On Wednesday October 7th, The Goon: Once Upon a Hard Time #4 hits the stands. When I first envisioned doing a large two part story (Occasion of Revenge & Once Upon a Hard Time) I didn’t foresee it as the series finale. But as the story took shape it was clear that’s what it was. So often, especially in the medium of comics and television, it seems that in the interest of keeping the profitable property going the more interesting story is forsaken. The more interesting story being… the end. Self parody and repetition take over until the flavor is lost and that filet mignon now tastes like a hotdog off a truck stop rotisserie. Shriveled, burned out, and old. So when the clear path of the better story presented itself, I felt that rather than leaving the plot open ended to continue the same old Goon, it was instead time to fuck shit up.
I’ve always tried to put my artistic money where my mouth is, even at times to the detriment of my own career, so as much as parts of Once Upon a Hard Time #4 hurt me to put on paper, I put them down. It was the better story. It would only be doing a disservice to myself as a cartoonist and you as the reader to do otherwise.
The Goon was a great artistic experiment for me. I grew in leaps and bounds as an artist and storyteller working on it for the last 16 years. I still have a long, long way to go on that front but I feel I’m continuing to grow. I still have ideas for stories set in the Goon’s universe, but I also have a notebook full of ideas that have accumulated over the years that need tending to. To say I’m excited for you guys to see this new stuff is putting it lightly. To give you a new book you enjoy as much as you did the Goon is my new goal. Maybe even a couple!
I appreciate all of you who ever bought a copy of the book. Who allowed me to experiment and be completely unfettered to do any crazy thing I wanted to do. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I have the best readers in comics. Diverse, intelligent, bucking trends, and a little fucked up. MY KIND OF PEOPLE! I hope you all come along with me for the next part of this journey. I don’t know where in the hell it’s going, but those are the best kind of road trips!
-Eric Powell
I can't believe its finally here. It hurts but I'm so excited to what else is to come. From Rough stuff to Once upon a hard time is a hell of a ride that will kick start one's imagination.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the years of excellent storytelling. I've loved every trip to the unnamed city; boozing with the regulars at Nortons, sharing in all the laughter and tears. As cliché as it may be, Goon and company have seen me through hard times, giving me a bit of comfort and escapism in times when nothing else helped. I'm excited to see what stories you have in store for the future, cause so long as you keep on keepin' on, you've got a reader for life in me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to lie. Got a bit misty eyed. It's been wonderful sir, and while I will follow your writing wherever it may take you, I have a pretty solid place in my heart for The Goon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you doing you. You make me proud to be a little fucked up.
As much as I'm going to miss the Goon and his buddies I'm looking forward to seeing the next batch of crazy. And dear God son, don't ever go sane.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I'm going to miss the Goon and his buddies I'm looking forward to seeing the next batch of crazy. And dear God son, don't ever go sane.
ReplyDeleteI collected comic books for 20 yrs, then stopped (yes.. went cold turkey) to save and travel the world. I have been doing so for the past 15 yrs. Finally have settled down, got married and took up comics again. That moment I discovered The Goon. Since then I have back issued every Goon and related comic to the point of the action figures / statues / mask / shop signs / t-shirts / signed comics / variants / fancy pants edition hardbacks etc etc. You Sir brought back all the excitement and love for comic books I gave up and sorely missed. I'm gutted The Goon has come to an end, but as the past comments have all said. I feel like an 8yr old at Christmas awaiting what you have in store for us. Best wishes for everything in the future, BUT if it's not slightly fucked up..... it aint by Mr Powell!!!.... but I'll be buying it (in duplicates) anyway though. Thank for everything dude!!
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest son was in elementary school(he is now preparing to graduate high school), in an attempt to get him more interested in reading, we took a trip to our local comic book store. The same time he was discovering the world of Marvel and DC, I was discovering the world of Image,Vertigo and Dark Horse. All those many years ago one of the first books I ever picked up and fell immediately in crazy-love with is The Goon. From that moment, I immediately created a Pull List to insure me a guaranteed copy of your beautiful creation. I am am saddened to hear of the end of this story. But, the power of your art and storytelling will continue to entertain. Long live your f$#ked up beautiful mind!
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