Rating: 
Summary: A Great Piece of Literature and Cartooning
Review: Cult cartoonist Jhonen Vasquez gives a tremendously hilarious and graphic comic book in "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac- Director's Cut" which combines the first seven issues published from 1995-1998. Unlike trying to find the first seven issues, this saves you a lot of time, and is cheaper than all seven combined. It has the original, penciled quality of the originals, and unlike the individual copies, there are some enjoyable features at the end, such as early sketches of the characters, the first mini-cartoons, from when he was "Johnny the Little Homicidal Maniac" to the present name. Along with an interview with Vasquez. There is Johnny, (Nny for short) who is very angry, so he kills everyone, and is very verbal about it. He also tries to kill himself at some points. We also have Todd aka Squee! who has also had a book of his own. Also playing major rolls are Nailbunny, who is the only voice of reason for Nny, and two doughboys named Psycho-Doughboy and Mr. Eff, who inspire Nny to kill everyone, and mysteriously grow more powerful as the story goes on. Supporting rolls go to Devi, a girl who works at a bookstore. She once had pleasant conversations with Nny until they went on a date....We are also joined by Tess, who is most visible in a series of shorts where she is trying to escape Nny's endless home. Also joining is Happy Noodle Boy, a stick figure that Nny draws, and is most popular with insane homeless people. He yells at everyone, and dies at the end of every cartoon, but comes back for the next one. I don't know if this review was so convincing to you or not, but trust me, it will be one of the hilarious books you will ever read!!!! You'll want to open it, and never set it down until you've finished the whole thing. So if you're in the mood for laughs, homicide, witty dialogue, the best colorless graphics around, or just a comic fan that hasn't picked this up yet, you'll wanna buy it right now! It is a spectacular piece of both literature and cartooning, so don't hesitate. This book is reccomended for older readers (15+) for its frequent profanity, crude humor, and graphic violence.
Rating:
Summary: Sickenly Fantastic
Review: This is one of the most wonderfully disgusting books out there. Although as a first time reader I found myself completely surprised by my first readthrough, I found myself rereading the book just to catch my 2nd and 3rd reactions. Not for the meek individual. You must have a spine to read this..
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: In my opinion this book is the bible of all comic books. 'Ny is the bestest guy ever! Not only have I read this book over 50 times, I never tire of it and I crack up everysingle time. This is deffinately not for the conservative mind. You need a sense of humor and an open minded stature to love this book. Oh my god it is so darn good!!! I recomend this to all.
Rating:
Summary: Morbidly amusing
Review: If I may put it simply, JTHM is everyone's fantasy. At any rate, everyone who was the skinny loser who no one knew but pushed around anyway. Anyone who was different, stood out or was not popular. It is their fantasy. To do what you knew was impossible: to slash back and feel powerful, not on a social level, but a deeper, more primal level. The artwork, the dialogue, the story, all of it is cleverly symbolic of who we are. The sad sacks who deny their true identity to those who wallow in it, all to the point of insanity. I do a happy dance jiggy to the man who created Nny, as well as Slave Labor Productions for making Nny possible, as well as everyone else out there who reads Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and enjoys it for the dark humar, sophomoric violence, clever writing and amusing carachterization. Or, if you didn't enjoy it, I suppose that's your prerogative. Just remember: there's a Happy Noodle Boy out there, and he will masticate on your petunias when the moon deficates on the lawn!! Bark Bark!! Oofba!!!
Rating:
Summary: hilarious and brilliant
Review: When I first heard about this comic book, I'll admit I was afraid to buy it. I used to consider graphic novels (A.K.A comic books) a senselessly violent and shallow form of entertainment, and dark art was an unexplored genre for me. However, my freakish obsession with Jhonen Vasquez's creation Invader Zim, and ingenious cartoon on the otherwise bland channel Nickelodeon, compelled me to read this series. Boy, am I glad I made that descision. Jhonen Vasquez is like no other author out there. Both his artistic and writing style are shaky in the first couple issues of Jhonny the Homicidal Maniac, but after that his work shows great talent. The art is like nothing I've ever seen, it's sharp, gothic, skilled, and origanal. Instead of veiwing the characters from the same angle repeatedly, each panel is shot in a unique and interesting way, like a well filmed movie. The diolog between Nny and the other characters of the series, whether it's one of his spooky alter egos, his tortured victims, or his crush, ranges from philosophic and thought-provoking to comic and hilarious! And while it may seem that all nny does is kill people, the book is written in such a way that the plot is never repetitive or tiring. Follow Nny and his many adventures, including the attempted murder of his one true love, the destruction of cafe le prick, shooting himself in the head, being brought back to life by the infamous Mr. Satan, and wishing he was an emotionless insect. Also included in this book is an interesting look at the first days of nny, several pages of the brilliantly random and drop dead hilarious minicomic happy noodle boy, and an imaginary, but side-splitting, (as in funny, not physically unsafe... or maybe it's both....) interveiw with the author. But despite my praise, this book isn't for everyone; it's very violent and weather you would find it enjoyable depends on your tastes. However, Jhonny the Homicial Maniac: Director's Cut is truly exceptional, as long as you're not too sensitive to stories where people die all the time.
