this woman and his family. So, a graphic novel written from his POV wouldn't paint the "love of his life" as some crazy, fame-hungry crack head (despite what the rest of the world see's.)
I'm glad I read it, and I agree with many other people; I love the art. I even dig the fact that they drew Courtney as the man-faced mess that most of us see her as. (I don't dig the artist trying to kiss her ass at the end with the sketched images, but that's neither here nor there.)
I think it's an interesting, quick read for any Kurt Cobain / Nirvana fan. I wouldn't say it's mind-bending or a fitting homage to the grunge icon, but I was really excited to read it, and 20 minutes later; the task is done.
I'm glad I read it, and I agree with many other people; I love the art. I even dig the fact that they drew Courtney as the man-faced mess that most of us see her as. (I don't dig the artist trying to kiss her ass at the end with the sketched images, but that's neither here nor there.)
I think it's an interesting, quick read for any Kurt Cobain / Nirvana fan. I wouldn't say it's mind-bending or a fitting homage to the grunge icon, but I was really excited to read it, and 20 minutes later; the task is done.
September 11, 2015
Powerful, but I wasn't a fan of the author's fascination with Courtney. The fact that she was a major part of Cobain's life is clear, but I feel like all three of these dudes were attempting to live vicariously through their own warped viewpoint of who Cobain was.
July 9, 2013
The tragic life of a legend who was a tormented soul but, most of all, a simple man with a lot of fears.
This graphic novel narrates it with delicacy and poetic sensitivity.
This graphic novel narrates it with delicacy and poetic sensitivity.
January 21, 2016
This is quite a cool little book, a sort of graphic novel slash biography of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The illustration is top notch and all three authors have clearly done their research, although they do occasionally stretch the truth a little bit in the pursuit of a good story. Whether you’re a fan of Cobain or not, though, you’re going to love reading this lovely book.
December 31, 2020
قصة مصورة عن حياة المغني كيرت كوباين المغني الرئيسي لفرقة "نيرفيانا" واحدة من أشهر الفرق في التسعينات
الرجل كان يعاني من مرض الاكتئاب لسنوات وسنوات منذ الطفولة
محاولات علاج، ثم تداخلات عائلية وخذلانات كثيرة
بعد قرارت كارثية للهروب من جحيم الحياة والاكتئاب
تتداخل الحياة مع النجاح مع الجشع مع فرص كثيرة مهدرة
مأساة متكاملة التفاصيل
حاول المؤلف ايجاد بدائل بصرية لكي لا تصبح مجرد نقل مصور وفقط وهو ما نجح به
مشكلتي الأساسية هو محاولة خلق صورة رومانسية عن الاكتئاب والهوس الانتحاري
بجانب محاولة تبرير بعض الاختيارات الخاطئة للرجل
ولكن الأمر متفهم في اطار الرواية
الرجل كان يعاني من مرض الاكتئاب لسنوات وسنوات منذ الطفولة
محاولات علاج، ثم تداخلات عائلية وخذلانات كثيرة
بعد قرارت كارثية للهروب من جحيم الحياة والاكتئاب
تتداخل الحياة مع النجاح مع الجشع مع فرص كثيرة مهدرة
مأساة متكاملة التفاصيل
حاول المؤلف ايجاد بدائل بصرية لكي لا تصبح مجرد نقل مصور وفقط وهو ما نجح به
مشكلتي الأساسية هو محاولة خلق صورة رومانسية عن الاكتئاب والهوس الانتحاري
بجانب محاولة تبرير بعض الاختيارات الخاطئة للرجل
ولكن الأمر متفهم في اطار الرواية
June 21, 2007
Fantastic graphics tell the anguished story of Kurt Cobain.
Have you heard the theory that Kurt's problems were caused by lactose intolerance?
Have you heard the theory that Kurt's problems were caused by lactose intolerance?
Want to read
April 20, 2013How do I get this book so I can read it
November 14, 2016
I've always been a fan of comics. Specially when it's about something so mysterious as the death of Kurt Cobain. I would totally read a comic about Amy Winehouse.
March 26, 2018
This begins and ends with suicide (so, please put your controversial conspiracy theories aside [even if some do have weight]). I've seen this framing device before in The Hours, as it begins and ends with Virginia Woolf stepping into the River Ouse.
The graphic novel is framed as Kurt telling his life story after his death - from his childhood, teenage years, the meteoric rise of Nirvana, his relationship with Courtney Love, the birth of Frances and his death. It's a quasi-fictional account of his life, as we will never know all the real details that transpired - we only have interviews, his journals and the accounts of others to go by.
