Criminal Macabre/The Goon: When Freaks Collide #1

   When a gang war between vampires and werewolves erupts in old Chicago, the two factions call in some big time help. 

   Enter The Goon and his sidekick, Franky.  

   Enter PI Cal McDonald and his ghoul partner, Mo'lock.

   Stuck in a dimension in-between Cal and the Goon's two worlds, our heroes will meet in typical comic book: first they'll battle, then figure out what's really going on, and finally kick some major butt. But this wasn't any typical crossover/ team-up because when you have Steve Niles and Eric Powell put together in the same project, the results are gonna be anything but typical. 

    A really fun story that ended way too soon. I wish this was a 2 or 3-parter- especially with that twist ending!

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   

The Goon, Volume 14: Occasion of Revenge

 

    The cadre of Zombie Priests finally arrives in town after months of anticipation. The Goon and Franky have prepared for this and have a few tricks up their sleeves. But nothing will prepare the Goon for the trap the Priests have spent decades setting up.

     Occasion of Revenge is the first miniseries by Goon creator Eric Powell after the cancellation of the regular series. Shipping delays and other obligations lead Powell to focus on Goon universe a few issues at a time as opposed to a monthly series. Thankfully, this isn't the last Goon miniseries.

   What this story is, is dark. It's perhaps the darkest Goon storyline to date. The Goon's gang is put through the wringer here and by volume's end, the Goon and his allies will never be the same.

    Adding to the darkness is a secondary storyline involving a jilted lover who commits suicide. His pain and suffering are so great, the lover returns from the grave to haunt the woman who stole and broke his heart. This pair has an important connection to the zombie priests but just what is that tie that binds is is left for another volume to explore.

    Powell continues to produce quality stories with beautifully crafted artwork. His timeless style that incorporates film noir, pin-ups girls, and 1950s B-movies is unparalleled and it continues to amaze me. However, there's some pretty dark and foreboding stuff going on in this volume that kept it from being my favorite Goon volume. There are quite a few funny moments, mostly involving Franky. Yet, it's not enough for my tastes. 

     I prefer the funny and often zany Goon stories to the most somber ones such as Occasion of Revenge. I have a feeling that volume 15 isn't going to be a picnic either. Hopefully, the conflict with the cabal of zombie priests will conclude soon in order for the master of black comedy to truly return the Goon to his original roots.
   
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 13: For Want of Whiskey & Blood

  

I had waited a long time for the next volume of the Goon to pop up at my local library. Too long! But sadly, my wait wasn't quite worth it.

The volume started off really well. The Goon fights some monsters, performs some seedy shenanigans (like rigging a boxing match), and faces off with the Zombie Priest. Then the legendary Billy the Kid (now an old man) comes to town, leading a travelling show of oddities. One of the oddities, a petrified toddler, bears an ancient curse in which if it's not feed a special blend of mother's milk and goat's blood every Halloween, it will spell doom for those involved. Low and behold, it just happens to be All Hallow's Eve and baby hasn't had his bottle.

 But then the book went south. Literally. When the Goon and Franky go down Mexico way, they look to sell some cheap booze hidden in some cheap clocks. But the goods have all been consumed by that pint-sized Godzilla, El Hombre Lagarto.

    Lagarto is funny but in small doses. See he speaks only Spanish and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that I cannot for the life of me speak or read any Spanish that isn't food related. Lord knows I've tried. Eric Powell never interprets what this lizard has to say. I could sometimes figure out what Lagarto was communicating through Goon and Franky's responses, but it was hit and miss at times.  I'm sure it's hilarious, but it's like an inside joke that everybody but myself knows and I don't like being held in the dark.

   If ever a story needed subtitles this was it. (It's also why I hate the movie 'Stargate.")

Lastly, there's a reprint of a one-shot titled Goon: One For the Road. It was a tribute to the work of Jack Davis of EC Comics and MAD Magazine fame. The story involves a sailor on leave searching for his lost buddy before their passes expire. The Goon knows that the perfect place to find a seaman in at one of the endless bars in town. As Goon, Franky, and the sailor go on an epic bar crawl they are meet with insanity after insanity. There were some really funny moments here, but it just wasn't a classic Goon story to me. I'm all for homages but sometimes less is more.

