The Goon

For the former WWF wrestler, see Bill Irwin (wrestler). For the 2011 movie, see Goon (film).
The Goon

Cover of The Goon: For Want of Whiskey and Blood (October 2014)
Publication information
Publisher Avatar Press
Albatross Exploding Funny Books
Dark Horse Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication date March 1999 – present
Number of issues 50
Creative team
Creator(s) Eric Powell

The Goon is a comic book series written and drawn by Eric Powell (with colors often by Dave Stewart, Eric or Eric's brother, Robin). The series mixes both a comical and violent atmosphere with a supernatural slant, which pit the titular character against undead creatures/zombies, ghosts, ghouls, mutants, skunk-apes with an unnatural hunger for pies, giant squids, mob/gang leaders, extra-dimensional aliens, mad scientists and robots.

Publication history

An early prototype of The Goon was first published in 1995, in a book called Best Cellars #1 from Out of the Cellar Comics. This prototype was called Monster Boy, and the story was written and illustrated by Eric Powell.[1][2]

The Goon debuted in Dreamwalker #0 (March 1998, Avatar Press) in a 4-page Preview, which is the true first appearance of the character (later reprinted as the third story in the Goon #1). Powell was unhappy with the quality of the Avatar Press comics after just 3 issues, so he stopped handing in new material and waited for his contract to expire. Once that happened, he was unable to find another publisher, so he moved into self-publishing in 2002 with Albatross Exploding Funny Books. These self-published issues caught the eye of Dark Horse Comics, which approached Powell by telling him that they didn't know why they passed on the book, and in 2003 publication of The Goon moved to Dark Horse.[3]

The book also received a release that would never be reprinted in trade format, Satan's Sodomy Baby.

After Dark Horse Comics published issue #18, The Goon went on hiatus to allow Eric Powell to work on Chinatown, a graphic novel which tells more of the Goon's back story. The series returned with issue #19 on July 11, 2007.

On July 22, 2009 a one-shot comic was released titled Dethklok vs. The Goon. Both Eric Powell and Brendon Small co-wrote the comic.

On July 20, 2011 another one-shot comic was released titled "When Freaks Collide". It was a collaboration between the Criminal Macabre comic series and The Goon by Steve Niles, Christopher Mitten, and Eric Powell.[4]

Issues

† denotes an Avatar Press publication
‡ denotes an Albatross Exploding Funny Books publication (self-published by Eric Powell)

Issue/Title Date Writer Art Colors Cover Collection
#1 March 1, 1999 Eric Powell Dark Horse collection colors by
Dave Stewart
Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 0:
Rough Stuff
#2 May 1, 1999
#3 July 1, 1999
Color Special #1 July 1, 2002 Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 1:
Nothin' But Misery
#1 October 1, 2002 Eric Powell Eric Powell
and Robin Powell
Eric Powell
#2 November 1, 2002
#3 December 1, 2002
#4 April 1, 2003
#1 June 18, 2003 Eric Powell Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
and Barry Gregory
Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 2:
My Murderous Childhood
(and Other Grievous Yarns)
#2 August 20, 2003
The Goon Meets
the Brothers Mud

(from Drawing on Your
Nightmares,
a Dark Horse
Halloween anthology)
September 10, 2003 Eric Powell
#3 October 22, 2003 Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
Shaynne Corbett
and Barry Gregory
Eric Powell
#4 December 17, 2003 Eric Powell Part 1: Eric Powell
Part 2: Kyle Hotz
Eric Powell
with Robin Powell (Part 1 only)
#5 February 18, 2004 Eric Powell Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
Shaynne Corbett
and Barry Gregory
Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 3:
Heaps of Ruination
#6 April 21, 2004
#7 June 23, 2004 Eric Powell

Framing Sequence
Mike Mignola
Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
Ben Cocke
and Barry Gregory

Framing Sequence
Dave Stewart
Mike Mignola
#8 August 18, 2004 Eric Powell Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
Shaynne Corbett
and Barry Gregory
Eric Powell
#9 October 20, 2004 Eric Powell Robin Powell
and Eric Powell
Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 4:
Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof
Atomic Rage
Eric Powell Eric Wight
#10 December 22, 2004 Eric Powell Eric Powell Eric Powell
with Robin Powell
Jimmy Turtle and the Legendary
Boxcar of Well-Made Ladies' Shoes
Thomas Lennon
#11 March 30, 2005 Eric Powell
#12 May 18, 2005
#13 July 20, 2005
#14 September 21, 2005 Nameless Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 5:
Wicked Inclinations
Eric Powell
Under the Sink
Eric Powell Neil Vokes Eric Powell
Equine Twine
Tony Shasteen
¡El Hombre del Lagarto el Diablo de Pantano!
Eric Powell Kyle Hotz Eric Powell
#15 December 21, 2005 Eric Powell
#16 February 15, 2006 Eric Powell

