Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut

I got to meet Jhonen Vasquez this weekend and get my Director's Cut copy of JtHM signed :) He is a gracious person and when I thanked him for making me laugh, he thanked me for thinking it was funny. He is also not (to my knowledge at least) a homicidal maniac.

This was an odd book to reread. I came to Vasquez through “I Feel Sick,” which I maintain is his greatest work to date. JtHM is his first multi-issue comic, and the raw edges definitely show, especially in the first couple of issues. By the end, however, there is a serious narrative hiding behind the extreme violence, a story about manipulation, exclusivity, and the facades people wear. I think that's why, even though I'm more sensitive to the violence than I was in my twenties, I still enjoy the piece as a whole. I also realized that this is where a lot of my favorite non-sequitur quotes originated. For got that in the last decade.

JtHM is over-the-top violent and some of the Happy Noodle Boy bits are too crass for me to really enjoy, but if those two things don't bother you, it's well-worth a read. Vasquez took the “Goth Comic” and added serious substance and bizarre humor that make it far more than a simple blood book. I still might suggest starting with “I Feel Sick” because it shows off how honed Vasquez becomes, but then go back learn about Johnny (and Devi'a origin story).

Also Johnny goes to Heaven/Hell are still awesome. What about this coat? Can I keep this coat? But it fits me perfectly! And the lining!