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The Goon #5
The Goon, Volume 5: Wicked Inclinations
The tide has turned in Goon's war against the undead hordes of the Zombie Priest - or has it? With Buzzard now preventing the harvest of any fresh corpses from the cemetery, the Priest grows desperate. So desperate, that he unleashes incantations of previously unseen power to create a whole new breed of minion - one that may be beyond even the strength of the Goon to contain. But one pays a price for conjuring such evil into the world, and the Zombie Priest quickly discovers that the cost of such power may be far more than he bargained for.
136 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2006
About the author
Eric Powell
501 books271 followersEric Powell has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD Magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, the Avengers, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and Action Comics.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 17, 2024
After helping then defeating Hieronymous Alloy and El Hombre de Lagarto in volume 4, The battle with the Zombie Priest picks up. Buzzard prevents new corpses from being harvested. On the streets The Goon and Franky help battle zombies and the Priest's new type of Zombie.
The later part of this book is pure action. Goon just battling zombie hordes. Willie Nagel's character really develops here as he finally gets a chance to prove he's not just a slackjaw.
If you like Powell's artwork, this is a great volume for that.
There's a backup piece with a few shorter comics mostly written by Powell but drawn by guests. Pretty cool to see other people draw The Goon world.
The later part of this book is pure action. Goon just battling zombie hordes. Willie Nagel's character really develops here as he finally gets a chance to prove he's not just a slackjaw.
If you like Powell's artwork, this is a great volume for that.
There's a backup piece with a few shorter comics mostly written by Powell but drawn by guests. Pretty cool to see other people draw The Goon world.
April 4, 2020
(4,3 of 5 for the Union trick and the hosted short stories)
After the slight disappointment with the previous book the Goon is back on track. I liked this one, it was fun, especially that gipsy vendetta and the union twist. I also enjoyed that few short stories by a various hosting artist at the end. Next stop - The Chinatown. I hope for some unravelling of the often mentioned Goon's bitter history with it!
After the slight disappointment with the previous book the Goon is back on track. I liked this one, it was fun, especially that gipsy vendetta and the union twist. I also enjoyed that few short stories by a various hosting artist at the end. Next stop - The Chinatown. I hope for some unravelling of the often mentioned Goon's bitter history with it!
May 14, 2020
Buzzard is back!!! I love how these series keeps introducing interesting and funny characters (like Willy), build up mystery and tease things yet to come.
June 29, 2021
The Goon (birth name unclear) was once an orphan who worked at a circus, being raised by his strongwoman Aunt Kizzie. When his aunt was killed by the gangster Labrazio, the Goon killed him in revenge, then used the mob boss’ notes to take over the man’s gang. Initially, he pretended to be only Labrazio’s enforcer while the boss himself was “in hiding”, but eventually he admitted that he was the new boss.
While The Goon and his best friend Franky are not exactly good people, the other mob in town is the one run out of Lonely Street by the Zombie Priest. Any corpse that falls into his hands swells the ranks of his gang of the undead. Given a choice between “honest” criminals and unholy mobsters, it’s pretty obvious the Goon is marginally nicer.
The Goon’s series has run sporadically from 1999 to the present, with several one-shots and crossovers. The volume to hand, #5, reprints the Dark Horse run issues 14-18.
The volume begins with the ghoulish gunman Buzzard having a vision that reveals some of the Zombie Priest’s backstory to him. This gives Buzzard insight into why his previous attempts at revenge failed, and he starts guarding the city’s graveyards to prevent more zombies from being made.
While The Goon and Frankie are distracted by a woman with dark powers trying to get revenge on the Norton family (owners of the bar the two hang out at), the Zombie Priest has to find a new, even more fearsome sort of minion. Content note: use of “gypsies.” The story is fun for fighting the rules of dark magic with those of unions.
The new minions, the “chugheads”, are fully introduced and manage to make things worse for the good okay citizens of the city. And to finish off the main stories, the lizard-like Lagarto mutates into a more dangerous form and must be corralled again. The volume ends with some short stories showing more dark humor.
