The Goon

The Goonis acomic book serieswritten and drawn byEric Powell. The series mixes both a comical and violent atmosphere with asupernaturalslant, which pit the titular character against undead creatures/zombies, ghosts, ghouls, mutants, skunk-apes with an unnatural hunger for pies, giant squids, mob/gang leaders, extra-dimensional aliens, mad scientists and robots.
An early prototype ofThe Goonwas first published in 1995, in a book calledBest Cellars #1from Out of the Cellar Comics. This prototype was calledMonster Boy, and the story was written and illustrated by Eric Powell.
The Goondebuted in Avatar Illustrated (June 1998, Avatar Press) in a 1-page Preview, which is the true first cameo appearance of the character. Powell was unhappy with the quality of the Avatar Press comics after just 3 issues, so he stopped handing in new material and waited for his contract to expire. Once that happened, he was unable to find another publisher, so he moved into self-publishing in 2002 with Albatross Exploding Funny Books. These self-published issues caught the eye of Dark Horse Comics, which approached Powell by telling him that they didn't know why they passed on the book, and in 2003 publication ofThe Goonmoved to Dark Horse.
The book also received a release that would never be reprinted in trade format,Satan's Sodomy Baby.
After Dark Horse Comics published issue #18,The Goonwent on hiatus to allowEric Powellto work onChinatown, a graphic novel exploring the Goon's backstory, and which was released asChinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wickerin 2007. The series returned with issue #19 on July 11, 2007.
A one-shot comic was released titledDethklokvs. The Goonon July 22, 2009. BothEric PowellandBrendon Smallco-wrote the comic.
Another one-shot comic was released titled "When Freaks Collide" in July 2011. It was a collaboration between theCriminal Macabrecomic series andThe GoonbySteve Niles, Christopher Mitten, and Eric Powell.
In 2019 Eric Powell's Albatross Funnybooks began publishing a new ongoing Goon series.
Eric Powellrevealed on July 5, 2006, in the introduction toThe Goonissue #18, that the issue was originally going to be "Satan's Sodomy Baby".That story was allegedly held back due to complaints of a woman called 'Margaret Snodgrass', a fictitious person created by Powell to generate buzz about this 'controversial' issue. Powell wrote that "for various reasons I've decided to hold off on putting that story out". He states that the story is incredibly graphic and he had considered placing a label reading "NOT FOR MINORS" on it. He wrote that Dark Horse, while supporting both him and the issue completely, feared public backlash from its publication, but would eventually put out the issue. Word of the comic's release was allegedly leaked, leading to a threat of a boycott by the fictitious Snodgrass. According to Powell, "a grass-roots movement was started to try to keep retailers from carrying it by a right-wing Bible thumper in Alabama named 'Margaret Snodgrass'. She claimed that the comic was morally reprehensible and contacted local area retailers telling them that even allowing the comic to be stocked on their shelves could lead to their ever-lasting damnation. Some listened to her and threatened to stop carryingThe Goonaltogether because of this single issue."
Eventually, a release date was set as May 16 with the title changed to "Satan's $@#%* Baby" and carrying a disclaimer. The inside cover, however, maintained the original title "Satan's Sodomy Baby", along with the original cover art. Four pages of the book reprinted several fan letters in support of the struggle against Snodgrass.
There has never been any evidence of a real boycott, no retailers have ever spoken out on the issue, and there is no evidence of Mrs. Snodgrass' existence other than a MySpace page created around the time of Powell's initial announcement and abandoned immediately after the Sodomy issue was released.
A 3-part miniseries featuring the character Buzzard, set after the events of Goon Year (simply entitled "Buzzard") was later published inThe Goon: Volume 10.
The Goon: Noiris a series of original short stories by various artists and authors (not including Eric Powell himself), which take place within the world of The Goon. Notable authors include well-known comics such asTom Lennon,Brian Posehn, andPatton Oswalt.
Not necessarily a spin-off, but maintaining a similar tone while being appropriate for all ages, is another recently published comic by Powell calledChimichanga.Chimichangais about a bearded girl, a gorilla monster and a witch. Originally a self-published graphic novel, in September 2011 the novel was published in hardcover format by Dark Horse Comics, with colours byDave Stewart.
TheGoonofficial site said in 2008 that a CG animated film ofThe Goonwas to be produced byBlur StudioandDavid Fincherand written by Eric Powell.Clancy Brownwas to voice The Goon andPaul Giamattias Franky.A release date was not specified, nor had a plot. The film's future was uncertain as it had trouble procuring funds.The film's poster stated that it would be released theatrically.The first trailer from the film was released on 20 July 2010.Powell updated the film status in January 2012, in his words: "The Goonis in the exact same position it's been in for the past couple of years. Prepping the design and script while searching for funding".
Blur Studio and Fincher launched a 30-dayKickstarterin October 2012, an on-line fundraising campaign, titled "The Goon" Movie... let's KICKSTART this sucker!!!", to raise $400,000 to finance a story reel for the entire film.The Kickstarter page also explained why they need the money: "The Goonfilm has NEVER been in production. All the work you've seen (animation footage, trailers, artwork, etc.) has been produced independently and out-of-pocket by the creative team of David Fincher, Eric Powell, Blur Studio andDark Horse Entertainment. We created "proof of concept" footage to show Hollywood the incredible potential of aGoonmovie. It was very well received BUT because this movie isn't a sequel or filled with dancing animals we'll need more to bust open the gates and UNLEASH Goon and Franky on Hollywood".Two days before the deadline, the landmark was achieved,and the campaign closed on November 11, raising $441,900 from 7,576 backers.Blur Studios andTim Millerteased an upcoming announcement in 2017 regarding the film and said it "would happen".
The film was announced to be in development with20th Century FoxandChernin Entertainmentin 2019,but as a result of theDisney/Fox merger, the film was dropped, entering a search for a new distributor.In July 2022, Tim Miller announced thatNetflixacquired the distribution rights to the film withPatrick Osborneset to write and direct.
The series is collected in trade paperbacks:
The series has also been collected as hardcover 'Fancy Pants Editions':
Subsequently, the series has been collected in oversized hardcover Library Editions:
Most recently the series has been collected as paperback Omnibus Editions:
There are also two Books that were originally collected or published outside of the main series. They subsequently have been included in the later collected editions, and were originally collected or published as:
In the 2007 filmSuperbad, Evan is playing a video game in his bedroom while his friend Seth stands in the doorway. During this scene's lively exchange, two different posters forThe Goonare clearly visible hanging on the walls next to each actor.
In the 2007 filmThe Mist, issues of bothThe Goon&Hellboyare briefly visible on a rotating comic book rack in the scene when Thomas Jane and a small band of survivors venture into a pharmacy to get drugs for the injured at their home base in the adjoining grocery store.
In the 2008 filmThe Sasquatch Gang, PVC figurines of Goon and Buzzard from the comic are seen on a character's desk.
InThe Big Bang Theoryepisode "The Excelsior Acquisition", a poster can be seen in the comic book shop.
InDegrassi: The Next Generation, the characters Adam and Eli readThe Goonand discuss the Chinatown saga.
In the 2018 filmPuppet Master: The Littlest Reich, actor Thomas Lennon works at a comic book store where several posters and a t-shirt showcaseThe Goon.