The Goon: One for the Road
Written by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Cover by Jack Davis
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 25, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50

I should start by saying that I am unfamiliar with Eric Powell’s long-running series The Goon. That said, once I finished the one-shot One for the Road, I’m determined that I will quickly be remedying that oversight in my collection.

One for the Road was created as a tribute to long-time cartoonist Jack Davis. Davis, one of the founders of Mad Magazine, did the cover art for this book. The book itself is a fitting tribute. Jack Davis and Mad Magazine were hugely influential for many artists and comedians (and writers like yours truly), so it was a joy to read something that perfectly captured the spirit of Davis’ work.

Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities
Vol. 3: The Orm of Loch Ness
Trade Paperback
Written by Eric Powell and Kyle Hotz
Illustrated by Kyle Hotz
Colored by Dan Brown
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Kyle Hotz and Dan Brown
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $15.99

The twisted minds of Eric Powell (The Goon) and Kyle Hotz (Evil Ernie) have crafted a new tale of adventure starring their gruff and salty western hero in Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities and the Orm of Loch Ness, the third volume in this brain-bending series from Dark Horse Comics.

Without even cracking the cover, and whether or not you’re familiar with the earlier books in the series, the title alone implies that you’re in for a wild (and strange) ride alongside one eccentric cowboy. Let go of any hold you have on reality right there at page one and let Powell and Hotz sweep you into their bizarre alternate history in which Billy the Kid works as a hired gun to protect a traveling freak show. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed that you did.

It’s just as the title says, David Fincher needs your help to get the necessary finances to jumpstart a long-gestating adaptation of the hilarious comic book The Goon (see our recent review of The Goon #42). The sole concept trailer has shown that the project has a lot of potential, mixing action, comedy, horror, and animation into one film. But the film adaptation of The Goon is barely treading water, and as it tries to keep itself alive, Fincher is asking for your help. The filmmaker has launched a Kickstarter project as a way to reach out to the masses in hopes that they can help finance a story reel.

Fincher has even teamed up with the people over at Blur Studios to create a small video that reaches out to all demographics. Hit the jump to see how you can donate and to watch the video as well.

The Goon #42
Written by Eric Powell, Tom Sniegoski
Art by Eric Powell, Mark Buckingham
Colors by Bill Farmer, Eric Powell
Letters by Mate Piekos
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

How in the hell have I been missing out on The Goon for so long?! I was just recently introduced to Eric Powell’s excellent series and I was floored by this amazing throwback horror comic with a dark sense of humor.

The comic takes place in an alternate Depression-era setting where monsters lurk around every corner just looking to get the jump on the Goon and his partner in crime, Franky. The Goon is a thug who’d fit right in with Batman’s rogue’s gallery. Only here there’s no Batman and the Goon will gleefully stomp a mudhole through whatever goblin crosses his path. This makes him a hero of sorts, but only because in a world brimming with demons, he’s the lesser evil.

Each and every week “Phoenix Barbarian” MK2Fac3 and “Bulldog Barbarian” Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible… theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of April 25, 2012. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

Nothing means nothing. Nothing means nothing, man. No more, I’m talking about all the way to the top, yeah. I’m justifiably in a position that I’d rather not be in, I’m in a position to tell all you readers, yeah, that there are a whole lot of comics coming out this week, yeah, and every comic site has their say. But the cream will rise to THE TOP, oh yeah, GoD Madness has got more to offer in the way of great comics, yeah, than any of those other comic sites think we have. Now, the card’s stacked against every book that we pick this week, yeah, but let me say it, let me say it OUT LOUD that MK2Fac3 and Henchman21 are not happy with your decision to not buy all of these books that we suggest, yeah. WE ARE THE CREAM in weekly comics suggestions and there is no doubt about it, yeah. You, dear reader, you know that The GoD List is the CREAM OF THE CROP!

The Goon #39
Created by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 25, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

Eric Powell is unhappy with Marvel and DC. In fact, he is so annoyed by mainstream superhero comics that he wrote an entire issue about it. The Goon #39 seems to be the culmination of all of Powell’s frustrations with hero comics and the comics industry in general. This issue is a deconstruction of everything that Powell feels is wrong with mainstream publisher’s marketing techniques. Goon takes a break from cracking zombie skulls for an issue, and instead takes down the The Big Two. Powell attempts to bring every irritating thing about mainstream comics to light in this issue. The problem with this is, when you swing at every slow pitch, you are bound to miss a few.

The Goon #38
Written by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Just when I thought I had Eric Powell pegged as a comic creator who could not tackle serious content, he turns around and puts out The Goon #38. Goon doesn’t make an appearance in this issue, but surprisingly the comic works well without him. Issue 38 is a stand-alone issue that tells the story of Goon’s Aunt Kizzie and her troubled past. Powell sets aside the head cracking and knife in eye jokes for an issue of The Goon with surprising amounts of depth and emotion.

Each and (almost) every week “Mr. Fifth Di-WTF is he talking about-mension” MK2Fac3 and “Mr. I’m Too Pretty For Formatting” Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible… theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of January 4, 2012. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

Happy New Year, lads and lasses! In just a short amount of days, I’ll be sailing the seven seas, but let’s catch up for a moment. How did you spend your New Year’s Eve and Day? Did you eat your good luck charms? Did you spend the holidays drunk and hungover? That’s neat. I spent mine laying in bed with an illness that can only be described as velociraptor-esque. But I can tell you one thing, I cracked the code of the fifth dimension. It’s simple, you see. Because the fifth dimension is what determines our very existence. It’s all based on words. Words define our lives because without language and words, we would not be able to communicate. Well, maybe we could through art? Who knows, I was running a fever and hallucinating. Either way, though, comics consist of both art and words, so it’s the perfect medium! You know what I’m saying? GoD List. Baller cakes.

The Goon #36
Created by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: November 2, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

It feels like The Goon creator Eric Powell is always walking a thin line. Powell is straddling an edge where on one side there are storylines and dialogue that are so insanely ridiculous that no one in their right mind would find them readable. On the other side of this line is harmless, by the book comic writing, there’s action, there’s gags, and there’s beautiful women wearing next to nothing. In The Goon #36 Powell finds himself directly between these two points. With the pure madness and clever writing of The Goon #36, Powell proves he does not need Goon and Franky beating the tar our of some poor soul to make a compelling book, but worry not, there’s still plenty of the rough stuff.

Eric Powell, creator of beloved comic book series The Goon tweeted a bit of interesting news Tuesday night when he linked new test footage from the film adaptation of his comic book series, which you can watch here below.

The Goon is voiced by fan favorite Clancy Brown and his little pal Franky is being voiced by Paul Giamatti in this rough test. It is important to note that this is not in any way final look at how the film will be. It’s simply test footage that gives a look and feel for how the movie will be. It’s made like a commercial and is utterly hilarious, so my excitement for the film has raised indefinitely.

The Goon is created by Eric Powell, creator of the Dark Horse series, and the film will be produced by David Fincher, and released through Blur Studios.