   Hopefully, volume 14 will be a return to the insanity that is Franky and the Goon. And written in a language I can understand (Note to Mr. Powell- I took French in college!)

Worth Consuming

  Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 12: Them That Raised Us Lament

Volume 12 marks the last volume currently available at my local library. This chapter begins with another chapter in the Goon’s origin as we learn just how Aunt Kizzie ended up a circus strong lady and the ward of the Goon. Then in perhaps the most bizarre, as well as most preachy chapter in the series, creator Eric Powell imagines what Goon would’ve been like if he was a superhero. Just about every trend, art style, and cliché in the comics medium is explored, no exploited, here.

Finally in a tribute of sorts to the Prohibition era and the Dukes of Hazzard, Goon and Franky create a hot rod in hopes of transporting hooch and run afoul of a rival family of deranged bootleggers. It’s classic Goon, but a little creepy with its depiction of a soul stealing demon.

This issue is full of tributes, from Powell’s grandmother and mother, as well as the golden age of comics and organized crime. I enjoyed most of it. However, the bootlegger story dealt with demonic possession and soul selling and that stuff just isn’t my cup of tea.

Worth Consuming. 

Rating 7 out of 10 stars

The Goon #10 (Holiday 2013 Theme)

I’ve been saving this issue for about 6 months. It’s Dickens’ A Christmas Carol starring the Goon. This irreverent looking at the holiday classic is fun! The Zombie Priest plays Scrooge and he gets the crap literally beat out of him.

This isn’t a tale for all-ages. There’s some sick stuff in here. But, there’s also a bunch of classic Goon humor. Eric Powell’s art is nothing to snort at either. I really enjoyed this tale and if you are a fan of Eric Powell, the Goon, the absurd, or gross humor, then this is the Christmas special you’ve been waiting for.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Holiday atmosphere rating: 10 out of 10 jingle bells.

The Goon Volume 11: The Deformed of Body and Devious of Mind

This is perhaps the most unique offering in the Goon series. First, there’s a tribute to those who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of the early 1900s in a 2-part tale that sees the Goon coming to the aid of the oppressed union man, as well as the rise of Zombie Priest from his defeat in aftermath of the Return of Labrazio trilogy. 

  Then the Goon meets a real-life celebrity when the reigning queen of burlesque, Roxi Dlite, comes to town and steals more than just Franky’s heart. Then the Goon and Franky go on a much needed vacation but end up fighting a tribe of wild hoboes that have made off with the duo’s wieners. (Get your mind outta the gutter, I’m talkin’ frankfurters here.)

The Goon has made a much needed return to the goofy yuks and bizarre storylines than make the series such a pleasure to read. The art continues to be amazing and the test sketches of Dlite are really good “art exhibit” quality pieces.

A favorite chapter of mine of this classic series that continues to blow my mind.

Worth Consuming. 

Rating 10 stars out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 10: Death's Greedy Comeuppance

Now that the Return of Labrazio Trilogy has been completed, it’s time for the Goon to heal and recover from the emotional blows levied on him in volume 9’s climax. So, Franky throws the Goon a big birthday celebration bash. The fact that this issue marks the 10th Anniversary of the series is no coincidence. It’s full of the zany, madcap humor that drew me to this series so many years ago. Those unholy bastards of the local library and their pet werewolf/ boy are the story’s scene stealers.

The final three acts of this volume focus on Buzzard in a min-series of the same name. After the Zombie Priest reveals that the Buzzard can no longer return to human, the man some call “Death” wanders a distant waste land in hopes of ending his miserable life. However, when he stumbles across a small desert town ravaged by a dark god feasting on its residents, the Buzzard has a final chance for either eternal rest or long overdue redemption. This mini is very dark, but it’s extremely good. Plus, for a character like the damned Buzzard, anything sort of a passing joke about death or misery wouldn’t be appropriate.

Overall, a very good volume of the classic series called The Goon.

