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Great Pacific #1
Great Pacific Volume 1: Trashed!
When fugitive oil heir Chas Worthington settles the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch, plants a flag, and declares it his own sovereign nation, the reality of the environmental catastrophe is only the beginning of his odyssey. From acclaimed writer Joe Harris (Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous) and artist Martin Morazzo (Absolute Magnitude) comes a sprawling adventure across earth's newest, strangest frontier!
Collects issues #1-6 of this groundbreaking series.
Collects issues #1-6 of this groundbreaking series.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Joe Harris
446 books105 followersJOE HARRIS is the co-creator and writer of original comics and graphic novels such as the Image Comics rock ‘n’ roll thrill ride, Rockstars, and the environmental sci-fi epics, Great Pacific and Snowfall; along with the supernatural thrillers, Ghost Projekt and Spontaneous, and the children’s fantasy, Wars In Toyland, for Oni Press. In 2013, Joe began a long stint writing the officially-licensed continuation of the paranormal investigations of Agents Mulder and Scully in The X-Files comics at IDW to the enjoyment of fans around the world. The X-Files: Cold Cases—the best-selling audio dramatization of Joe’s comics scripts featuring the voices of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and the entire original X-Files cast—and the follow-up, The X-Files: Stolen Lives were released by Audible beginning in 2017.
As a young creator at Marvel Comics, Joe launched the cult-classic Spider-Man spinoff, Slingers and the Bishop: The Last X-Man series. He has written for just about all major comics publishers including DC Comics, Marvel, Image, IDW, Dark Horse, Valiant, BOOM! and others.
A horror screenwriter and filmmaker, Harris conceived and co-wrote Darkness Falls for Sony Pictures—after his short film, Tooth Fairy was acquired by Revolution Studios and he was hired to develop it into a feature—along with the politically farcical slasher movie, The Tripper for FOX. In 2018, he co-wrote the live-action web series, Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe for Valiant Entertainment.
His latest project is Surviving Nuclear Attack, a paranoid sci-fi thriller, set to launch in 2019 as part of John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction from Storm King Comics.
As a young creator at Marvel Comics, Joe launched the cult-classic Spider-Man spinoff, Slingers and the Bishop: The Last X-Man series. He has written for just about all major comics publishers including DC Comics, Marvel, Image, IDW, Dark Horse, Valiant, BOOM! and others.
A horror screenwriter and filmmaker, Harris conceived and co-wrote Darkness Falls for Sony Pictures—after his short film, Tooth Fairy was acquired by Revolution Studios and he was hired to develop it into a feature—along with the politically farcical slasher movie, The Tripper for FOX. In 2018, he co-wrote the live-action web series, Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe for Valiant Entertainment.
His latest project is Surviving Nuclear Attack, a paranoid sci-fi thriller, set to launch in 2019 as part of John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction from Storm King Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 12, 2020
There's some really cool ideas here, it's just that some of them seem to just be thrown in randomly to see what sticks. A young oil magnate decides to make his own way by claiming the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as a sovereign nation. The problem is we don't ever get a hint of what he's trying to do as besides announcing he's doing that, he's just running all over this garbage patch meeting random entities. Hopefully, the story will gel better in the next volume. Martin Morazzo's art is a mashup of Mobius and early Frank Quitely.
February 20, 2015
wooow. ok so i think i put a hold on this at the library based solely on the cover, and that was obviously a mistake because it was terrible. such a classic rich-boy-wants-to-better-dead-father's-company-but the company-won't-let-him story steeped in white privilege. all the poc are servants/subordinates/evil, and man oh man don't get me started on the mystical indigenous peoples. and the entire time, you know, while he's fucking up left and right, poor little rich boy still thinks he'd doing the Right Thing and that he'll eventually be found the Hero of the story. barf.
September 16, 2017
The premise is hard to like - but like the trash pile that the protagonists claim, the forces of Joe Harris and artist Martin Morazzo find a way to turn it into something powerful.
Again - the premise is odd - a millionaire kid crashes into the garbage patch floating in the pacific ocean, and claims it as his own.
But soon - interesting things happen. The characters aren't likeable - but for some reason you can't turn away. Great tale, and great art from Martin Morazzo.
Again - the premise is odd - a millionaire kid crashes into the garbage patch floating in the pacific ocean, and claims it as his own.
But soon - interesting things happen. The characters aren't likeable - but for some reason you can't turn away. Great tale, and great art from Martin Morazzo.
