Scan barcode
dantastic's review
4.0
Madman Volume 2 collects Madman Comics #1-11.
Despite wanting to like the "cool" books of the time period, I've been a fan of Madman since the 1990s. I've had this book on my shelf for quite a while and finally decided to crack it open.
In this volume, Madman takes on killer robots, aliens, mutant street beatniks, a man made out of vomit, The Blast, and his greatest enemy, his own hidden past.
Michael Allred's art is a combination of silver age art from the Big Two, Moebius, and other influences, giving it a unique retro yet modern look. If the book didn't have a story, I'd probably still buy it for the art.
Luckily, that is not the case. Madman's innocent outlook lures me back every time and the stories are a love letter to comics in general. Madman encounters comic trope after well loved trope, from shrinking to battling monsters, from jetpacks to rayguns, from secret government agencies to crazy aliens. There's a sense of fun, a sense of strangeness, and an unapologetic goofiness at times, making for a unique read. By the end of the book, some dark things are hinted at, making me eager to read the next book, as if I wouldn't eventually anyway.
Madman is a timeless work and this volume is a worthy addition to the saga. Four out of five stars.
Despite wanting to like the "cool" books of the time period, I've been a fan of Madman since the 1990s. I've had this book on my shelf for quite a while and finally decided to crack it open.
In this volume, Madman takes on killer robots, aliens, mutant street beatniks, a man made out of vomit, The Blast, and his greatest enemy, his own hidden past.
Michael Allred's art is a combination of silver age art from the Big Two, Moebius, and other influences, giving it a unique retro yet modern look. If the book didn't have a story, I'd probably still buy it for the art.
Luckily, that is not the case. Madman's innocent outlook lures me back every time and the stories are a love letter to comics in general. Madman encounters comic trope after well loved trope, from shrinking to battling monsters, from jetpacks to rayguns, from secret government agencies to crazy aliens. There's a sense of fun, a sense of strangeness, and an unapologetic goofiness at times, making for a unique read. By the end of the book, some dark things are hinted at, making me eager to read the next book, as if I wouldn't eventually anyway.
Madman is a timeless work and this volume is a worthy addition to the saga. Four out of five stars.
matt4hire's review
4.0
I forgot how wonderfully excellent the first 11 issues of this series are. Especially the Big Guy crossover and the Factor Max story. There's a great approach to philosophy and metaphysics, as well as some great hints of where Frank is supposed to go (some of these hints paid off nearly 10 years later in Madman: Atomic Comics!). Just great, great stuff.
devinr's review
5.0
First things first: I love Mike Allred's style. His 60s aesthetic filtered through 30 years of pop culture developments; his manic, full colour action scenes; his deceptively simple characterization; the way he handles the quiet emotional moments of the characters; and the crazy supporting cast he's making for Madman. It's like Metamorpho plus The Bible plus Metal Men plus The Beatles plus Batman plus...plus a million things. He does actual thought-provoking, non-corny existential and existential crises in the midst of mind-blowing action sequences.
There are so many great moments in this collection, from the small moments (the tiny robot with the New York City accent) to the big ones (possibly finding God). And then the twist at the end of this volume? Simply unreal. Love Madman. Love Allred. Love Comics.
There are so many great moments in this collection, from the small moments (the tiny robot with the New York City accent) to the big ones (possibly finding God). And then the twist at the end of this volume? Simply unreal. Love Madman. Love Allred. Love Comics.
More...