Spike
Thomas Sniegoski
Eric Powell

Spike
Michael Avon Oeming
Eric Powell
#17 April 19, 2006 Eric Powell
#18 July 5, 2006 Eric Powell Eric Powell
It's All Fun and Games 'Til...
Mike Hawthorne
Eric Powell (dialogue)
Dwight T. Albatross's
The Goon: Noir
#1
September 20, 2006 Franky's Revival Eric Powell Dwight T. Albatross's
The Goon: Noir
Patton Oswalt Mike Ploog
The Little Unholy Bastards in
Peg Leg Full of Heaven (Part 1)
Thomas Sniegoski Eric Powell
Hey Goon, Comics!
Bill Morrison
Big Ma's Hootenanny & Slack-Jaw Fighting
Steve Niles Ryan Sook
Dwight T. Albatross's
The Goon: Noir
#2
November 22, 2006 Man of the Hour
John Arcudi Kevin Nowlan
Rag and Bone
Roger Langridge
Knee-Deep in the Blues
Scott Allie Todd Herman
Wanted: Undead or Alive
Hilary Barta
The Little Unholy Bastards in
Peg Leg Full of Heaven (Part 2)
Thomas Sniegoski Eric Powell
Dwight T. Albatross's
The Goon: Noir
#3
January 24, 2007 The Wisdom of the Goon
Arvid Nelson Humberto Ramos
The Honey Pot
Brian Posehn Tony Moore
Lucky Pierre
Thomas Lennon Guy Davis
The Little Unholy Bastards in
Peg Leg Full of Heaven (Part 3)
Thomas Sniegoski Eric Powell
Satan's Sodomy Baby
(censored on cover as
"Satan's $@#%* Baby")
April 25, 2007 Eric Powell Too offensive to be collected
#19 July 18, 2007 Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 7:
A Place of Heartache and Grief
Chinatown and the
Mystery of Mr. Wicker
November 21, 2007 Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 6:
Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker
#20 January 9, 2008 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 7:
A Place of Heartache and Grief
#21 February 13, 2008
#22 March 12, 2008
#23 April 9, 2008
#24 May 14, 2008 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 8:
Those That is Damned
Hellbender
The Fillbäch Brothers
#25 June 11, 2008 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell
#26 July 9, 2008
#27 August 13, 2008 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Gris Grimly
The Revenge of the Skunk Ape
Kyle Hotz
Dr. Alloy in
For the Benefit of Underprivileged Inmates
Rebecca Sugar Rebecca Sugar
Eric Powell (inks)
Rebecca Sugar
#28 September 10, 2008 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 9:
Calamity of Conscience
#29 October 8, 2008
#30 November 19, 2008
#31 December 31, 2008
#32
(10th Anniversary Issue)
March 4, 2009 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 10:
Death's Greedy Comeuppance
#33 November 25, 2009 Eric Powell
Buzzard #1 June 9, 2010 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell
Richard Corben (variant)
Buzzard #2 July 21, 2010 Eric Powell
Buzzard #3 August 11, 2010
An Irish Wake December 6, 2010 Eric Powell Dave Stewart The Goon ― Volume 11:
The Deformed of Body and Devious of Mind
The Goon's on Vacation
(from Billy the Kid's
Old Timey Oddities and the
Ghastly Fiend of London
#1-4)
Part 1: September 8, 2010
Part 2: October 27, 2010
Part 3: November 24, 2010
Part 4: January 5, 2011
#34 June 29, 2011 Eric Powell
#35 August 31, 2011 Evan Dorkin Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell
#36 November 2, 2011 Eric Powell
#37 January 4, 2012
#38 March 21, 2012 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 12:
Them That Raised Us Lament


Excludes
The Bog Lurk That Lurked Like a Thing!
A Bad Thing!
#39 April 25, 2012
#40 July 25, 2012 Eric Powell
#41 August 29, 2012 Eric Powell Bill Farmer
and Eric Powell
Eric Powell
The Bog Lurk That Lurked Like a Thing!
A Bad Thing!
(Part 1)
Eric Powell Mark Buckingham
#42 September 26, 2012 Eric Powell
with Tom Sniegoski
Eric Powell Bill Farmer
and Eric Powell
Blur Studio The Goon ― Volume 13:
For Want of Whiskey and Blood


