The Goon
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- This article is about the comic book, for the former WWF wrestler see Barney Irwin.
The Goon is a comic book series by Eric Powell. Originally published by Albatross Comics before Powell switched to Dark Horse Comics, the story is about the adventures of the Goon, a muscle-bound brawler who claims to be the primary enforcer for the feared mobster Labrazio. The Goon (and his sidekick Franky) often get tied up in other machinations, often in relation to the evil zombie gangs under the command of the Nameless Zombie Priest.
The Goon takes place in an unspecified time during the classic noir era (1940-1958). The series has a distinctly paranormal slant, with the average story concerning ghosts, ghouls, skunk-apes with an unnatural hunger for pie, extradimensional aliens, and mad scientists. Though the story is set in the US, it is not set in a named locale and rarely references any real-world people or events.
On more than one occasion Powell has metafictionally hinted that The Goon is indeed only a comic and that its reality exists as a comic reality instead of the comic implying (like Spider-Man or Superman) that it is taking place in the "real" world.
The Goon won two Eisner Awards in 2005, for Best Humor Publication and Best Continuing Series.
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[edit] Main characters
The Goon: An orphan raised by his Aunt Kizzie, a strong-woman for a carnival. When wanted gangster Labrazio made the carnival his hiding place, Goon snuck into his trailer after hearing about the man's viciousness. Labrazio showed the young Goon a book containing the names of his enemies, people who had done him favors, and people who owed him money. Finally the police came to take him in. In the resulting shoot-out, Goon's Aunt Kizzie, while trying to protect the Goon, was gunned down by stray bullets from Labrazio's firearm. When Labrazio dismissed Kizzie as a "stupid broad" for doing so, Goon killed Labrazio in a rage. Figuring the late gangster owed him something, Goon took Labrazio's book (and the man's hat) and took over the entire operation, collecting money and offing deadbeats, all the while insisting that Labrazio was still alive and the Goon was merely his "enforcer."
The Goon is a hulking figure, normally wearing brown pants, a white shirt, and the hat he removed from Labrazio. Occasionally he wears a faded blue shirt with green stripes on the sleeves--the uniform from his football days. The left side of his face is horribly scarred by mysterious circumstances (often hinted at as having occurred in a place Goon wants to forget, "Chinatown," also referring to similar events in the Roman Polanski neo-noir of the same name). His eyes are blue, with the scarring on the left side of his face rendering his left eye blind. He has brown hair.
Franky: After killing Labrazio, the Goon met Franky, a cowardly kid who was continually picked on by bullies. They became fast friends after the Goon beat up a kid who tormented him. The Goon involved Franky in his criminal business, setting out to burn down a barbershop which refused to pay protection to the Goon. During the arson attempt, they were attacked by zombies. Franky, not believing he could, killed a zombie in self-defense, at which time he underwent a change in personality, adopting a haughty "tough-guy" persona similar to the Goon's and taking up the position of the Goon's right-hand man. Franky normally wears brown pants with suspenders, a white shirt, and a brown fedora on his bald head.
The Zombie Priest: Arch-nemesis of the Goon, the priest is a mysterious man who dwells on Lonely Street, protected on all sides by his undead hordes. The Zombie Priest (also called The Nameless Priest and other variations) is steeped in the occult, and seems bent on building up his rotting army, perhaps to one day conquer humankind. He is grizzled and almost zombie-like in appearance himself, sporting a top hat decorated by the flayed skin of a face. The priest's chief creations are the greenish animated corpses that occupy much of Lonely Street, but he has also succeeded in reanimating an enormous chimp more than once. He also has the allied support of giant bats and hags and sometimes consorts with a huge, irate goat-god. The Zombie Priest was recently revealed to be a demon creature loosely based on the folk tale "Rumpelstiltskin," who spent a thousand years in hell after a princess discovered his name.
Buzzard: Former sheriff of an old West town that the Zombie Priest came to. As Buzzard was the only doubter of the Priest's unholy wisdom, he was shunned and became an alcoholic. Meanwhile, the town was stricken by a strange plague that killed people and brought them back to life. After being mocked by the Zombie Priest, the sheriff became consumed by vengeance and rode through the town, slaughtering zombies and ending up at the Priest's tent with a knife in his hands, threatening to kill him for destroying the town. The terrified Priest attempted to use his necromancy on the sheriff, but rather than turning him into a zombie, it had a reverse effect. He developed an insatiable hunger for the flesh of the dead, which garnered him the name, "Buzzard." He continued his journey to destroy the Priest once and for all.
Dr. Hieronymous Alloy: A brilliant scientist whose attempts to help the public have nearly all back-fired, one of them landing him in debt to the Goon after wrongfully sending one of his murderous robots after him. Alloy turned his attentions to more virtuous pursuits such as destroying zombies on Lonely Street and defeating a giant Spanish-speaking lizard poised to destroy the city. Alloy has golden, metallic skin--an apparent effect of extensive alchemical research that he conducted. Recent campaigns (caused by the molecular break-down of his body, and ensuing insanity) to annihilate everyone with his robot army have landed him back in prison.