I think this is an interesting book - it never would have occurred to be to create a comic about Kurt Cobain, but it does work. I think the artwork is great - a lot of emotion is conveyed in the art and it does a great job of enhancing the story, rather than being pretty pictures that contain thought or word bubbles. I like that it uses surrealism in some panels to convey complex emotions, ecstasy of a drug high, or Kurt's own distorted, fantastical view of the world. Again, this is Kurt's life as illustrated and told by someone else - I believe the authors and artist had great respect for Kurt, but again, I would not take this as 100% truth, but you can tell extensive research had been done.
I think my main problem with this book is the framing device. I think it works in The Hours - Woolf's decent into the river with pockets full of stones is extremely powerful imagery, but it does not loom heavily over the entirety of the book; it doesn't detract from the other scenes with Virginia (all the sections with Virginia are the best part of The Hours, honestly). In Godspeed, while the act of the suicide is not drawn (it's the now (in)famous picture of his foot through the open door of the room above the garage), it still creates a heavy fog over the entirety of the book. And this may have been the point - the Greek tragedy of the rock star.
I would recommend this to Nirvana fans - I do think the subject matter is treated respectfully, and the artwork is great.
Maybe a part of me was wishing it would end with Kurt on a tropical island with the other members of Club 27, chilling with Amy and Janis, like in that Heineken commercial. Maybe Jeff Buckley's there too, even if he wasn't 27 when he unfortunately drowned (please listen to Jeff Buckley). I think he would be happy there.
Oh well, whatever, Nevermind.
The graphic novel is framed as Kurt telling his life story after his death - from his childhood, teenage years, the meteoric rise of Nirvana, his relationship with Courtney Love, the birth of Frances and his death. It's a quasi-fictional account of his life, as we will never know all the real details that transpired - we only have interviews, his journals and the accounts of others to go by.
I think this is an interesting book - it never would have occurred to be to create a comic about Kurt Cobain, but it does work. I think the artwork is great - a lot of emotion is conveyed in the art and it does a great job of enhancing the story, rather than being pretty pictures that contain thought or word bubbles. I like that it uses surrealism in some panels to convey complex emotions, ecstasy of a drug high, or Kurt's own distorted, fantastical view of the world. Again, this is Kurt's life as illustrated and told by someone else - I believe the authors and artist had great respect for Kurt, but again, I would not take this as 100% truth, but you can tell extensive research had been done.
I think my main problem with this book is the framing device. I think it works in The Hours - Woolf's decent into the river with pockets full of stones is extremely powerful imagery, but it does not loom heavily over the entirety of the book; it doesn't detract from the other scenes with Virginia (all the sections with Virginia are the best part of The Hours, honestly). In Godspeed, while the act of the suicide is not drawn (it's the now (in)famous picture of his foot through the open door of the room above the garage), it still creates a heavy fog over the entirety of the book. And this may have been the point - the Greek tragedy of the rock star.
I would recommend this to Nirvana fans - I do think the subject matter is treated respectfully, and the artwork is great.
Maybe a part of me was wishing it would end with Kurt on a tropical island with the other members of Club 27, chilling with Amy and Janis, like in that Heineken commercial. Maybe Jeff Buckley's there too, even if he wasn't 27 when he unfortunately drowned (please listen to Jeff Buckley). I think he would be happy there.
Oh well, whatever, Nevermind.
April 24, 2020
Bueno, es difícil puntuar una novela gráfica en honor a uno de tus artistas favoritos.
Los dibujos son maravillosos, empecemos por eso. La paleta de colores no pudo estar mejor escogida, y las expresiones son algo que se siente nada más ver.
Creo que es una obra realmente acertada.
Si bien amamos a Kurt, debemos saber que no es la perfección, porque eso no existe. Es algo que él mismo siempre quiso hacer ver.
Me encantó que en este trabajo se parte desde esa base, hacerle un homenaje a un humano que fue grandioso por hacer lo que quiso y a la vez, no tuvo vergüenza de mostrar sus imperfecciones, el ángel errático, una metáfora nunca mejor puesta.
Su vida fue dura, desde muy pequeño. Sus decisiones tampoco fueron las más acertadas siempre, pero de su historia aprendemos. De sus gritos, expresamos cosas que no todos se animan.
Nirvana es lo que te hace sentir, es esa conexión que traspasa toda barrera de tiempo y espacio mediante la música, los gritos y el ruido blanco; no es solo la mera letra de sus canciones, como cualquier otra banda. Son los trastornos y los traumas aullando, los pasados dolorosos y las noches bajo fríos puentes, el sentimiento de una existencia vacía, de un estómago consumiéndose y de toda una vida incomprendida. Es la máxima expresión de aquello que no todos nos animamos a exponer, porque nos da miedo sentirlo a veces.
Los dibujos son maravillosos, empecemos por eso. La paleta de colores no pudo estar mejor escogida, y las expresiones son algo que se siente nada más ver.
Creo que es una obra realmente acertada.
Si bien amamos a Kurt, debemos saber que no es la perfección, porque eso no existe. Es algo que él mismo siempre quiso hacer ver.
