Everybody’s heard of Eric Powell’s The Goon by now. You know, the comic that appeared on Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List” ahead of Johnny Depp. The comic that EW said would “leave you drooling like an undead ghoul at a brain buffet.” The comic that single-handedly tarnished the reputations of both Paris Hilton and Jessica Lynch. The Goon’s high-profile living has had long-time fans crying “sell-out!” and industry pundits arching their eyebrows and muttering “overexposed.” This February, The Goon goes old-school and takes it back to the basement with Rough Stuff, a collection of the first three Goon issues, presented in color (by Eisner-winner Dave Stewart) for the first time ever. Goon co-editor Matt Dryer hails the material as, “raw, gritty, and over the top. This really completes The Goon collection.” True to its title and true to its roots, Rough Stuff shows the Goon at his most savage, most funny, and, of course, most rough.
Rough Stuff details the origin of the more humble Goon, back when he still kept it real. His early battles with the undead are mixed with stories of the Goon’s youth, as we meet his circus-freak clan and learn how he came to be the head of a notorious crime family. Also included in this volume is a look at the creation of the Goon and his world with a special “Evolution of The Goon” sketchbook section.
Eric “Hollywood” Powell looks back on The Goon’s early days with a mixture of affection and shame. “I’m definitely embarrassed about this old stuff,” Eric mused via satellite phone from Cap d’Antibes. “But I’m embarrassed by the stuff I do now, too. Just not as much.”
The Goon: Rough Stuff is available February 18 for the retail price of $12.95.