Includes
The Bog Lurk That Lurked Like a Thing!
A Bad Thing!
The Bog Lurk That Lurked Like a Thing!
A Bad Thing!
(Part 2)
Eric Powell Mark Buckingham
#43 November 21, 2012 Eric Powell Eric Powell

Billy the Kid's Old
Timey Oddities
Sequence

Kyle Hotz
Bill Farmer
and Eric Powell
Eric Powell
The Bog Lurk That Lurked Like a Thing!
A Bad Thing!
(Part 3)
Eric Powell Mark Buckingham
#44 November 27, 2013 Eric Powell
#45: One for the Road June 25, 2014 Eric Powell Dave Stewart Jack Davis
#46-49:
Occasion of Revenge
Part 1: July 23, 2014 Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 14:
Occasion of Revenge
Part 2: August 27, 2014
Part 3: October 15, 2014
Part 4: November 12, 2014
#50-53:
Once Upon A Hard Time
Part 1: February 4, 2015 Eric Powell The Goon ― Volume 15:
Once upon a Hard Time
Part 2: March 25, 2015
Part 3: May 20, 2015
Part 4: September 16, 2015
Colonel Nosferatu's
Underground Soiree

(from Free Comic Book
Day 2015: Fight Club/
The Goon/The Strain
)
May 2, 2015 Eric Powell
Theatre Bizarre October 14, 2015 Eric Powell Eric Powell
John Dunivant

Numbered Trade Paperback Collections

Volume Title Collects Published ISBN
0 Rough Stuff
  • The Goon #1-3 (Avatar Press)
April 14, 2004 (1st)

January 6, 2010 (2nd)

ISBN 9781593070861 (1st)

ISBN 9781595824684 (2nd)

1 Nothin' But Misery
  • The Goon Color Special (self-published)
  • The Goon #1-4 (self-published)
July 16, 2003 (1st)

May 18, 2011 (2nd)

ISBN 9781569719985 (1st)

ISBN 9781595826244 (2nd)

2 My Murderous Childhood
(and Other Grievous Yarns)
  • The Goon #1-4
  • The Goon Meets the Brothers Mud
May 5, 2004 (1st)

October 13, 2010 (2nd)

ISBN 9781593071097 (1st)

ISBN 9781595826169 (2nd)

3 Heaps of Ruination
  • The Goon #5-8
February 23, 2005 (1st)

August 31, 2011 (2nd)

ISBN 9781593072926 (1st)

ISBN 9781595826251 (2nd)

4 Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof
  • The Goon #9-13
February 8, 2006 (1st)

October 27, 2010 (2nd)

ISBN 9781593074562 (1st)

ISBN 9781595826176 (2nd)

5 Wicked Inclinations
  • The Goon #14-18
December 13, 2006 (1st)

November 30, 2011 (2nd)

ISBN 9781593076467 (1st)

ISBN 9781595826268 (2nd)

6 Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker
  • Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker
    (hardcover original graphic novel)
December 16, 2009 ISBN 9781595824066
7 A Place of Heartache and Grief
  • The Goon #19-23
May 20, 2009 ISBN 9781595823113
8 Those That is Damned
  • The Goon #24-27
June 24, 2009 ISBN 9781595823243
9 Calamity of Conscience
  • The Goon #28-31
September 16, 2009 ISBN 9781595823465
10 Death's Greedy Comeuppance
  • The Goon #32-33
  • The Buzzard #1-3
January 19, 2011 ISBN 9781595826435
11 The Deformed of Body and Devious of Mind
  • An Irish Wake
  • The Goon's on Vacation
  • The Goon #34-37
June 27, 2012 ISBN 9781595828811
12 Them That Raised Us Lament
  • The Goon #38-41
February 20, 2013 ISBN 9781616550066
13 For Want of Whiskey and Blood
  • The Goon #41-45
October 8, 2014 ISBN 9781616551018
14 Occasion of Revenge
  • The Goon #46-49
April 1, 2015 ISBN 9781616555962
15 Once Upon a Hard Time
  • The Goon #50-53
April 27, 2016 ISBN 9781506700984

Fancy Pants Editions

Volume Title Collects Published ISBN
1
  • The Goon #1-2 (self-published)
  • The Goon #1
  • The Goon #3
  • The Goon #5
  • The Goon #9
  • 3-page Buzzard story
October 12, 2005 ISBN 9781593074265
2 The Rise and Fall of the Diabolical Dr. Alloy
  • The Goon #2
  • The Goon #6
  • The Goon #11-13
February 27, 2008 ISBN 9781593079185
3 The Return of Labrazio
  • The Goon #20-31
    (main stories only)
June 16, 2010 ISBN 9781595825032