Oh, and there’s a volume introduction by Michael Allred of Madman fame.
Dark humor and grotesque horrific action are the main draws here. The mostly subdued colors and hideous monsters contrast cartoony main characters who crack wise at every opportunity. The setting mostly evokes the 1930s, but at one point there’s a 3-D movie (1950s) that is “what if Cecil B. DeMille directed an R-rated 1980s action film?”
There are mysteries set up in the early work that are gradually revealed through flashback or explanation, though some remain murky to the end. For example, the exact reason why Willie Nagel is one of the few zombies that not only retains human intelligence and (sleazy) personality but refuses to serve the Zombie Priest.
The humor can be good, but the subject matter may be offputting for some readers. One chapter has the contents of an even more extreme story being loosely described as something the author allegedly is being held back from publishing.
Content note: Body horror, violence, gore, toilet humor, dead baby humor, harm to children, harm to animals.
Overall: This isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s well done for what it is. Try a chapter and see how it goes.
While The Goon and his best friend Franky are not exactly good people, the other mob in town is the one run out of Lonely Street by the Zombie Priest. Any corpse that falls into his hands swells the ranks of his gang of the undead. Given a choice between “honest” criminals and unholy mobsters, it’s pretty obvious the Goon is marginally nicer.
The Goon’s series has run sporadically from 1999 to the present, with several one-shots and crossovers. The volume to hand, #5, reprints the Dark Horse run issues 14-18.
The volume begins with the ghoulish gunman Buzzard having a vision that reveals some of the Zombie Priest’s backstory to him. This gives Buzzard insight into why his previous attempts at revenge failed, and he starts guarding the city’s graveyards to prevent more zombies from being made.
While The Goon and Frankie are distracted by a woman with dark powers trying to get revenge on the Norton family (owners of the bar the two hang out at), the Zombie Priest has to find a new, even more fearsome sort of minion. Content note: use of “gypsies.” The story is fun for fighting the rules of dark magic with those of unions.
The new minions, the “chugheads”, are fully introduced and manage to make things worse for the good okay citizens of the city. And to finish off the main stories, the lizard-like Lagarto mutates into a more dangerous form and must be corralled again. The volume ends with some short stories showing more dark humor.
Oh, and there’s a volume introduction by Michael Allred of Madman fame.
Dark humor and grotesque horrific action are the main draws here. The mostly subdued colors and hideous monsters contrast cartoony main characters who crack wise at every opportunity. The setting mostly evokes the 1930s, but at one point there’s a 3-D movie (1950s) that is “what if Cecil B. DeMille directed an R-rated 1980s action film?”
There are mysteries set up in the early work that are gradually revealed through flashback or explanation, though some remain murky to the end. For example, the exact reason why Willie Nagel is one of the few zombies that not only retains human intelligence and (sleazy) personality but refuses to serve the Zombie Priest.
The humor can be good, but the subject matter may be offputting for some readers. One chapter has the contents of an even more extreme story being loosely described as something the author allegedly is being held back from publishing.
Content note: Body horror, violence, gore, toilet humor, dead baby humor, harm to children, harm to animals.
Overall: This isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s well done for what it is. Try a chapter and see how it goes.
September 5, 2011
Reading the Goon has become something I now do when I feel like reading something fun and familiar. Whether it’s the art or the characters or the whacky tones coupled with the gothic madness and gallows humour and noir presentation, I love this series and every book, forgive the cliché, feels like meeting old crazy friends again.
In Volume 5, the story of the Zombie Priest is given centre stage as he tries to stage a massive coup against Lonely Street. The only thing stopping him? Goon, Franky, and Buzzard. Let the blood run not at all, because these are zombies, but let the bodies hit the floor!
