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Gore, Gags And GWAR – Plugging Gwar: Orgasmageddon

Published Tue, 06 Jun 2017 17:30:34 -0500

Olly MacNamee plugs:

If you've ever had the great fortune of watching GWAR live, then you'll know what to expect from this debut issue of this gory, goofy, and very graphic of comics. And, it's about time too. With the likes of KISS, KRS-1 and Darryl (DMC) McDaniels having been some of the many musicians that have made appearances in comics both past and present, GWAR was a no-brainer really. But, it still took Matt Miner and GWAR member, Matt Maguire (Sawborg Destructo), to make this a reality. Finally!And, like any GWAR gig, this comic is packed with corny gags, in-jokes, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The comic should be literally dripping with bodily fluids of all description. And not just the blood, sweat and tears Miner and Maguire have poured into this freshman issue. Oh, and copious amount of gratuitous violence as GWAR are catapulted through history in a space ship Miner and Maguire missed a trick in not naming the 'cock rocket' (there's always next issue, guys). This is Dr Who through the warped, drug-addled and booze-fuelled mind of GWAR; and it's a great, fun ride, with an unstoppable, frenetic energy that pulses, like a beating, bloody heart, off every page. That, and the blood spilling, bone-crunching cartoon violence executed by one and all.

Narratively, this is a blazing, ballsy first issue, reminiscent of the kind of comics that were not afraid to pack as much story into one issue as was humanly possible. Think of the amount of action, adventure and peril in just one issue of the classic Kirby/Lee Fantastic Four, then consider the decompressed storytelling of recent decades no better illustrated than in the original Ultimate Spider-man comic, with its six-issue origin. Ditko and Lee only took a few pages! Well, forget that, and welcome a comic with plenty of meat (albeit, rancid) on the bone.

Here in GWAR: Orgasmageddon No.1 not only do we get a potted history of GWAR (ancient, ice-encrusted aliens) but we also get not one but two enemies, time-travelling (in which our would be heroes accidentally help in the War of Independence) AND two bonus strips too. The first, The Startling Saga of Sgt. Zipperpig F.M. (art and story by GWAR's Bob Gorman) being another origin story, while GWAR: Slave Girl Follies (written by Miner and illustrated by Scott Wygmans) focuses on the female fury of Gwar Girls, Estrogina and Slymenstra. There is a lot to be had in just this one issue and all for the admission price of $3.99.

This comic is an unashamedly, gwarsome, over the top book putting the 'comic' well and truly back into comic books and while I am sure certain readers will not necessarily appreciate the level of cheeky, knowingly cheesy humour and horror, I for one do. Having been raised here in the UK with the likes of Viz and other humour mags of that nature, who were never afraid to test the boundaries of taste, And being an unabashed fan of GWAR for far too long, I relished this book and can't wait for a second slimey serving. Although, it helps that the artwork, by both Jonathan Brandon Sawyer (what a find!) and Matt 'Sawborg Destructo' Maguire is of such a high, professional quality as well, making this far more than simply a love letter from a fan. Rather, this is a very welcome addition, then, to the ever growing list of rock 'n' roll comics. And, if there was ever a Top Ten of such comics, GWAR: Orgasmageddon would be up there with the best of 'em, showering them all from above in a way only President Trump would appreciate.

GWAR: Orgasmageddon No.1 is out on Wednesday June 7th at all good comic book stores. And, I dare say, some down and dirty stores too! Published by dynamite, Writer: Matt Miner and Matt Maguire, Artist: Jonathan Brandon Sawyer and Matt Maguire, Price: $3.99

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