April 30, 2014
The premise is certainly interesting. Young millionaire Chas Worthington has set a claim to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, essentially a floating trash heap so tightly packed that a person can walk on it, even set up a small building on it. (The real life version is considerably less exciting.) That was the hook that drew me in. I stayed for the giant octopus. I love a good cephalopod. I would have been happy if Harris had chosen to put a greater focus on the setting. It's what I was really curious about, after all. Instead, he spends much more time focusing on Chas and his story. This isn't a bad thing, just not what I was most interested in.
July 29, 2014
Solid, thought provoking story told through the eyes of a naive protagonist. If you like Think Tank, you should enjoy Great Pacific.
May 22, 2013
A rich young oil-heir, a mutant octopus and a new country founded on a man-made floating garbage heap are all featured in Great Pacific Volume 1: Trashed, which collects the first 6 comics in the series.
Chas Worthington has it all and is known as a frivolous young man. After his father dies, he is in line to inherit the oil company his family owns, but Chas has other plans. It seems he feels responsible for the mess we've created and decides to found a new country on a floating heap of garbage out in the Pacific. Taking along his best friend, he is quickly pursued by those he left behind. He also runs into mutant animals, pirates and soviet nukes.
All in all a fun ride. An interesting sci-fi premise with a feeling of the great punk comics of the 1980s. Gorgeous art by Martin Morazzo has a real Moebius feel to it, and Joe Harris has written a story with humor, adventure and a great 'stick-it-to-the-man' feel to it. There is so much happening in these 6 issues, and I can't wait to see what they do next.
Chas Worthington has it all and is known as a frivolous young man. After his father dies, he is in line to inherit the oil company his family owns, but Chas has other plans. It seems he feels responsible for the mess we've created and decides to found a new country on a floating heap of garbage out in the Pacific. Taking along his best friend, he is quickly pursued by those he left behind. He also runs into mutant animals, pirates and soviet nukes.
All in all a fun ride. An interesting sci-fi premise with a feeling of the great punk comics of the 1980s. Gorgeous art by Martin Morazzo has a real Moebius feel to it, and Joe Harris has written a story with humor, adventure and a great 'stick-it-to-the-man' feel to it. There is so much happening in these 6 issues, and I can't wait to see what they do next.
April 23, 2014
This was a good read. Not what I expected, I did not expect the story of a spoiled rich kid trying to forge an empire / country out of a giant person supporting garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean. I was a little disappointed. Because another spoiled kid story was not what the giant squid on the cover promised. ;-)
July 21, 2013
The Great Garbage Patch is a sign of the times and should be a signal for immediate global action towards reducing, reusing and actively finding ways to remove the pollution.
Chas Worthington the third believe he's figured it out. Of course many corporate elements do not want that, and of course his own oil company doesn't want that. I mean who cares about trash that's killing the planet when you have the money for a comfortable life. It's not like you'll be around when the shit hits the fan.
So Chas has to take drastic measures and stakes the Garbage Patch as sovereign territory. Now a lot of people are after him, for their own reasons. Pirates, the army, his company. And a giant octopus, which is one of the story's more tender moments.
Great Pacific is one of the few social and environmentally aware graphic novels hitting the shelves, and perhaps this will appeal to a younger generation to take action, or at least, if you're unfortunately like me, think about taking action.
Chas Worthington the third believe he's figured it out. Of course many corporate elements do not want that, and of course his own oil company doesn't want that. I mean who cares about trash that's killing the planet when you have the money for a comfortable life. It's not like you'll be around when the shit hits the fan.
So Chas has to take drastic measures and stakes the Garbage Patch as sovereign territory. Now a lot of people are after him, for their own reasons. Pirates, the army, his company. And a giant octopus, which is one of the story's more tender moments.
Great Pacific is one of the few social and environmentally aware graphic novels hitting the shelves, and perhaps this will appeal to a younger generation to take action, or at least, if you're unfortunately like me, think about taking action.
May 27, 2014
Corporate heir decides to take himself out of the system and build a country on the gigantic trash heap in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
It definitely has an agenda, but there are only a few pages where things feel overly didactic to the detriment of the story. Most of it is high action adventure, with a touch of corporate espionage to boot. I liked how the different groups and creatures which interact with the island interact with each other. I never got a good sense of the main character(s), but maybe that's coming in future volumes.
I hope this continues.
I'm definitely a fan of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch getting exposure.
It definitely has an agenda, but there are only a few pages where things feel overly didactic to the detriment of the story. Most of it is high action adventure, with a touch of corporate espionage to boot. I liked how the different groups and creatures which interact with the island interact with each other. I never got a good sense of the main character(s), but maybe that's coming in future volumes.
I hope this continues.
I'm definitely a fan of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch getting exposure.