Rating 10 out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 9: Calamity Of Conscience

The final chapter of the Return of Labrazio trilogy is full of action and is an emotional roller coaster. There’s some relief when it is revealed that some of the characters “killed” in volume 8 were just injured badly. There’s humor, like when the orphans in Goon’s gang infiltrate the Harpies’ burlesque house, disguised as an adult. Their idea of how a gentleman speaks in one of those places is hilarious. Then there is excitement as Buzzard finally gets one over the Zombie Priest, but he might not like all the answers he finds to his questions as to just who Buzzard really is. Then there is sadness when the Goon beats the hell outta a poor mule. The look of pain and despair on that poor creature is heartbreaking. Lastly, there is tragedy. Now I saw this coming a mile away. Ok- I figured in out in volume 6 (Mystery of Mr. Wicker.) But I had forgotten about it till now and I was still shocked when everything ended the way it did in the Labrazio/ Goon war.

The best chapter of the Return of Labrazio trilogy. Powell is a master force and one of my all-time favorites. He has such a way to draw the reader in. How else could I feel such empathy for a mule that doesn’t exist in reality? If Powell can makes me feel so deeply for such a poor creature, imagine how brilliant he is with his cast of regular characters. If you are not reading The Goon- you are definitely missing out!

Worth Consuming

Rating 10 out of 10 stars.

The Goon Volume 8: Those That is Damned

Volume 8 is a time to say good-bye to some of your favorite characters because the war between Labrazio’s mafia of the dead and the Goon’s army is heating up and no one is safe. In this second chapter of the Return of Labrazio trilogy, while the war goes on, the Zombie Priest has been kidnapped by Buzzard in hopes of finding a way to stop the blight of mutating zombies that Labrazio seems to have mastered.

A very jarring volume. There are some great moments, particularly involving the Unholy Bastards, a group of orphans who happen to have a pet dog that turns out to be a child werewolf. More often than not, the werewolf boy is seen in human form with a collar and misunderstood hillbilly affability.

It’s classic Eric Powell in this volume. However, with several key deaths, there’s a lot of sadness. Not my favorite of the series, but still very well done.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

The Goon, Volume 7: A Place of Heartache and Grief

Volume seven of the Goon series opens with some old foes rearing their ugly heads. Those twin dominatrix with a perpencity to turn into vultures, the Harpies, are back! They've taken up residence in the local burlesque house and are giving Goon and his diminutive sidekick Franky fits.

  We also learn more about the origin of the Zombie priest when Buzzard goes in search for his true name and an old "ally" of the Priest's arrives with a warning- either the Zombie Priest conquers the Goon's cursed city or an even worse horror will take it for him.

  The shock ending is freakin' A top notch. I had to pick my jaw up from the floor.

 After the really poor showing of volume 6, this volume saw Eric Powell returning to the Goon's roots. Some very darkly funny moments here with fantastic art and just an all-around great story.
 
Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Goon: Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker (Volume 6)

Eric Powell's The Goon is known for it's dark humor. There's tragedy, true. But, it's not known for being somber. Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker is a tale that connects a new player for the Goon's turf with the earliest days of the Goon's term as Labrazio's main henchman. This chapter also merges lady troubles the Goon is having currently with a singer at his favorite saloon with the backstory of the first woman the mobster ever loved.
  But, gee is this story a downer. There's very little humor and tons of heart break. The art continues to stun and I really liked learning more about the Goon's origin, particularly how he got his trademark facial scar. Yet, I'm missing the morbid jokes and obscene visual humor. I've not given up on this series. I have the distinct feeling what happens in this stand alone tale will have major implications to what happens in the Goon main series. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come and a change in story quality.
   Not my favorite, but was still worth consuming if only for it's revelations and ramifications for future storylines.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 4: Virtrue and the Grim Consequences Thereof

When Dr. Alloy comes to the Goon and his sidekick Franky for help, the universe may never be the same. The virtuous act of bravery by the Goon results in an evil transformation of Alloy and both the Dr. and Goon being incarcerated.

   The art of Eric Powell is a beautiful mixture of gritty film noir and zany pre-WWII cartoon. I loved every page. The only thing I had trouble with was understanding what Alloy's human/ iguana hybrid is saying. I don't understand a like of Spanish and some subtitles were greatly needed.

  I'm totally hooked on Goon. And if I every find a t-shirt with an image of Dr. Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn, I'm buying 3 of 'em. (Hint, Hint Dark Horse Comics!)

Worth Consuming.