Johnny the Homocidal Maniac - by Arislyn on 09:56 04 Nov 2003
Recently, I re-read all my Johnny the Homocidal Maniac comics. I thought I would put a blurb here since there may be others out there who would enjoy the sort of humor that JtHM displays.
First off...JtHM is not for the squeamish. Though the artwork is comparable to what you saw in Invader Zim (not surprising since Zim and JtHM are both the children of creator Jhonen Vasquez), you will find very little here that would appeal to a child. Much of what is depicted is graphically violent and deals with Johnny's hatred of people, in general. Despite that, though, I (and many others I've talked to) find myself laughing aloud at much of what is said and done. It's all so darkly ridiculous that you can't help but chuckle in the face of it all. The humor is black enough, though, that some may not see the funny side to it at all.
Much of the appeal comes from the little side notes and backgrounds, things that many people pay little attention to. For instance, at one point Johhny is at a convenience store buying chips. On the bag he holds is a mascot, Senor Salsa, who proudly proclaims "You will pee fire!". It's so...absurd...in conjunction with what happens next that there is no helping the laughter.
There are also tiny vignettes (sp?) in between with bit players that have me rolling. You have the ever lovable Wobbly Headed Bob, a creature so overcome with his own towering intellect that he can hardly bear the suffering his knowledge brings to himself....especially when he looks upon the poor, stupid people who can never understand all that he must bear upon his wise, wise shoulders.
My personal favorite, though, is Happy Noodle Boy. HNB is pretty much a lunatic stick-man. He shouts vehement non-sense at the world at large and usually ends up dead at some point, only to be brought back as only cartoon stick figures can to, once again, shout at the world.
If you like dark comedy, I definitely recommend picking up JtHM.
Recently, I re-read all my Johnny the Homocidal Maniac comics. I thought I would put a blurb here since there may be others out there who would enjoy the sort of humor that JtHM displays.
First off...JtHM is not for the squeamish. Though the artwork is comparable to what you saw in Invader Zim (not surprising since Zim and JtHM are both the children of creator Jhonen Vasquez), you will find very little here that would appeal to a child. Much of what is depicted is graphically violent and deals with Johnny's hatred of people, in general. Despite that, though, I (and many others I've talked to) find myself laughing aloud at much of what is said and done. It's all so darkly ridiculous that you can't help but chuckle in the face of it all. The humor is black enough, though, that some may not see the funny side to it at all.
Much of the appeal comes from the little side notes and backgrounds, things that many people pay little attention to. For instance, at one point Johhny is at a convenience store buying chips. On the bag he holds is a mascot, Senor Salsa, who proudly proclaims "You will pee fire!". It's so...absurd...in conjunction with what happens next that there is no helping the laughter.
There are also tiny vignettes (sp?) in between with bit players that have me rolling. You have the ever lovable Wobbly Headed Bob, a creature so overcome with his own towering intellect that he can hardly bear the suffering his knowledge brings to himself....especially when he looks upon the poor, stupid people who can never understand all that he must bear upon his wise, wise shoulders.
My personal favorite, though, is Happy Noodle Boy. HNB is pretty much a lunatic stick-man. He shouts vehement non-sense at the world at large and usually ends up dead at some point, only to be brought back as only cartoon stick figures can to, once again, shout at the world.
If you like dark comedy, I definitely recommend picking up JtHM.