This is probably the most action oriented Goon book so far and I loved it. Powell’s artwork assumes a kind of weird choreography on the page as Goon swings his massive mitts against a variety of foes and Buzzard strikes a variety of poses that are just badass. There’s one of the first page where I wish I had it as an A1 painting on my wall, it’s so cool.
There’s also a series of short strips at the back written and drawn by fellow artists that are silly and fun. It’s also good to see Goon depicted differently on the page, I think it adds to the reader’s perception of the character.
“Wicked Inclinations” (great title) is a fine addition to this series and a must read for any fans of the Goon. Keep it coming, Powell!
In Volume 5, the story of the Zombie Priest is given centre stage as he tries to stage a massive coup against Lonely Street. The only thing stopping him? Goon, Franky, and Buzzard. Let the blood run not at all, because these are zombies, but let the bodies hit the floor!
This is probably the most action oriented Goon book so far and I loved it. Powell’s artwork assumes a kind of weird choreography on the page as Goon swings his massive mitts against a variety of foes and Buzzard strikes a variety of poses that are just badass. There’s one of the first page where I wish I had it as an A1 painting on my wall, it’s so cool.
There’s also a series of short strips at the back written and drawn by fellow artists that are silly and fun. It’s also good to see Goon depicted differently on the page, I think it adds to the reader’s perception of the character.
“Wicked Inclinations” (great title) is a fine addition to this series and a must read for any fans of the Goon. Keep it coming, Powell!
August 26, 2014
I love The Goon. It just keeps getting better, funnier, more irreverent, more violent, weirder, freakier and more fun. The Buzzard's back, bring a powerful tool to aid Goon in his fight against the Nameless Preacher, which only makes things worse. We learn about the Nameless Preacher's history, how to beat a gypsy priestess (don't say the Union never did nothin' for ya') and there is a killer and hilarious reference to Hitchcock's The Birds.
Powell's art and storytelling are as superb as ever, proving him to be one of the most talented and inventive players in the comics game today. I can't get enough of his art. As Michael Allred points out in the introduction, Powell kicks butt whether he's using pencils or paints. He's immensely creative with his techniques, keeping every issue fresh and providing as many action packed twists and turns with the visuals as with the plot.
This volume also has a handful of short Goon stories featuring art and, in some cases, writing by other people, providing fun and interesting alternate takes on Powell's creation.
I wish I had volume six on hand right now. Heck, I wish I had all of them. The Goon rules.
Powell's art and storytelling are as superb as ever, proving him to be one of the most talented and inventive players in the comics game today. I can't get enough of his art. As Michael Allred points out in the introduction, Powell kicks butt whether he's using pencils or paints. He's immensely creative with his techniques, keeping every issue fresh and providing as many action packed twists and turns with the visuals as with the plot.
This volume also has a handful of short Goon stories featuring art and, in some cases, writing by other people, providing fun and interesting alternate takes on Powell's creation.
I wish I had volume six on hand right now. Heck, I wish I had all of them. The Goon rules.
October 17, 2014
I love the Goon.I think it's absolute genius. Powell found a gap, an extremely cool gap, and filled it in. That said, in my opinion this is one of the weaker contributions to the series. It just seemed really short and a bit under inspired compared to the other graphic novels. Maybe there's only so much you can do with a concept like the Goon or maybe the honeymoon's over for me. Either way don't miss out on this series, it's a lot of fun.
June 14, 2016
Another fun volume with great art, great creativity and a unique story telling style. I'm a fan.
Read
August 8, 2023More of the Zombie Priest's backstory is revealed, and at first he seems to be on the back foot too - down to his last few slack-jaws, and even his hat reclaimed by its rightful owner. But any respite for the Goon is short-lived. Franky unionising the undead may be one of my favourite Goon moments, but overall there's a sense that if the previous volume came a little unmoored, this one overcorrected and ended up with too much dark and an undersupply of laughs. Presumably Powell, surprised at the series'popularity, was still feeling his way in terms of making it work as an ongoing - though it's probably for the best that he concluded the answer wasn't Satan's Sodomy Baby.
