The Goon


The Goon is a comic book series written and drawn by Eric Powell. The series mixes both a comical and violent atmosphere with a supernatural slant, 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.

Publication history

An early prototype of The Goon was first published in 1995, in a book called Best Cellars #1 from Out of the Cellar Comics. This prototype was called Monster Boy, and the story was written and illustrated by Eric Powell.
The Goon debuted in Avatar Illustrated 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 of The Goon moved 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 Goon went on hiatus to allow Eric Powell to work on Chinatown, a graphic novel which tells more of the Goon's back story. The series returned with issue #19 on July 11, 2007.
On July 22, 2009 a one-shot comic was released titled Dethklok vs. The Goon. Both Eric Powell and Brendon Small co-wrote the comic.
On July 20, 2011 another one-shot comic was released titled "When Freaks Collide". It was a collaboration between the comic series and The Goon by Steve Niles, Christopher Mitten, and Eric Powell.
In 2019 Eric Powell's Albatross Funnybooks began publishing a new ongoing Goon series.

Issues

† denotes an Avatar Press publication
‡ denotes an Albatross Exploding Funny Books publication

Numbered Trade Paperback Collections

Fancy Pants Editions

Library Editions

Omnibus Editions

Others

Main characters

Creatures

'revealed' on July 5, 2006, in the introduction to The Goon Issue #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, "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 carrying The Goon altogether 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.
In September 2010 on Twitter, Eric Powell confirmed that a sequel to Satan's Sodomy Baby was in the works. It will be called SSB2 to avoid the same issues with the title of the first story.

Spin-offs

In January 2010, Eric Powell announced plans for a 3-part miniseries featuring the character Buzzard, set after the events of Goon Year. The 3-part series was later published in The Goon: Volume 10.
The Goon: Noir is a series of original short stories by various artists and authors, which take place within the world of The Goon. Notable authors include well-known comics such as Tom Lennon, Brian Posehn, and Patton Oswalt.
Not necessarily a spin-off, but maintaining a similar tone while being appropriate for all ages, is another recently published comic by Powell called Chimichanga. Chimichanga is about a bearded girl, a gorilla monster and a witch. Originally a self-published graphic novel, in September 2011 it was published in hardcover format by Dark Horse Comics, with colours by Dave Stewart.

Film

In June 2008 it was announced on the Goon official site that a CG animated film of The Goon was to be produced by Blur Studio and David Fincher and written by Eric Powell. Clancy Brown will voice The Goon and Paul Giamatti will be Franky. A release date has not yet been specified, nor has a plot. The film's future is uncertain as it has had trouble procuring funds. The film's poster states that it will be released theatrically. The first trailer from the film was released on 20 July 2010. In January 2012, Powell updated the film status, saying, "The Goon is in the exact same position it's been in for the past couple of years. Prepping the design and script while searching for funding."
On October 12, 2012, Blur Studio and Fincher launched a 30-day Kickstarter, 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 Goon Film has NEVER been in production. All the work you've seen has been produced independently and out-of-pocket by the creative team of David Fincher, Eric Powell, Blur Studio and Dark Horse Entertainment. We created "proof of concept" footage to show Hollywood the incredible potential of a Goon movie. 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, 2012, raising $441,900 from 7,576 backers. No release date has been announced yet. On July 26, 2017, Blur Studios and Tim Miller teased an upcoming announcement regarding the film and said it "would happen".
On May 16, 2019, it was announced that the film is in development with 20th Century Fox and Chernin Group.

Awards

In the 2007 film Superbad, 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 for The Goon are clearly visible hanging on the walls next to each actor.
In the 2007 film The Mist, issues of both The Goon & Hellboy are 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 film The Sasquatch Gang, PVC figurines of Goon and Buzzard from the comic are seen on a character's desk.
In The Big Bang Theory episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", a poster can be seen in the comic book shop.
In ', the characters Adam and Eli read The Goon and discuss the Chinatown saga.
In the 2018 film ', actor Thomas Lennon works at a comic book store where several posters and a t-shirt showcase The Goon.