Library Editions

Title Collects Published ISBN
Volume 1
  • The Goon ― Volume 0: Rough Stuff
  • The Goon ― Volume 1: Nothin' But Misery
  • The Goon ― Volume 2: My Murderous Childhood (and Other Grievous Yarns)
  • The Goon ― Volume 3: Heaps of Ruination
November 11, 2015[5] ISBN 9781616558420
Volume 2
  • The Goon ― Volume 4: Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof
  • The Goon ― Volume 5: Wicked Inclinations
  • The Goon ― Volume 6: Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker
February 3, 2016[6] ISBN 9781616558437
Volume 3
  • The Goon ― Volume 7: A Place of Heartache and Grief
  • The Goon — Volume 8: Those That is Damned
  • The Goon — Volume 9: Calamity of Conscience
June 1, 2016[7] ISBN 9781616559861
Volume 4
  • The Goon ― Volume 10: Death's Greedy Comeuppance
  • The Goon — Volume 11: The Deformed of Body and Devious of Mind
  • The Goon — Volume 12: Them That Raised Us Lament
October 5, 2016[8] ISBN 9781506700182

Others

Title Collects Published Format ISBN
Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon: Noir
  • Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon: Noir #1-3
July 18, 2007 Trade paperback ISBN 9781593077853
Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker This volume is an original graphic novel November 21, 2007 Hardcover ISBN 9781593078331

Main characters

Creatures

Miscellaneous characters

Unlike the rest of Powell's characters, Dwight is 'played' by a real person. Photographs of Albatross appeared in The Goon: Noir, a miniseries done by various creators while Powell worked on Chinatown and other projects. The real Albatross maintains a MySpace page, moderates the message board of The Goon at the Dark Horse Comics website, and appears at the San Diego Comic-Con.

The Satan's Sodomy Baby "Controversy"

Eric Powell 'revealed' on July 5, 2006, in the introduction to The Goon Issue #18, that the issue was originally going to be "Satan's Sodomy Baby". That story was allegedly held back due to complaints of a woman called 'Margaret Snodgrass,' a fictitious person created by Powell to generate buzz about this 'controversial' issue. Powell wrote, "For various reasons I've decided to hold off on putting that story out." He states that the story is incredibly graphic and he had considered placing a label reading "NOT FOR MINORS" on it. He wrote that Dark Horse, while supporting both him and the issue completely, feared public backlash from its publication, but would eventually put out the issue. Word of the comic's release was allegedly leaked, leading to a threat of a boycott by the fictitious Snodgrass. According to Powell, "a grass-roots movement was started to try to keep retailers from carrying it by a right-wing Bible thumper in Alabama named 'Margaret Snodgrass'. She claimed that the comic was morally reprehensible and contacted local area retailers telling them that even allowing the comic to be stocked on their shelves could lead to their ever-lasting damnation. Some listened to her and threatened to stop carrying The Goon altogether because of this single issue."

Eventually, a release date was set as May 16 with the title changed to "Satan's $@#%* Baby" and carrying a disclaimer. The inside cover, however, maintained the original title "Satan's Sodomy Baby," along with the original cover art. Four pages of the book reprinted several fan letters in support of the struggle against Snodgrass.

There has never been any evidence of a real boycott, no retailers have ever spoken out on the issue, and there is no evidence of Mrs. Snodgrass' existence other than a MySpace page created around the time of Powell's initial announcement and abandoned immediately after the Sodomy issue was released.

In September 2010 on Twitter, Eric Powell confirmed that a sequel to Satan's Sodomy Baby was in the works. It will be called SSB2 to avoid the same issues with the title of the first story.

Spin-offs

In January 2010, Eric Powell announced plans for a 3-part miniseries featuring the character Buzzard, set after the events of Goon Year. The 3-part series (simply entitled "Buzzard") was later published in The Goon: Volume 10.

The Goon: Noir is a series of original short stories by various artists and authors (not including Eric Powell himself), which take place within the world of The Goon. Notable authors include well-known comics such as Tom Lennon, Brian Posehn, and Patton Oswalt.