[edit] Minor characters
Legarto Hombre: Formerly a Godzilla-like monster, after being defeated by the Goon he has been reduced to acting as a man-servant to Dr. Alloy. Though his behavior has been curbed by drugs, the second incarceration of Alloy has led to a lapse in his medication and led to a rampage through the more quaint parts of Goon's turf. Legarto speaks Spanish (with little regard to grammar or coherency).
Spider: A giant talking spider who wears a bowler hat. Spider has the rare distinction of being a criminal that the Goon dislikes but hasn't killed. He can be seen skipping out on child support, cheating at cards or hustling others at Norton's Bar. He's also the victim of violence from the Goon and others, having been beaten mercilessly simply for being a talking spider or owing the Goon five bucks.
Momma Norton: The seemingly crazy gypsy mother of pub owner Norton. Though her advice has often aided Goon, it usually comes in the form of eccentric behavior.
Lazlo: Lazlo is the green-skinned zombie assistant of the Zombie Priest. He differs from most other zombies in that he can form complete sentences.
The Mudds: The Mudds are a pair of brothers that work as enforcers for the Goon (and Franky for a short time while Goon was in prison). They have a penchant for breaking legs for not meeting debt payments (often regardless of when the payment is made). They are rightfully regarded as moronic but brutal, so they have their uses in the world of the Goon.
The Unholy Bastards: The Unholy Bastards are a group of juvenile delinquints who first made their appearance with the intention of breaking the Goon out of prison. They live at the McGreg Home For Illegitimate, Wayward and Possibly Homicidal Youth. Though they aided Goon in his prison break, they have proven to be little more than a nuisance, the Goon having no need for kids in his operation.
The Graves: A family of three sickly men (a father and two sons). Each of the three men is afflicted with leprosy, the price the eldest Grave paid for making a pact with the Zombie Priest. They often get beaten or blown up by the Goon on their body-snatching raids for the Zombie Priest. Despite being unable to communicate normally, the twins are capable of speaking Hobo, thus saving them from the wrath of the Hobo Jungle's many cannibals.
Willie Nagel: Besides Lazlo, he is the only other zombie in the Goon's world to speak English. Willie has more than a passing similarity to Spider since they both wear bowler hats, are scam artists, and hang around the Goon despite being constantly abused by him. Unlike Spider, he has actually proven himself useful to the Goon, even if it was for a price.
Mother Corpse: Due to Buzzard's and the Goon's efforts, the Zombie Priest's corpse fueled army has almost completely been destroyed. As a result, he was forced to turn to magic--namely Mother Corpse--who is capable of birthing hordes of miniature demons that can combine themselves into a larger monster. At this point in the Goon's story arc, it is unclear whether or not "Satan's Sodomy Baby" is an offspring of Mother Corpse.
[edit] Creatures
The world of The Goon is inhabited by more than a few odd and interesting creatures. Below lies a few of them.
Skunk Ape: The Skunk Ape is a large, sasquatch-like monster with a hideous odor. The Skunk Ape is driven to homicidal enthusiasm by the scent of pies (especially blueberry).
Zombies: Zombies are the primary servants of the Zombie Priest. Very few seem to be capable of speaking or other sophisticated procedures. Raised by necromancy they are capable of following orders, though only from the Zombie Priest himself. Referred to by Franky and the Goon as "slackjaws."
Hobos: Hobos are the cannibal overlords of the dark forested region known as the "Hobo Jungle." The culture of the Hobo is apparently completely separate from the rest of the world, so far as they have their own language and resemble cavemen more than humans. They are led by a man that has a conspicuous resemblance to Bob Dylan.
Chug-Heads: The Chug-Heads have replaced zombies as the bulk of the Zombie Priest's army. Products of Mother Corpse, they are small, dwarf-like creatures with large, potato-shaped heads. Unlike zombies, they are capable of merging into one another to create a larger, more deadly monster.
[edit] Miscellaneous characters
Dwight T. Albatross: Dwight T. Albatross is the irate, often intoxicated friend of Eric Powell who has made many appearances in the comic's letter comics, as well as in person at the 2006 Comic Con. Albatross is never afraid to speak his mind and often keeps the Machiavellian madness of Eric Powell in check. Dwight had been arrested for destroying issues of The Goon in retribution for his unjust termination at the hands of Powell.
Margaret Snodgrass: Aided in the delay of the issue #18's original story "Satan's Sodomy Baby." At the 2006 Comic Con, Powell's booth carried fan-made buttons declaring "Screw Snodgrass! Demand Satan's Sodomy Baby!" which were given out as a gift to fans of The Goon.
[edit] References
Frank from Blue Velvet can often be seen in the background of bars, usually with his nitrous oxide mask on.
There are constant references to Chinatown (film).
- The Goon: Fancy Pants Edition
- The Goon Vol. 0: Rough Stuff (The artwork is from when The Goon was with Albatross)
- The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin' but Misery
- The Goon Vol. 2: My Murderous Childhood (And Other Grievous Yarns)
- The Goon Vol. 3: Heaps of Ruination
- The Goon Vol. 4: Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof
- The Goon Vol. 5: Wicked Inclinations (available December 2006)