May 30, 2017
Uz ani neviem co som cakal a ani neviem co som vlastne dostal. Take nejake priemerne a tapem, co som vlastne cital. Asi sa budem musiet vrhnut na ostatne diely a potom mozno prehodnotim. Ale vyriesenie problemu s ciganskou vedmou pomocou odborov.. to sa len tak nevidi :)
April 4, 2020
Mám je čím dál radši, kluky jedny. :D
A část s odborovýma stanovama byla GENIÁLNÍ! <3
A část s odborovýma stanovama byla GENIÁLNÍ! <3
February 13, 2021
Goon se dostal do temnější podoby a vtípků trochu ubylo. Powell si s tím ale poradil dobře, tahle poloha ke Goonovi celkem sedí. Jsem zvědavý, co se stane dál.
August 21, 2022
I'm not going to read Satan's Sodomy Baby
August 18, 2023
The introductory issue was very cool. Long live buzzard.
December 29, 2020
Satan's Sodomy Baby was quite a disappointment, but issue 16 and 17 were incredibly fun featuring The Priest in a hilarious fashion.
May 3, 2012
The Goon series has been getting progressively darker. Oh, there's still plenty of the trademark crude humor, but Eric Powell has been slowly cranking up the horrific content. "Wicked Inclinations" starts off with a light tale of Gypsy curses and unionized ghosts, then swerves down Lonely Street where the Zombie Priest makes a gruesome and painful sacrifice to call up some seriously nasty mojo to send against the Goon and co. And some might call this overkill, but he follows that up with zombie midget circus clowns. Powell caps things off with ominous hints about "Satan's Sodomy Baby" and bang-o, we got another wildly entertaining Goon collection. In the book's intro, "Madman" madman Michael Allred compares Powell's art to that of the iron-thewed Frank Frazetta. High praise, and Powell pretty much lives up to it.
July 10, 2012
The introduction to volume 4 talks about Powell's then newfound fame and its possible negative influence on his subsequent work. Well, that negative influence made itself apparent to me, at least, in this, volume 5. I loved the Rumpelstiltskin gloss on the Priest, laughed out loud at the labor union strategy for fighting a gypsy curse, and found the two-page parody of Charlton Heston and The Ten Commandmentsy‒The 13th Commandment‒to be exceedingly funny (and what happened to commandments 11 and 12?). About halfway in, however, the artwork changes dramatically as does the storytelling, and neither for the better. What's up with Corpse Mother and the Priest's new army of demonic tumor-dwarves? And many of the shorts at the end just don't live up to The Goon we all know and love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2010
Hilarious as always. These goons live in a world that I'd hate to try to eke my miserable existence in, but that's a freakin riot when you know they're as immortal as cartoons always are. Why I oughtta find my trusty peashooter and make what-for with them slackjaws what don't know they's dead.
The Moses film parody 2-pager *alone* is worth the price of admission. And now that I realize the author writes, pencils, inks and colours every page himself I'm in utter awe. Anyone who does such an irreverent and picture-perfect job of bringing to life a genre I didn't know I needed in my life, is someone we need to cherish.
The Moses film parody 2-pager *alone* is worth the price of admission. And now that I realize the author writes, pencils, inks and colours every page himself I'm in utter awe. Anyone who does such an irreverent and picture-perfect job of bringing to life a genre I didn't know I needed in my life, is someone we need to cherish.
September 2, 2011
I may be in the minority of Powell fans when I say that I think Powell is best when he is working in a more serious vein. Of course, "serious" is relative when you're talking about a comic that weaves together the worlds of the mafia, zombies, black magic, hillbillies, and assorted monsters. But when he manages to keep the foul-mouthed, 3-stooges-on-a-Viagra-bender slapstick to a minimum, Powell delivers powerful storytelling, with intriguing characters. And whether he's working serious or slapstick, Powell's artwork is fantastic--guaranteed to make you laugh and creep you out, often in the same drawing.