Not necessarily a spin-off, but maintaining a similar tone while being appropriate for all ages, is another recently published comic by Powell called Chimichanga. Chimichanga is about a bearded girl, a gorilla monster and a witch. Originally a self-published graphic novel, in September 2011 it was published in hardcover format by Dark Horse Comics, with colours by Dave Stewart.[9][10]

Film

In June, 2008 it was announced on the Goon official site that a CG animated film of The Goon was to be produced by the award-winning Blur Studio and David Fincher and written by Eric Powell.[11] Clancy Brown will voice The Goon and Paul Giamatti will be Franky.[12] A release date has not yet been specified, nor has a plot. The film's future is uncertain as it has had trouble procuring funds.[13] The film's poster states that it will be released theatrically.[14] The first trailer from the film was released on 20 July 2010.[15] In January 2012, Powell updated the film status, saying, "The Goon is in the exact same position it's been in for the past couple of years. Prepping the design and script while searching for funding."[16]

On October 12, 2012, Blur Studio and Fincher launched a 30-day Kickstarter, an on-line fundraising campaign, titled "The Goon" Movie... let's KICKSTART this sucker!!!," to raise $400,000 to finance a story reel for the entire film.[17] The Kickstarter page also explained why they need the money: "The Goon Film has NEVER been in production. All the work you've seen (animation footage, trailers, artwork, etc.) has been produced independently and out-of-pocket by the creative team of David Fincher, Eric Powell, Blur Studio and Dark Horse Entertainment. We created "proof of concept" footage to show Hollywood the incredible potential of a Goon movie. It was very well received BUT because this movie isn't a sequel or filled with dancing animals we'll need more to bust open the gates and UNLEASH Goon and Franky on Hollywood."[18] Two days before the deadline, the landmark was achieved,[19] and the campaign closed on November 11, 2012, raising $441,900 from 7,576 backers.[20] No release date has been announced yet.

Awards

In other media

In the 2007 film Superbad, Evan is playing a video game in his bedroom while his friend Seth stands in the doorway. During this scene's lively exchange, two different posters for The Goon are clearly visible hanging on the walls next to each actor.

In the 2007 film The Mist, issues of both The Goon & Hellboy are briefly visible on a rotating comic book rack in the scene when Thomas Jane and a small band of survivors venture into a pharmacy to get drugs for the injured at their home base in the adjoining grocery store.

In the 2008 film The Sasquatch Gang, PVC figurines of Goon and Buzzard from the comic are seen on a character's desk.

In The Big Bang Theory episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", a poster can be seen in the comic book shop.

In Degrassi: The Next Generation, the characters Adam and Eli read The Goon and discuss the Chinatown saga.

References

  1. Klingelhoets, Allen (December 31, 2008). "Interview with Jaymes Reed". Jazma Online. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  2. "Dreamwalker #0 and The Goon #1". Recalled Comics. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  3. "An interview with Eric Powell on Mudsugar". Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  4. "CRIMINAL MACABRE/THE GOON: WHEN FREAKS COLLIDE (FIONA STAPLES COVER)". Dark Horse. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  5. Schenker, Brett. "Dark Horse to Publish The Goon Library Editions". Graphic Policy. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. "The Goon Library Volume 2". Edelweiss. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  7. "The Goon Library Volume 3". Amazon. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  8. "The Goon Library Volume 4". Amazon. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  9. "CHIMICHANGA (HARDCOVER COLLECTION)". Dark Horse. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  10. Marshall, Rick (January 20, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: Eric Powell On 'The Goon' Heading To iPhones... And Back To Print!". MTV. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  11. Barton, Steve (July 20, 2010). "San Diego Comic-Con 2010: Check Out the First Footage from The Goon". Dread Central. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  12. Fischer, Russ (July 24, 2009). "Comic-Con: Voices of Clancy Brown and Paul Giamatti In The Goon; No Director Announced". /Film. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  13. White, Tom (September 14, 2011). "David Fincher's THE GOON Movie Still Has No Money But Does Have New PSA!". WhatCulture!. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  14. Quint (March 14, 2009). "AICN Exclusive! Your first look at the animated GOON movie, produced by David Fincher!!!". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  15. Williams, Owen (July 20, 2010). "First Footage From The Goon Online". Empire Online. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  16. Powel, Eric (January 26, 2012). "The Goon Film Status". Eric Powell. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  17. Fleming, Mike (October 12, 2012). "David Fincher And Blur Studio Stump For 'The Goon' Funds On Kickstarter". Deadline. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  18. ""The Goon" Movie... let's KICKSTART this sucker!!!". Kickstarter. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  19. "You did it!!!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! @Goonguy". Twitter. November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  20. Amidi, Amid (November 13, 2012). "'The Goon' Kickstarter Sets New Crowdfunding Record For An Animated Project". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Complete List of Eisner Award Winners". Comic-Con. Retrieved October 13, 2012.

External links

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