May 17, 2013
At first, I thought this was going to be one of those rare five-star comics - fascinating premise, and an unusual story. However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's still intriguing, and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished the whole thing, but it doesn't quite have the deftness of touch that would make it a true classic. There's too much focus on the weird plot, and not enough exploration of the situation or the character.
Still, very highly recommended for those who like comics that aren't just slam-bang super-action and have something different to offer.
Still, very highly recommended for those who like comics that aren't just slam-bang super-action and have something different to offer.
September 13, 2018
What's a bigger pile of trash: this book, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Alright, this book isn't quite that bad, but wow I did not enjoy this at all. The art was rudimentary and unengaging, not a likeable character among the bunch, and the tiredest of tropes being dragged out one after another. I was so curious after i heard the premise of this story and was hoping for....pretty much just not this. Definitely will not continue series.
Alright, this book isn't quite that bad, but wow I did not enjoy this at all. The art was rudimentary and unengaging, not a likeable character among the bunch, and the tiredest of tropes being dragged out one after another. I was so curious after i heard the premise of this story and was hoping for....pretty much just not this. Definitely will not continue series.
November 5, 2014
The setting on the island of plastic debris in the Pacific is creative, but the rich white boy messiah trope is played out.
September 10, 2013
I had access to Great Pacific Volume 1: Trashed through NetGalley. The concept of a guy trying to turn a heap of trash into a nation really raised my expectations ever since I heard of it, probably too much for a beginning that, though far from bad, didn't really make my day.
Joe Harris has a lot of ideas for this work and maybe he just tried to use too many right from the start, resulting in a protagonist that is exposed to too many odd situations before I even know who he really is and that seem to have no palpable impact on him. I also had some trouble with the strange mixture between ecological utopian science fiction items and a series of events and elements that reminded me of post-modern narrative, something that could have been awesome but ended up uninteresting, perhaps due to some failure in storytelling, lack of flow or of a consistent and convincing beginning.
Martin Morazzo's illustration is competent, specially in terms of background and some specific elements, but is mediocre when considering some character's characterization, ending up with some very good panels and moments where it fails to help the storytelling.
This is an average comic, that would neither convince me to keep reading it nor really advise people to avoid it. In spite of this, I have heard that the next issues are much better than the one collected in Trashed, so I am actually considering giving it another go, if for nothing else, because I really want this concept to work out.
Last but not least, I must remind anyone reading this that the Great Pacific garbage patch is quite real and should probably, by itself, be making us change how we do a lot of stuff, shouldn't it?
This review was originally published on my blog in Portuguese and English.
Joe Harris has a lot of ideas for this work and maybe he just tried to use too many right from the start, resulting in a protagonist that is exposed to too many odd situations before I even know who he really is and that seem to have no palpable impact on him. I also had some trouble with the strange mixture between ecological utopian science fiction items and a series of events and elements that reminded me of post-modern narrative, something that could have been awesome but ended up uninteresting, perhaps due to some failure in storytelling, lack of flow or of a consistent and convincing beginning.
Martin Morazzo's illustration is competent, specially in terms of background and some specific elements, but is mediocre when considering some character's characterization, ending up with some very good panels and moments where it fails to help the storytelling.
This is an average comic, that would neither convince me to keep reading it nor really advise people to avoid it. In spite of this, I have heard that the next issues are much better than the one collected in Trashed, so I am actually considering giving it another go, if for nothing else, because I really want this concept to work out.
Last but not least, I must remind anyone reading this that the Great Pacific garbage patch is quite real and should probably, by itself, be making us change how we do a lot of stuff, shouldn't it?
This review was originally published on my blog in Portuguese and English.
February 7, 2015
The heir of an oil fortune decides to repudiate it all and establish his own micronation on the floating island of trash in the Great Pacific Gyre.
We're just going to accept for the moment the completely inaccurate portrayal of the garbage patch, because post-environmentalist micronations are cool (though even if there were a floating island of trash, it would still be portrayed wrong - the artist doesn't seem to understand how floating is different from being piled on land.) But we'll ignore that, and overlook the fact that the protagonist is deeply unlikeable, because I think it's supposed to be a redemption storyline where he slowly discovers he's an ass. And we'll overlook the way the female love interest falls in love with him at first sight for no discernable reason and then devotes her life to him, because the female love interest is a giant cephalopod, and I'll forgive a lot for a lovestruck cephalopod. And I'll let him have the noble savages, even if the portrayal was occasionally cringe-y, since at least he's trying to acknowledge that actually the rich white American boy probably doesn't automatically have the best claim to the new land.
