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posies23's review
5.0
This books is what would happen if Stan Lee, Salvador Dali, Quentin Tarantino, Grant Morrison, and Kevin Smith all sat down to write a graphic novel. It's a hilariously over-the-top superhero story with a TON of "in-jokes" for movie and comic folks. The laughs and violence are non-stop, and it is DEFINITELY not for the faint-hearted. It's offensive, immature, and laugh-out-loud funny.
erincataldi's review
3.0
The more bizarre a book or a comic is the more apt I am to love it. This was no exception. It's over the top ridiculous, makes virtually no sense is filled with bizarre plot lines and even crazier characters. There are 5 super heroes on a team, but virtually everyone else they meet is either a mutant half breed or has powers of their own. There are cheeseburger eating tigers, a starman with a ghost horse head, a cop with gorilla arms, unidentifiable creatures and more. It's insanity and you should probably read it because there is no way that I can describe what in the hell is going on.
abrittlebee's review
2.0
When I first heard of God Hates Astronauts, I expected it to be a lot like Axe Cop—ridiculous and full of hilarity. Though the two are similar in that they take a very random approach to humour with unique ideas and characters, God Hates Astronauts lacks the childish sense of delight within its writing that makes the random nature of the plot cohesive and enjoyable.
Written and illustrated by Ryan Browne, God Hates Astronauts is about a superhero team that works for NASA. But rather than wasting all their time saving the world, the self-absorbed superheroes prefer to focus on their libidos, bizarre supervillains, and loitering aliens. The narrative is all over the place and tends to focus on one situation at a time rather than any overarching plot. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as plenty of graphic novels and comic books do this, especially in the comedic genre.
What makes this narrative less successful is that a lot of the jokes are based on gendered humour, meant to parody the sexism of the 1950s. But the parody isn’t reflected enough in the other aspects of the book, such as the villains or setting, so the humour falls flat and just comes off as sexist.
The art, also done by Browne, is very classical with defined lines and heavy inks, but is coloured in a more modern way with smooth tones. Aesthetically it’s a good combination, and his balance between cartoon and realism make the art extremely dynamic.
All in all, I appreciate this book for its fun art style, but I can’t recommend it.
cross posted from the Other Press
Written and illustrated by Ryan Browne, God Hates Astronauts is about a superhero team that works for NASA. But rather than wasting all their time saving the world, the self-absorbed superheroes prefer to focus on their libidos, bizarre supervillains, and loitering aliens. The narrative is all over the place and tends to focus on one situation at a time rather than any overarching plot. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as plenty of graphic novels and comic books do this, especially in the comedic genre.
What makes this narrative less successful is that a lot of the jokes are based on gendered humour, meant to parody the sexism of the 1950s. But the parody isn’t reflected enough in the other aspects of the book, such as the villains or setting, so the humour falls flat and just comes off as sexist.
The art, also done by Browne, is very classical with defined lines and heavy inks, but is coloured in a more modern way with smooth tones. Aesthetically it’s a good combination, and his balance between cartoon and realism make the art extremely dynamic.
All in all, I appreciate this book for its fun art style, but I can’t recommend it.
cross posted from the Other Press
compmanjx3's review
3.0
Entertaining lunacy that somehow exists in a consistent, if bizarre, universe. However, it is peppered with swearing for the sake of swearing and much of the humor is notably juvenile.
helpfulsnowman's review
I've often wondered about whether or not it's possible to make a movie that's all comedy, no real plot or lesson.
And now I've got my answer.
There were plenty of jokes, and some of these references were clearly up my alley. But I need just a little more plot that runs through the whole thing. Something that gets the characters to do things. At the start of most of the issues, I was thinking, "Wait, why the hell is this happening? Where are we?"
My dream of a movie that's all comedy, no plot? That dream is dead.
And yet, the dream of a movie that's 90% comedy, 10% plot that forces the characters to keep chugging along like a moving walkway in an airport? Still very much alive.
And now I've got my answer.
There were plenty of jokes, and some of these references were clearly up my alley. But I need just a little more plot that runs through the whole thing. Something that gets the characters to do things. At the start of most of the issues, I was thinking, "Wait, why the hell is this happening? Where are we?"
My dream of a movie that's all comedy, no plot? That dream is dead.
And yet, the dream of a movie that's 90% comedy, 10% plot that forces the characters to keep chugging along like a moving walkway in an airport? Still very much alive.
jonwesleyhuff's review
3.0
It seems like the reviews are a bit mixed for this on GoodReads. I can understand why. The comic is by turns gross and disturbing and weird. But, I also found it quite charming and funny at times. I love the sort of gonzo "whatever-the-creator-feels-like-putting-in" feel of the book. It's got a twisted sensibility I admire, that never seems to descend into the (faintly boring) corners of trying-to-hardness that some Adult Swim projects can fall in to. There's enough lightness and silliness (and the outlines of a plot) to keep you cruising through the narrative. Not every thing totally lands and plot-wise it kind of feels like the story ends mostly because Browne figured it was time to end it versus any sort of real story resolution. But it feels slightly absurd complaining about that, to be honest, as the actual story feels secondary to all the weirdness and chaos in the story. If you embrace it and just go with it, I think you'll enjoy the story more.
katepowellshine's review
3.0
Love the new issues, but couldn't get into this one. Perhaps it needs time to breathe between issues, so the gags don't feel repetitive? Or perhaps the author is improving.