Book Review: " Johnny The Homicidal Maniac"

[Mega_Zarak]

As one who thoroughly enjoyed the Invader Zim television series, I had high expectations for this comic by Jhonen Vasquez. Unfortunately that did not come to be. " Johnny the Homicidal Maniac" was a disappointment page after page. In the beginning, Johnny is being interviewed by a news reporter who is doing a story on the gruesome killings in the city, for which Johnny is all responsible for. Reading the dark metaphorical bullshit answers Johnny gave to the reporter just before killing him alerted me right away that this was a "goth" book. Now, I hate goths, all of them, but I tried to push that aside so I would not be biased in this review. However, that could not last. Because only a few pages later I saw a filler comic of a stick figure called "Happy Noodle Boy". All this character does is jump around like and idiot and scream vulgar language and random nonsense that could never make sense in any era of time, past, present, or future. I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with this too much, but "Happy Noodle Boy" pops up every 10 pages or so. Also, I noticed this book attempts to make satirical jokes on society. However, the jokes are made on society from the point of view of a goth, so it's an extremely twisted view. Apparently in Jhonen's world, if you have a social life, you're a jerk and an idiot. I can't imagine how this became popular. Because noone can really identify with the main character. He kills people at random and has no reason for it other than painting his wall with blood. He even admits to himself and his talking styrofoam doughboys (possessed by demons, apparently), that he doesn't know why he kills or why he hasn't been caught yet. Later on, you find out why he paints his wall with blood. Apparently the blood keeps "something" from getting out. Typical serial killer nonsense. But not in Jhonen's world. No, as it happens, there actually is something there, which is basically a mass of tentacles with mouthes...Jhonen, taking too many pointers from Lovecraft.......or watching too much Japanese Porn. The main problem is the fact that "Johnny" has nothing to do with reality. Also, no person in their right mind could find anything redeemable about Johnny. I hated him from beginning to end.....Same as the entire book.. Well, I admit, the book does have it's moments......about two.... All in all, it's really not worth anyone's time.

Rating: * of *****

[GIRLY SARG.]

Personally I love Johnen. I like the way that he portrays Johnny, and I absolutly love Happy Noodle Boy. I am not a goth though. There really isn't sapose to be a reason for Johnny killing people other then that people are stupid and some times you just wish you could kill that certain person. In the mind of "NNY" this is just about everybody on the earth. I would have to say though it does take a certain amount of warpedness, not a real word I know but still, to find this comic humorus and ammusing. Now as for Happy Noodle Boy, that is just funny. Have you never stood out in the middle of the street saying random things before? It's quite funny to see the reactions of people. But this is just my opinion and I respect your opinion as well.

[Mega_Zarak]

Personally I love Johnen. I like the way that he portrays Johnny, and I absolutly love Happy Noodle Boy. I am not a goth though. There really isn't sapose to be a reason for Johnny killing people other then that people are stupid and some times you just wish you could kill that certain person. In the mind of "NNY" this is just about everybody on the earth. I would have to say though it does take a certain amount of warpedness, not a real word I know but still, to find this comic humorus and ammusing. Now as for Happy Noodle Boy, that is just funny. Have you never stood out in the middle of the street saying random things before? It's quite funny to see the reactions of people. But this is just my opinion and I respect your opinion as well.

I could understand on the level of enjoyment if you were say, a person that sometimes gets pissed off by others to the point that you want to kill them, but can't because of legal and moral issues, and the book is entertaining and in a small way, an outlet to your frustration. But in no way, no matter how many ways I try to think about it, can I understand WHY you like Happy Noodle boy

[TaiMaiShu]

Dude That Book Is So Funny

[ROFLCopter]

Its my bible

[GIRLY SARG.]

Happy noodle Boy = the random shouting of nothing impotant at people you really dont give two shit's pince about. I don't see how you could not enjoy it. I love going to the mall and saying random things to people. Hell me and my friends one time went into an Abercrombie store, we got kicked out the day before for throwing clothes around, and started following people talking about how we liked drive go carts in the river of doom surrounded by flying gopher monkies from space. It's just funny is all, is what I'm trying to say, but some poepl don't find humor in a bunch of high school girls dressed "differntly" and folowing them around the store talking to them about non sense.

[Mega_Zarak]

And my point is proven...

[CraftCreator]

I love everything by Mr.Vasquez. he has inspired me to get up and go for a publisher. If you don't like his work, then fine, but geez! just because you don't find the work appealing doesn't mean that no one else does and has something bad to day about it. people don't always read a book for a realation to themselves, perhaps they would find it entertaining? and also, the term "goth" is throughly misued, as it's past happened to be a Euorpean tribe of "savages".