dark fantasy

I consider myself to be a moral person. I despise causing others pain. It makes me sick to watch cruelty. Human suffering makes me ache. As a matter of fact, I generally dislike comic books. So, what, you may ask, am I doing giving this particularly violent comic book five stars? Read the book and you will understand. It is at times quite hilarious, at others quite depressing. It has complexities of character and meaning that are rarely (if ever) seen anywhere else in today's pop culture. Johnny is insane. He knows it, the author knows it, and don't worry, the reader knows it too (if not, the author has recommended to such readers that they spend the rest of eternity pondering their own stupidity). He kills out of pure malice for the human race. He kills to savor moments of levity. He kills for reasons that are beyond his understanding. One would think he'd make a nice villain. Yet it is difficult not to pity him. He is the anti-hero of the story. This sad character has been tortured by the demons of society and by the demons of his mind. He is the grimy buildup of society's ills. He is the creation of cruelty. Perhaps in a better world, he could very well have been a bright, intelligent young man, as the author once said. Unfortunately, Johnny lacks the coping skills to have made this possible. Perhaps one of the most disturbing things is that the reader finds his or herself so able to relate to this psychotic killer. I found this book extremely provacative and incredibly enjoyable. Chicken Soup for the Soul, it ain't. One could relate it more easily to The Jungle. I would recommend this to any mature person with an open mind, a sense of humor, and a strong stomach.

First of all, I hate comics. I've always found they don't seem like real stories, not to metion the usually immature story lines. So, when I heard about JTHM through the internet, I had to find out more. I ordered Squee's Wonderful Big Giant Book and Director's Cut and I was extremley pleased with both. But, since I hadn't read the actual comics (and believe me, I tried finding them), I didn't miss out. I emailed some webmasters and found that Director's Cut had all the Nny comics and Happy Noodle Boy. If you're worried about missing out on the mean-whiles, then don't worry; Squee's has them all. The ONLY thing you'll miss out on is the great cover art (the covers are in small black and white pictures at the back). Plus, by ordering these, you get commentary by Jhonen and the history of the comics.

Now, if you're worried about the graphicness of the books, do not fret. It's surprisingly funny. While Nny is obviously insane, you'll love him the moment he kills his first victim. Really. Plus, Jhonen has created a very smart character. This book really got me thinking. And the pictures are enough to make you laugh with Nny's expressions. If you still can't decide whether to order, just go ahead. I poured through these in 3 days and I still go back and find them great.

Where can you find an intelligent and witty glimpse into the sickened, insane, cold-blooded mind of a habitual killer? Right here with Johnny, The Homicidal Manic.

This is clearly a graphical novel for adults only (read the title, parents!), JTHM is a bloody and savage treat to the warped followers of horror and horror satire. If you ever laughed when the Road Runner dropped the Coyote off a cliff and turned him into an accordion, then you should find a chuckle or two in Vasquez's humorous look at homicidal mania.

The cartoons are brutally savage and yet excruciatingly funny, but don't worry because they are all done in black and white so the gore is not as intense as it could have been. Interspersed with Vasquez's storyline are tiny text boxes that cement the fact that this is a satire with such thoughtful comments as how the scene was filmed (its a picture), and cautionary remarks like "Parents: Don't get upset - It's a fake brain." and "Stupid People: I would ask you to keep in mind that this should *not* be a source of moral guidance." and "Kids, don't be stupid and try this: this is a trained flying toddler."

Hilarious little blurbs like these are also accompanied by Noodle Boy breaks. Happy Noodle Boy is the comic strip that Johnny writes, the second (and worse) cartoon within a cartoon, along the lines of "Itchy & Scratchy" to The Simpsons and "Terrance & Phillip" to South Park.

You will indulge your darker half with the intelligent debates between Johnny and his victims, see a gruesome Public Service Announcement, discover that God is a fat baby in a lounge chair and that the devil is a cheerleader. The dialogue is clever, the drawings hilarious, the storyline amusing, and the satire thick and twisted. Everything a horror fan could want in a graphic book.

The cells are quite busy, but take your time reading this dripping black jewel; you don't want to miss the extras thrown into each frame. Also take note of those chapters with scrolled or fancy looking borders. Hidden within the borders are messages such as "I like Ramen" and "Are you awake?" and "I am no potato."

As a finisher to this tasty meal, a dessert of early sketches is presented, along with character boards for Johnny, Nailbunny, Mr. Eff, Psycho Doughboy, Devi D., Tess R., Anne Gwish, and Squee. (who later gets his very own book!)

Completely rounding out our meal, Vasquez also included commentaries on the issues that JTHM was originally released in, and a hysterical interview he wrote by himself...with himself.

The wit and barbs just fly across these pages, and though the humor is indeed dark and intended for horror fans, I think you will be surprised at finding it is humor with intelligence behind it. I deeply enjoyed JTHM, I hope you do too.