October 31, 2016
The Buzzard is back and on Goon's side. The priest who is creating the zombies on Lonely Street has a more disturbing story than any other character it would seem. He as always an evil character and was punished for it on both the real world and the world beyond where he was born. It left him mentally scarred and thirsty for revenge and destruction. Goon's dwindling of his zombie horde makes him a desperate man.
The story has some magical elements as well, with a gypsy that is able to resurrect spirits and who threatens some of Goon's friends. Goon manages to outwit her. He is deadly accurate with a gun even when outnumbered.
The story has some magical elements as well, with a gypsy that is able to resurrect spirits and who threatens some of Goon's friends. Goon manages to outwit her. He is deadly accurate with a gun even when outnumbered.
December 30, 2015
"Every day is a monotonous exercise in futility. I wake up every day and wonder, what's the point? Happiness? Is that even attainable? Or is it frivolous thinking to even believe it exists? Are we all blindly searching for a fantasy? Are we drowning rats going down with the ship? Is that what life is? What are we living for? Love? Searching for it makes you miserable and expecting it to be returned only kills your soul and makes you sick and black inside. But without it there's only loneliness. Bitter, cold loneliness."
Now this hit me like a ton of bricks.
Now this hit me like a ton of bricks.
May 15, 2013
Encore une superbe réussite pour le Goon ! J'ai adoré ce numéro avec le Busard, Willie Nagel (la morve vivante qui déteste en être une), il y a Lagarto aussi, qui a oublié de prendre ses médicaments ! Tout un tome du numéro est consacré à des mini épisodes dessinés par d'autres dessinateurs qu'Eric Powell, en couleur mais aussi en noir et blanc (le Goon noir).
Bref rien à redire, encore un bijou !
Bref rien à redire, encore un bijou !
May 4, 2014
Just another awesome graphic novel in The Goon series. "The Goon: Wicked Inclinations" (volume 5) was exciting and full of surprises. But do not let minors get a hold of this graphic novel. It contains a controversial short story. Back in the day, it started an anti-comic book movement. Other than that, I loved it. More depth was added to the characters, and the storyline became more complicated and chaotic.
January 9, 2009
Another dumb yet witty, incredibly funny offering from the master of mob-horror-slapstick, Eric Powell. Great art too, and some of my favorite side characters are included, including the slackjaw con-man, and Lagarto, the Spanish-speaking mutant lizard butler. Mr Powell possesses a very fertile imagination indeed...
February 25, 2012
Another delightfully twisted volume. This one prominently features the Buzzard, which is an deliciously morbid character (or finds morbid things delicious, since he's cursed to feed upon the dead). It also has a giant lizard, ghosts being unionized, gypsy curses, and some abominable offspring of a zombie. Pulpy fun!
May 1, 2023
Probably contains some of Powell's best art. A personal favorite in terms of pencils and coloring.
So, the Goon is starting to be less silly. I mean...it is always silly, but things are getting heavier. This hits a sweet spot with the next arc, "Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker", probably my favorite Goon story.
So, the Goon is starting to be less silly. I mean...it is always silly, but things are getting heavier. This hits a sweet spot with the next arc, "Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker", probably my favorite Goon story.
October 9, 2008
After reading 5 volumes of the Goon I have come to realize that this is the top 5 indie franchises to date. A great balance of comedy and simple story telling that keeps me coming back and wanting more.
Read
August 7, 2011its still funny, but for the first time things start to get a little serious. the artwork takes a more painted look, a rich history for the villain is laid out, supporting characters get more fleshed out, new threats of danger feel dark and real. loved it.
July 22, 2012
Buzzard is back! Hurrah! I was so sad with the previous ending of Buzzard, but this seriously makes up for it. The Zombie Priest is on the ropes and brings in the big guns, per se. This collection amps up the main plot of the series while showing the reader new sides of the Goon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews