Creator: Eric Powell
Colours: Dave Stewart
As usual, Eric Powell provides an atmospheric cover, reminiscent of Will Eisner if that master had ever turned his hand to a gangster comic with horror elements. For this issue we see a frail old lady manning a picket line, whilst looming ominously behind her (and the phrase “looming ominously" could have been invented for this scene) is some sort of supernatural creature that resembles a demonic gorilla.
This all bodes well for your typical Goon story, all over-the-top violence against ugly and evil things whilst wisecracks are duly quipped, from which the reader emerges smiling and feeling fully entertained. However there is something more to this tale, a solid core that demands to be taken seriously. Powell has something to say with this tale, and he sugar coats the pill enough that it’s been swallowed before the US Conservatives grasp that they’ve been sold something that is (shock!) liberal. A brave move given the way the loud but essentially dumb US extremists on the right tend to attack anything seen as remotely left wing (so as an aside, we keep reading about legends of the comic industry needing help with hospital bills, and the rest of the civilised world looks on with astonishment when the idea of introducing universal health care free at the point of service is held up as some sort of deal with the devil. Seems strange when people can’t afford to get ill, but who am I to question the land of the free?).
Anyway, I digress. The story itself is an old EC style moral horror story. We start with the old lady from the cover going to work in a factory. She looks like she should be retired, but she has no money after her husband and her son were killed in a mine collapse. She works in the Pentagram Girdle Factory, which the Fire Marshall knows is a fire hazard but refuses to condemn, him being in the pocket of the factory owner. Inevitably there is a fire but the factory owner is cleared, and even comes out with a tidy profit from the insurance.
Colours: Dave Stewart
As usual, Eric Powell provides an atmospheric cover, reminiscent of Will Eisner if that master had ever turned his hand to a gangster comic with horror elements. For this issue we see a frail old lady manning a picket line, whilst looming ominously behind her (and the phrase “looming ominously" could have been invented for this scene) is some sort of supernatural creature that resembles a demonic gorilla.
This all bodes well for your typical Goon story, all over-the-top violence against ugly and evil things whilst wisecracks are duly quipped, from which the reader emerges smiling and feeling fully entertained. However there is something more to this tale, a solid core that demands to be taken seriously. Powell has something to say with this tale, and he sugar coats the pill enough that it’s been swallowed before the US Conservatives grasp that they’ve been sold something that is (shock!) liberal. A brave move given the way the loud but essentially dumb US extremists on the right tend to attack anything seen as remotely left wing (so as an aside, we keep reading about legends of the comic industry needing help with hospital bills, and the rest of the civilised world looks on with astonishment when the idea of introducing universal health care free at the point of service is held up as some sort of deal with the devil. Seems strange when people can’t afford to get ill, but who am I to question the land of the free?).
Anyway, I digress. The story itself is an old EC style moral horror story. We start with the old lady from the cover going to work in a factory. She looks like she should be retired, but she has no money after her husband and her son were killed in a mine collapse. She works in the Pentagram Girdle Factory, which the Fire Marshall knows is a fire hazard but refuses to condemn, him being in the pocket of the factory owner. Inevitably there is a fire but the factory owner is cleared, and even comes out with a tidy profit from the insurance.
The surviving factory workers decide to go on strike and, following an encounter with the corrupt police and some strike breakers, seek the protection of the Goon. The rest follows what happens when the Goon encounters the factory owner’s muscle, with a little EC twist in the final scene.
It’s funny but on rereading this I couldn’t find many of the one liners I automatically assumed were there. I remember being just as entertained, but the quips are few and far between. There are however some moments of real tragedy and absolute pathos, such as the trapped factory workers jumping to their deaths, and the little girl whose mother was killed confronting the factory owner. As has been mentioned, it’s an EC style morality tale, so the melodrama is cranked up, and the art is suitably expressive. Eric Powell really does have Eisner’s way with facial expressions, and his chops as regards storytelling ability are never in doubt.
The editorial in The Goon is usually bawdy and lewd and funny as anything. This time though, Eric Powell uses the page to reveal that the inspiration for this story was a real life incident, identical to that told in the story. The photos that go with this of the dead women lying on the floor are as shocking as they are heartbreaking, and leave one with some food for thought and a feeling of humility in the face of the suffering these women went through, and the strength they had for the ultimate triumph which resulted in safer working conditions.
The Goon always comes highly recommended, but this issue is definitely one you should not miss out on.
It’s funny but on rereading this I couldn’t find many of the one liners I automatically assumed were there. I remember being just as entertained, but the quips are few and far between. There are however some moments of real tragedy and absolute pathos, such as the trapped factory workers jumping to their deaths, and the little girl whose mother was killed confronting the factory owner. As has been mentioned, it’s an EC style morality tale, so the melodrama is cranked up, and the art is suitably expressive. Eric Powell really does have Eisner’s way with facial expressions, and his chops as regards storytelling ability are never in doubt.
The editorial in The Goon is usually bawdy and lewd and funny as anything. This time though, Eric Powell uses the page to reveal that the inspiration for this story was a real life incident, identical to that told in the story. The photos that go with this of the dead women lying on the floor are as shocking as they are heartbreaking, and leave one with some food for thought and a feeling of humility in the face of the suffering these women went through, and the strength they had for the ultimate triumph which resulted in safer working conditions.The Goon always comes highly recommended, but this issue is definitely one you should not miss out on.