Me encantó que en este trabajo se parte desde esa base, hacerle un homenaje a un humano que fue grandioso por hacer lo que quiso y a la vez, no tuvo vergüenza de mostrar sus imperfecciones, el ángel errático, una metáfora nunca mejor puesta.
Su vida fue dura, desde muy pequeño. Sus decisiones tampoco fueron las más acertadas siempre, pero de su historia aprendemos. De sus gritos, expresamos cosas que no todos se animan.
Nirvana es lo que te hace sentir, es esa conexión que traspasa toda barrera de tiempo y espacio mediante la música, los gritos y el ruido blanco; no es solo la mera letra de sus canciones, como cualquier otra banda. Son los trastornos y los traumas aullando, los pasados dolorosos y las noches bajo fríos puentes, el sentimiento de una existencia vacía, de un estómago consumiéndose y de toda una vida incomprendida. Es la máxima expresión de aquello que no todos nos animamos a exponer, porque nos da miedo sentirlo a veces.
November 24, 2022
Well... I wrote a book that was basically a biography of Kurt Cobain and for that I wanted to go through every single book written on Cobain and every article and interview and documentary and film. And I had totally forgotten about this thing. I remember seeing it somewhere when it came and wanting to read it, but just couldn't find it. So now, finding it, I had to grab it right away and indulge it in a single session.
I didn't have big expectations of this but I'm very impressed, this was a very well-researched thing, beautifully showcasing the big arch of Cobain from the very personal level to the cultural phenomenon with all of its small nuances and anecdotes from the Nevermind food fight to Boddah and Tracy and Tobi and everything. Especially the intervention in the end was so well done!
I was very impressed by this and felt very deeply for Cobain in the end. Though I always do... but this was the best dramatisation of the suicide of Kurt Cobain I've ever seen. I was inside his head for a while. And now I feel that I have a kind of peace with Cobain being gone.
He was my friend. My dad. My brother. My bandmate. My soulmate.
A small man who had a very clear daemon that resonates forever with the world.
I didn't have big expectations of this but I'm very impressed, this was a very well-researched thing, beautifully showcasing the big arch of Cobain from the very personal level to the cultural phenomenon with all of its small nuances and anecdotes from the Nevermind food fight to Boddah and Tracy and Tobi and everything. Especially the intervention in the end was so well done!
I was very impressed by this and felt very deeply for Cobain in the end. Though I always do... but this was the best dramatisation of the suicide of Kurt Cobain I've ever seen. I was inside his head for a while. And now I feel that I have a kind of peace with Cobain being gone.
He was my friend. My dad. My brother. My bandmate. My soulmate.
A small man who had a very clear daemon that resonates forever with the world.
August 14, 2023
Dieser Schmerz,dem Kurt Cobain sein ganzes Leben lang ausgesetzt war,war in der Graphic Novel so sehr spürbar🥺
Da ich mich als Nirvana Fan schon viel mit Kurt Cobain und Nirvana befasst habe,war es schön,dass Leben von Kurt Cobain mal als Graphic Novel zu lesen!😍
Es war meine zweite Graphic Novel und ich habe gemerkt,dass ich auf jeden Fall mehr Graphic Novel lesen möchte!
Denn sie sind sehr gut für zwischendurch🥰
Da ich mich als Nirvana Fan schon viel mit Kurt Cobain und Nirvana befasst habe,war es schön,dass Leben von Kurt Cobain mal als Graphic Novel zu lesen!😍
Es war meine zweite Graphic Novel und ich habe gemerkt,dass ich auf jeden Fall mehr Graphic Novel lesen möchte!
Denn sie sind sehr gut für zwischendurch🥰
October 25, 2022
Meh, I'm more of an Alice in Chains kinda guy anyway. Never understood the fascination with Kurt Cobain.
December 22, 2008
Read this a couple years ago while standing in a music store in Seattle (!) the first and only time I've been in that part of the country. This took me back to age 13 and both my 13 year old self and my older self of the moment were disgusted by this rendition of Cobain's career. I just found the whole thing remarkably sad and gross and frankly inaccurate as hell (considering all the biographical info I'd soaked up back in my 13 year old hey day). Anyway, this is highly unrecommended for anyone.
April 26, 2014
First, the art is pretty awesome.
Second, I looooved loved the integration of Boddah. I thought that was so creative and awesome.
Third, if you know quite a bit about Kurt already, you feel jipped, like the author left out SO MUCH. I also feel like the author had boners for Courtney Love. Thus, the 3 stars.
Second, I looooved loved the integration of Boddah. I thought that was so creative and awesome.
Third, if you know quite a bit about Kurt already, you feel jipped, like the author left out SO MUCH. I also feel like the author had boners for Courtney Love. Thus, the 3 stars.
April 29, 2010
so dark... suka banget kutipan di prolognya: absolute power is also absolute corruption...
May 6, 2010
I hate myself and want to die...
January 6, 2016
I'm sure they meant well...kinda...
November 8, 2022
I liked the implementation of his imaginary friend. The truth is that I did not know Cubain's life in depth. Good illustration and easy to read, I found the story a little short.
June 25, 2020
Biased as I am both a Kurt and Nirvana fan plus being a comic junkie (guess I shouldn't use that term here when it gets fixed to things that make one sound bad thanks to the drugs side of it).
This is a bleak look into the roller coaster ride that was Kurt's life. From his parents divorce and decline into depression and self loathing. Finding music, especially punk-rock and learning to voice his pain and insecurities with music.
Finally forming Nirvana, realising his dreams. His stomach pains and his addiction.
Finding love in Courtney and their child. Trying to get clean and stay clean through all the pain and hatred to finally his last moment before taking his life.
A very good homage. Biographical yet in a dim dream like way.
This is a bleak look into the roller coaster ride that was Kurt's life. From his parents divorce and decline into depression and self loathing. Finding music, especially punk-rock and learning to voice his pain and insecurities with music.
Finally forming Nirvana, realising his dreams. His stomach pains and his addiction.
Finding love in Courtney and their child. Trying to get clean and stay clean through all the pain and hatred to finally his last moment before taking his life.
A very good homage. Biographical yet in a dim dream like way.
September 23, 2025
I know it was Cobain's story as meant to be told from his own perspective, but it still felt far too much like it was glorifying addiction and suicide. Cobain was a very sick man and his life was sad, but his legacy isn't great because he killed himself - which the tone of this graphic novel might have you believe.
Mostly the graphic novel feels scattered and pointless, and it doesn't feel like it celebrated the parts of Cobain's life that deserved to be celebrated. The choppiness of the storytelling also made it annoying to read.
The artstyle wasn't my favourite, but at least it was consistent, unlike the storytelling.
Mostly the graphic novel feels scattered and pointless, and it doesn't feel like it celebrated the parts of Cobain's life that deserved to be celebrated. The choppiness of the storytelling also made it annoying to read.
The artstyle wasn't my favourite, but at least it was consistent, unlike the storytelling.
January 25, 2019
A lovingly-worked piece of art and a must-see for all Nirvana fans, obviously. All the major events during the band's short career are represented, as well as is Kurt's childhood. There is a lot of creative licence being taken, and that should be a warning, but does not detract on how wonderful it is. It's tragic, caustic and frenetic, whilst also being full of beauty and adoration. A lot of the scenes are based somewhat on pure conjecture though.
An unfortunate and fabled mystery that may go unsolved during all of our lifetimes, it seems.
An unfortunate and fabled mystery that may go unsolved during all of our lifetimes, it seems.
November 12, 2024
No es la mejor biografía de Kurt ni de lejos, pero hay que admitir que está muy bien dibujado y juega un montón con la biografía y el significado tras cada dibujo. Como diría el sabio Guido Kazcka: "Está mal, pero no tan mal."
Indudablemente podría ser mas quejumbrosa al pensar en este cómic como ficticio o poco verídico como muchos fanáticos lo han hecho, dejándolo mal parado en frente a biografías mas extensas y sin dibujos de colores. Pero no voy a hacerlo y en gran parte es porque solo conocí dos cómics o novelas visuales de Kurt Cobain, y sin dudas necesitamos más.
Indudablemente podría ser mas quejumbrosa al pensar en este cómic como ficticio o poco verídico como muchos fanáticos lo han hecho, dejándolo mal parado en frente a biografías mas extensas y sin dibujos de colores. Pero no voy a hacerlo y en gran parte es porque solo conocí dos cómics o novelas visuales de Kurt Cobain, y sin dudas necesitamos más.
December 30, 2024
Me cuesta mucho ser objetiva con este cómic, porque Nirvana siempre ha sido y será mi grupo favorito y Kurt Cobain mi amor platónico...peroooo...eso ha sido más que flojito. La historia mal contada, sin detalles, caótica. Muy muy pobre y escasa.
Las dos estrellas le doy por los gráficos que si que son espectaculares y por mi amor que siento por el grupo.
Las dos estrellas le doy por los gráficos que si que son espectaculares y por mi amor que siento por el grupo.
October 18, 2023
**Resubida por nuevo usuario
I liked the implementation of his imaginary friend. The truth is that I did not know Cubain's life in depth. Good illustration and easy to read, I found the story a little short.
I liked the implementation of his imaginary friend. The truth is that I did not know Cubain's life in depth. Good illustration and easy to read, I found the story a little short.
April 10, 2019
oh, sweetheart.
incompletely-done
July 17, 2020Five Stars to the Introduction of the novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews