Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut by Jhonen Vásquez Published by Slave Labor Graphics on July 15th 1997
Pages: 168
Goodreads
4.5 Nuts
90’s kids may know the name Jhonen Vasquez as the creator of the strange and screwed up show Invader Zim but he is also the brain behind a couple of comics that are just as strange as they are dark. Fans of IZ episodes like Dark Harvest, or the show in general, will not be surprised to see a comic like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac to come out of the mind of a guy like Jhonen.
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is just what it sounds like: a comic about a twisted serial killer with a hilarious tone. He waxes poetic about the meaning of like while mutilating his victims in bizarre ways, talks to dough boys who don’t exist, and generally carries on like a lunatic.
This is not the comic for the easily offended. Johnny or NNY is irreverent and disturbed but the whole comic has a twisted comedic tone blended with gore. The art is just about as screwed up as the premise, though has shades of the popular Invader Zim without the polish.
These comics also feature Squee, a child character who has his own comic series on the side (maybe I’ll talk about tat another time), and filler bunny: the strange and random in between bits that pop in throughout the set.
This series is really for older teens and adults just based on the themes and language. Still, I read it first in my freshman year of high school and absolutely adored it. My opinions have not changed.
This comic is for those with a dark, irreverent sense of humor who will not be offended or grossed out by what is frankly some really fucked up story.
Highly recommended.
What do you think of Johnny? Share your thoughts in the comments.
From my shelf to yours,
Erin
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