Rating:
Summary: "It Changes Color When It Dries! I Have to Keep It Wet!"
Review: Johnny is the figure that skulks through the back alleys of society, always deemed as meriting the unfurled fingers of the "in" crowds as laughter rolls from their robust mouths or as they jeer and taunt with groups of their friends in tow. This is because he always seems to be different, existing on the fringes of a society he doesn't mingle into very well, therefore making him the perfect target for the mockery of others. Still, mocking people is not always the best solution when soliciting that quick burst of enjoyment, especially when the individual happens to be a homicidal maniac that, amongst other things, is consumed with keeping a certain wall in his home painted with blood because it can never be allowed to dry - and with good reason. This isn't the only thing reason that he does the things he does, mind you, because he sometimes revels in the simple interactions and subsequent torment of those that he deems worthy of his loathing, grouping everyone from rude diners to door-to-door surveyors in the happy little subclass we like to call the despised. On certain levels, it would appear that Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is nothing more than a montage of slaughter wearing a sheepish disguise, reveling in the primordial stew of emotions forged from suffering and lashing out at the elements that cause this inner turmoil. This, however, is far from the case because it contains many elements that, while not exactly inflating the bruised mentality of portions of a world that possibly merits scarring, work as a finger to point out these transgressions. It also shows another side to the combatant within this maelstrom as he tries to comprehend his place within the deeds that seem to rain blood, making him wonder why he seems possessed by such needs and why he can't get caught doing these things no matter how hard he tries. This leads him into the gates of heaven and into the depths of hell, with one question posed on his lips, "Why?" Joined by a dysfunctional cast of figures that include his ex-pet, now severed head Nail Bunny (you can sort that one out for yourself), Mr. Eff and Psycho-Doughboy (both doughboys that have some very questionable influences about them and some wonderful explicits painted on them), Squee - the little tormented boy that lives next door to Johnny, Devi - the one person to get away from him and to steal his heart in the process, God, and the Devil, you find yourself meshing a variety of thoughts and themes into something quite prolific. In fact, Johnny's search for inner-contentment and understanding of his role in the scheme of things wind down some harrowing roads that pit comedy and the doom of many a person hand in hand with social commentary to question and spit on the sensibilities of the masses. For that reason and because of his frequent tantrums that end in the greatest of fashions, this is merrily Recommended!!!
Rating:
Summary: sick but funny
Review: I checked this series out at the recommendation of a friend, and have not been disappointed. I've become a fan of Jhonen Vasquez's work, including Squee and Invader Zim. This series finds humor in gruesome situations--you have to pay attention to catch very funny asides written really tiny in the panel. The social commentary can be insightful at times, usually it is just cathartic. Part of the appeal of JtHM is vicarious--dealing with a particularly annoying person and thinking about how Johnny would handle the situation brings an evil little grin to my face.
Rating:
Summary: Anger= Great Art
Review: It is apparent that Jhonen Vasquez was using this great comic book series to vent his anger at certain types of people. What makes it even better is that he also mixes in some humor so as not to make it as horrible as it is. With its humor and interesting storyline it's a must-have for any true comic book fan.
Rating:
Summary: JTHM, a must read twice
Review: The more times I read this book the more I like it. I like how the book isn't a blood and guts book. It has a story, and a good one at that! Definite buy!
Rating:
Summary: JhonenV. -Secretly insane, or insanely bored?
Review: Jhonen Vasquez's book, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, or just JTHM, can be either referred to as genious-look into a real mind of a psychopath man who has more intelligence then the human race put together, or a simple plague of boredom, causing the man to draw a comic book describing a life he wish he had. We all wish we had Johhny's life, i sure do. Who doesn't want to talk to innanimate objects and kill people in obscene ways and never get caught? I say buy the book, but don't question the author. Take it as it is: A comic book.
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