Tag Archives: the goon

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Midnight Vista #1

Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

8 Bit Apocalypse (Abrams Press) – A look at the creation of Missil Command with interviews of major figures and a look at that era of video games.

Alpha Flight: True North #1 (Marvel) – It’s Alpha Flight, nuff said.

Battlepug #1 (Image Comics) – The webcomic is back as a new comic series. It’s been years since Knmundian save the world with his Battlepug but a new threat has them back for a new adventure!

Die #7 (Image Comics) – One of the best comics out today, it’s a must for those into roleplaying games.

Doomsday Clock #11 (DC Comics) – We’ve been waiting for the latest chapter of this series which has gotten better the longer its gone on.

Everything #1 (Dark Horse) – Everything is a new mega-department store that may have more to it than just the goods you want.

Going to the Chapel #1 (Action Lab: Danger Zone) – We’ve read the first issue and it’s solid. A wedding goes off the rails due to a robbery. Think Tarantino via comic books.

The Goon #6 (Albatross Funnybooks) – One of the most fun comics out there today. A great mix of action and humor and every issue has delivered and then some.

Legion of Super Heroes Millennium #1 (DC Comics) – The Legion is coming back and it all starts here!

Lois Lane #3 (DC Comics) – The series has been top-notch taking advantage of why Lois Lane stands out as a character. Excellent writing and solid art combine to make the series stand out and us wanting an ongoing.

Midnight Vista #1 (AfterShock) – Oliver and his stepfather are abducted by aliens and years later a grown adult Oliver returns… and remembers everything.

Something is Killing the Children #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Mysteries about kids getting killed seem to be on the rise in comics but we’re intrigued for another one.

Spawn #300 (Image Comics) – The series reaches the major number of 300 and we’re excited to see what’s inside for this historical moment.

Triage #1 (Dark Horse) – An interesting sci-fi series that has a nurse waking up in an unfamiliar world with two doppelgangers, one a young and snarky superhero and the other a hardened rebel military leader.

Web of Black Widow #1 (Marvel) – Black Widow gets the spotlight in this miniseries which focuses on her past.

The Wicked + The Divine #45 (Image Comics) – The beloved series comes to a close and what a finale it’ll be.

A First Look at The Art (And Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell from BOOM!

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at The Art (And Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell, a brand new art book with scandalous tales, family gossip, illegally obtained medical records, behind-the-scenes character designs, sketches, and illustrations from the twisted mind of multi-award winning writer and artist Eric Powell, available in comic stores December 18, 2019 and book shops December 24, 2019. Celebrate an obscene number of years of low art and high art, failure and success, and the many other mistakes from the creator of the acclaimed series, The Goon!

Never before has anyone dared to dive deep into the weird and byzantine mind of Eric Powell—and for good reason, because once you’ve entered the twisted pathways of this collection that’s half graphic memoir, half art book, you’ll find yourself traveling back to the never-before-seen origins of Eric Powell’s early beginnings as an artist then hurtling straight into the chaotic years of rough and tumble cartooning that led to the creation of the enduring hit creation, The Goon, that continues to thrill and delight fans to this very day!

The Art (And Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell sheds light on the deliberate and painstaking process of becoming a world renowned comic book creator as recalled by the artist and a few of his delinquent friends. This extensive art book spotlights never-before-seen childhood drawings, early superhero test pages, film poster art, and the establishment of Powell’s homegrown publishing house Albatross Funnybooks.

The Art (And Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Transformers '84 #0

Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Bad Reception #1 (AfterShock) – It’s a celebrity wedding with no cellphones and no wifi and someone’s killing the guests. The concept sounds like entertaining slasher horror and we’re excited to check it out.

Criminal #7 (Image Comics) – One of the best comics on the market. Amazing writing and amazing art and consistently good. If you’re a fan of crime stories, this is a must and even if you’re not, check it out for the execution.

Excellence #4 (Image Comics/Skybound) – A new take on modern-day wizards, the series gets better with every issue.

The Goon #4

The Goon #4 (Albatross Funnybooks) – One of the most fun comics out there. It’s a comedic horror Popeye (these are all good things) that mixes some action and punching with a good dose of humor.

Powers of X #3 (Marvel) – We’re halfway through this volume of Jonathan Hickman’s reinvention of the X-Men and the ideas are out there and keep coming.

Pretty Violent #1 (Image Comics) – Gamma Rae wants to be a superhero and has had powers since she was a baby. The problem is, her siblings are notorious hero-murdering criminals. The comic sounds like an over the top superhero comedy and we’re here for it.

Springtime in Chernobyl (IDW Publishing) – Emmanuel Lepage chronicles his trip to Chernobyl in 2008 in this graphic memoir.

Strayed #1 (Dark Horse) – A military-industrial complex reigns over humanity and destroys alien worlds. The galaxy’s only hope is in an astral-projecting cat and its owner. This sounds like exactly what sci-fi is about, entertainment and reflecting on socio/political issues.

Superman: Year One #2 (DC Comics) – The first issue of Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.’s take on Superman’s origin was interesting and exceeded our expectations so we’re excited to see if the second issue can deliver too.

Transformers ’84 #0 (IDW Publishing) – Celebrating 35 years of Transformers, the issue is a prequel to the original comic series. Yeah, our inner child is squealing over this one.

Review: The Goon #5

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GOON #5

Yes, The Goon #5 is out before The Goon #4. But, one of the fantastic things about the series is you can enjoy each issue on its own! The gangs that have sprung up on Lonely Street in his absence continue to give The Goon fits, and now the drunken reprobates have started drinking something called Beezlebooze with monstrous effects! And who is the mysterious crime figure called Dapper calling the shots from the shadows?

The Goon #5 keeps the streak going for the series deliver excellence. This issue, like these before, delivers action, humor, and a visually unique style. Written by Eric Powell and Thomas Sniegos, the comic has so much packed into every panel and page.

The issue is a standalone issue, like the previous three. It can be enjoyed on its own and each issue has been building to something down the road. It’s a brilliant way of giving regular readers something more but also being new reader friendly.

The writing is as fun as always but the art by Brett Parson is fantastic. Each panel and page is packed with so much humor derived from what’s presented visually. There are small jokes here and there in the background keeping the reader on their toes. The style too is beyond unique making the series stand out visually.

The issue is the fun I expected and the series as a whole is one that should be a part of everyone’s buy pile. If you missed the previous three issues, you can start here, but be prepared to want to go back and grab everything that has come out before it.

Story: Eric Powell, Thomas Sniegos Art: Brett Parson
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Jimmy Betancourt
Story: 8.25 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: The Goon #2

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The Goon #2

The Goon #2 delivers the fun, humor, and action, I expect from this series. I’ve read The Goon off and on for years. It’s one of those few series that I really can’t think of any issues or graphic novels I’ve disliked. It’s a series that entertains with each release. This latest volume keeps up that record. The second issue shows off the insane mix of horror and comedy that makes this a beloved series.

For those that don’t know The Goon, the best description is a comedy horror version of Popeye. That’s a good thing. The series, and its creator Eric Powell, have consistently delivered a read that takes that fun action element of Popeye and mix it with a horror infused world and it really works. Add in art that’s out of this world and it’s a killer combo of a series that shouldn’t be missed.

The first issue was a nice return for the character and this second one ups the fighting, and jokes, we’d expect as our two heroes attempt to get settled back in. As the first issue showed, the Goon’s return to Lonely Street is off to a bumpy start. Their return gets bumpier when he crosses paths with up and coming crime lord Vinnie Nosferatu.

If the action and humor weren’t enough, the art is out of this world. Rachel Cohen joins Powell on color and their teamwork is amazing. The Goon #2‘s art features a style that isn’t repeated by anyone else. The limited use of color brilliantly emphasizes certain elements. The issue seamlessly transitions from pencil like flashbacks to its more usual style that’s almost classical animation.

The Goon #2 has it all, and that includes a Looney Tunes like homage. The Goon for me is one of the most fun comics out there. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. Powell is a master of mixing elements so that it all works out so well. Two issues in and I’m still in love with this series. It’s not too late to dive in and see what you’re missing and why this is so good.

Story: Eric Powell Art: Eric Powell
Color: Rachel Cohen and Eric Powell
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Drawing Blood

Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

The Avant-Guards #5 (BOOM! Studios/BOOM! Box) – This series has been fantastic and a lot of fun following an upstart college basketball team. You get a new issue and the first trade out this week!

Bone Parish #9 (BOOM! Studios) – A mix of horror and crime, this is a comic that’s delivered with every issue. The concept of a drug made from the ground up dead plus the crime family aspect is such an amazing mix.

Clue: Candlestick #1 (IDW Publishing) – We’re board game fans, so this makes the list because we’re intrigued as to what it is.

Drawing Blood: Spilled Ink #1 (Kevin Eastman Studios) – One of two releases from Kevin Eastman this week. This is his return to indie comics and this release is a look at the turbulent life and times of a once-successfull cartoonist…. Hmmmm. Eastman co-created this with David Avallone.

The Flash #71 (DC Comics) – “Year One” continues!

The Goon #2

The Goon #2 (Albatross Funnybooks) – Eric Powell’s The Goon is always fun with a mix of horror and a Popeye vibe. Love it!

Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls (Kevin Eastman Studios) – The other Eastman comic out this week. This one is the story-within-the-story about three crime-fighting mutant cats that launched a franchise. Sound familiar?

Road of Bones #1 (IDW Publishing) – A Russian prisoner must escape a gulag and survive in a frozen tundra with the help of his childhood fantasy story. It sounds really interesting to us.

Wage Slaves (Conundrum Press) – Daria Bogdanska’s autobiographical story about attempting to build a life in Malmö and a battle that leads to fairer work practices for people in her community.

X-Force #8 (Marvel) – A fun throwback to some classic X-Force that picks up the loose threads from recent X-events. Stryfe is back… nuff said.

Get a Load of The Art (and Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell this October

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BOOM! Studios has announced The Art (and Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell, a brand new art book with scandalous tales, family gossip, illegally obtained medical records, behind-the-scenes character designs, sketches, and illustrations from the twisted mind of the creator of the acclaimed series, The Goon, available in stores October 2019. Celebrate an obscene number of years of low art and high art, failure and success, and the many other mistakes of multi-award winning writer and artist Eric Powell!

In Nashville, Tennessee lives a man, a recluse, a curmudgeonly high falutin’ cartoonist-type who, as a young child, had a penchant for drawing and making up tall tales. It was at the tender age of 18, he turned his back on a promising career in adult film cinematography and followed his heart into the comic book industry. Out of desperation, Eric kept drawing, painting, and then creating his own characters and worlds culminating with the beloved series, The Goon, currently celebrating its twentieth anniversary.

The Art (and Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell sheds light on the deliberate and painstaking process of becoming a world renowned comic book creator as recalled by the artist and a few of his delinquent friends. This extensive art book spotlights never-before-seen childhood drawings, early superhero test pages, film poster art, and the establishment of Powell’s homegrown publishing house Albatross (Exploding) Funnybooks. 

Eric Powell is an Eisner Award-winning writer and artist best known for his critically acclaimed series The Goon, which launched in 1999, and quickly became an indie hit with a die-hard cult following. In 2002, Powell launched his own publishing house, Albatross Exploding Funnybooks, which has been home to several creator-owned titles, including his own series Chimichanga and Hillbilly, as well as Rebecca Sugar’s Pug Davis, Fabian Rangel Jr. and Logan Faerber’s weird war tale ’Namwolf, and Brendon Small’s Galaktikon. In 2019, Powell relaunched The Goon at Albatross in coordination with the book’s 20th anniversary.

The Art (and Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell will be available for sale October 23, 2019 at local comic book shops and October 29, 2019 at bookstores.

The Art (and Many Other Mistakes) of Eric Powell

Review: The Goon #1

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The Goon #1

The next era in the legacy of The Goon starts here! This all new series marks The Goon’s return to Albatross Funnybooks and is just in time to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the book. Eric Powell takes the series to its humor-based roots as Goon & Franky return from strange adventures abroad to find a horde of unsavory characters have filled the void left in his absence from Lonely Street.

I won’t pretend to be an expert on the Goon, because I have never read a comic with the character in it before. So with that being said, the question for today’s review is whether this first issue is an easy place for new readers to start with the character (and whether it’s actually any good).

I won’t make you wait for an answer to that, because the comic didn’t leave me feeling utterly lost, which in turn meant I quite enjoyed the supernatural aspect of the story (which came as a bit of a surprise to me, I’ve gotta say).

Written and drawn by Eric Powell, who also contributed to the colouring of the book along with Rachael Cohen, The Goon #1 tells a very atmospheric story in a world that feels as though there’s a rich history – but that never relies on new readers knowing that history. Previous events are referred to in passing which helps in fleshing out the characters relationships, but also serves as a way to recap or give readers an idea to what the Goon has been up to – and for how long he’s been away.

The story is almost a standalone comic, with an almost complete tale being told in the first issue that has a strangely satisfying conclusion as the Goon reestablishes himself in the Town With No Name. It’s darkly funny at times, eliciting genuine chuckles from your humble reviewer at the visual and verbal comedy. But it’s the deeply atmospheric art where the comic shines; or rather doesn’t shine, but excels. Powell and Cohen have produced a comic that feels at once like a visual representation of the depression era (although I don’t know when the tale is set, based on the costumes and colouring I felt it was very likely a depression-era story), with the odd splash of colour temporarily brightening the page, or used to highlight certain things.

I don’t know what I expected when coming into The Goon #1 but it certainly wasn’t this – I loved the supernatural tinged depression era story that never once left me feeling as though I was jumping into a story 20 years in the making with no idea of who the Goon is (although I totally am). The Goon #1 is the kind of comic you can read without any preconceived notions, nor any need to worry about understanding the rules of the universe – it’s fun, entertaining, and offers the reader a great example of good comics.

Writer: Eric Powell Art: Eric Powell
Colours: Rachael Cohen and Eric Powell
Story: 8.1 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: The Goon #1

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The Goon #1

(W) Eric Powell (A/CA) Eric Powell
In Shops: Mar 13, 2019
SRP: $3.99

The next era in the legacy of The Goon starts here! This all new series marks The Goon’s return to Albatross Funnybooks and is just in time to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the book. Eric Powell takes the series to its humor-based roots as Goon & Franky return from strange adventures abroad to find a horde of unsavory characters have filled the void left in his absence from Lonely Street.

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