But the whole thing would have been 5000% more entertaining if it had been about the Pacific Islanders, the Russian pirates, and the giant cephalopod figuring out how to deal with the annoying white boy, instead of the other way around.
We're just going to accept for the moment the completely inaccurate portrayal of the garbage patch, because post-environmentalist micronations are cool (though even if there were a floating island of trash, it would still be portrayed wrong - the artist doesn't seem to understand how floating is different from being piled on land.) But we'll ignore that, and overlook the fact that the protagonist is deeply unlikeable, because I think it's supposed to be a redemption storyline where he slowly discovers he's an ass. And we'll overlook the way the female love interest falls in love with him at first sight for no discernable reason and then devotes her life to him, because the female love interest is a giant cephalopod, and I'll forgive a lot for a lovestruck cephalopod. And I'll let him have the noble savages, even if the portrayal was occasionally cringe-y, since at least he's trying to acknowledge that actually the rich white American boy probably doesn't automatically have the best claim to the new land.
But the whole thing would have been 5000% more entertaining if it had been about the Pacific Islanders, the Russian pirates, and the giant cephalopod figuring out how to deal with the annoying white boy, instead of the other way around.
August 27, 2013
In case you haven't heard about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it is the world's biggest landfill, located in the middle of the Pacific. No, I'm not making this up, there is actually a large pile of plastic garbage floating in the middle of that ocean. And that is the main location for this comic, which basically follows the well-known trope of "rich kid inherits father's company, wants to prove himself by doing things better and improving the world".
A unique location, some sci-fi elements (like a device that can manipulate plastic), and a number of stories all coming into conflict with each other on this island of plastic -- that should be enough to warrant four stars, wouldn't it? You'd think so, but six issues into this storyline and everything just seems to get more and more complicated and elaborate, and I cannot help but wonder whether it is actually going somewhere.
There is clearly a great ambition behind this series, yet after six issues it feels like the author is still only setting up the story and I question the wisdom of featuring so many adversaries so early on. Only time will tell if he'll manage to keep it all going, so for now I keep reading.
A unique location, some sci-fi elements (like a device that can manipulate plastic), and a number of stories all coming into conflict with each other on this island of plastic -- that should be enough to warrant four stars, wouldn't it? You'd think so, but six issues into this storyline and everything just seems to get more and more complicated and elaborate, and I cannot help but wonder whether it is actually going somewhere.
There is clearly a great ambition behind this series, yet after six issues it feels like the author is still only setting up the story and I question the wisdom of featuring so many adversaries so early on. Only time will tell if he'll manage to keep it all going, so for now I keep reading.
May 9, 2014
As several people have said, there are negatives - the protagonist is a teenager, and the book is something of a coming-of-age story and therefore probably aimed more at YA than at the older audience, and that means that the characters are somewhat simplified. The bad guys always sneer; the aide-de-camp/sidekick always looks bewildered.
On the other hand, it certainly has everything, from eco-message to giant octopus, with pirates and mystery rockets in between. Makes for some fun action - and the octopus really is a neat character.
SPOILER:
The octopus is a female. This may or may not be relevant to anything in the future, but since that part isn't obvious from the cover, I guess it counts as a spoiler. It's certainly unexpected, and maybe makes me give the book a slightly higher rating, since it breaks us out of some cliches.
On the other hand, it certainly has everything, from eco-message to giant octopus, with pirates and mystery rockets in between. Makes for some fun action - and the octopus really is a neat character.
SPOILER:
The octopus is a female. This may or may not be relevant to anything in the future, but since that part isn't obvious from the cover, I guess it counts as a spoiler. It's certainly unexpected, and maybe makes me give the book a slightly higher rating, since it breaks us out of some cliches.
October 27, 2014
This is a great start on an intriguing story!
A young, oil business heir decides to claim the great Pacific garbage patch as his very own country (New Texas, lol), along with some tech that will help transform/terraform it into... well, not a gigantic pile of environmental waste.
All manner of wacky problems ensue: boardroom meetings, a gigantic octopus, an indigenous tribe (yes, already inhabiting the garbage patch), SEC investigations, pirates, the U.S. Navy, RUSSIAN NUKES!
It could almost be too crazy, but the story works, and I can't wait to read more. :)
A young, oil business heir decides to claim the great Pacific garbage patch as his very own country (New Texas, lol), along with some tech that will help transform/terraform it into... well, not a gigantic pile of environmental waste.
All manner of wacky problems ensue: boardroom meetings, a gigantic octopus, an indigenous tribe (yes, already inhabiting the garbage patch), SEC investigations, pirates, the U.S. Navy, RUSSIAN NUKES!
It could almost be too crazy, but the story works, and I can't wait to read more. :)
May 13, 2014
What a fascinating concept - an unhappy heir to an oil fortune decides to take the pacific garbage patch as a sovereign nation. There's lots of intrigue, mainly bureaucratic and political, but some action as well. There's a MacGuffin, an object that turns petroleum byproducts into water, but in the first collection it doesn't do a whole lot. There's also an octopus that is prevalent. It's a weird collection of ideas, but for the most part it works. It's got a lot of promise.
March 14, 2015
A millionaire heir to an oil fortune tries to claim the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as his own new nation, but doesn't realize it's already inhabited by natives, pirates, and a giant octopus (who may be in love with him). His storyline is action-filled and surprising, but there is also a storyline that follows the drama inside the boardroom of the corporation he left behind. I could finish this series for the garbage patch story, but the boardroom may keep me away.
January 25, 2014
Not bad. The idea of creating one's own sovereign nation on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is certainly an intriguing one. So far there's been so much running around and introduction of new characters and concepts that it's hard to tell where this is all going. I like the basic idea, but I think I want to read more of the story before I can tell whether I like it or not.
September 28, 2013
Wow, this was bad and stupid. A rich brat magically emezzles billions and creates his own nation on a garbage heap larger than Texas. Somehow the garbage heap supports an indigenous tribe of warriors. The story just gets more and more ludicrous.
March 27, 2016
Gross. Just gross. Typical story about white people doing what they think is noble and right and everyone non-white is a prop, or a villain. I wanted to like this due to the environmentalism aspect, I really did.
April 4, 2013
I felt this arc was a little uneven but overall entertaining. Definitely looking forward to what the future holds for this new series.
June 9, 2013
I claim this island of garbage in the name of Texas!
May 24, 2020
3.5⭐️
Set to inherit this insanely wealthy energy company is to his father’s death, Chad Worrhington is battling the life style he grew up on with his beliefs in trying to help clean up the garbage and waste plaguing the earth. With a new technological prototype that can manipulate or break down plastics and oil, he sets out on a mission to teach his company a lesson while using the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as a lesson for all.
I love the concept behind this and it’s a story after my own environmental heart. My biggest issue (which I didn’t notice the first time I read this) is that he’s doing all this heavily organized and intricate scheming and planning but he’s 14. He definitely acts like he’s in his 20. The biggest thing this series has going for it though is creativity. From mutated creatures to Russian Cold War tie ins, it’s definitely a creative story. Happy I did a reread and will now be able to carry on with the next volume.
Set to inherit this insanely wealthy energy company is to his father’s death, Chad Worrhington is battling the life style he grew up on with his beliefs in trying to help clean up the garbage and waste plaguing the earth. With a new technological prototype that can manipulate or break down plastics and oil, he sets out on a mission to teach his company a lesson while using the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as a lesson for all.
I love the concept behind this and it’s a story after my own environmental heart. My biggest issue (which I didn’t notice the first time I read this) is that he’s doing all this heavily organized and intricate scheming and planning but he’s 14. He definitely acts like he’s in his 20. The biggest thing this series has going for it though is creativity. From mutated creatures to Russian Cold War tie ins, it’s definitely a creative story. Happy I did a reread and will now be able to carry on with the next volume.
November 25, 2018
I'm glad I checked this out from the library and didn't buy it. I was intrigued by the premise, what if the great Pacific garbage patch was something you could actually stand on and lay a claim to? But the protagonist was wholly unlikeable and there were underlying strains of misogyny and racism. It came across as a rich, white boy's fantasy where he keeps repeating how great he is and how different he is from his father and grandfather, all while reenacting colonialism. I don't know if that was the point, but I don't plan on reading the second volume to find out. I found the bolding in the lettering distracting, which made it even harder for me to get through.
July 8, 2023
A rich kid inherits a fortune from his father an oil baron decides he wants to make a difference instead.
I actually read the first two issues of this series but they were pretty sparse on details. The art is okay. Not bad but nothing particular impressive to me.
He then claims an island of plastic garbage in the ocean.
Then a native comes and attacks him.
Then he falls in the ocean and is attacked by a giant squid.
He stabs the squid.
The end.
I give this 1 star and will not ever bother finding out what happens next.
I actually read the first two issues of this series but they were pretty sparse on details. The art is okay. Not bad but nothing particular impressive to me.
He then claims an island of plastic garbage in the ocean.
Then a native comes and attacks him.
Then he falls in the ocean and is attacked by a giant squid.
He stabs the squid.
The end.
I give this 1 star and will not ever bother finding out what happens next.
March 9, 2025
An annoying entitles asshole protagonist who monologues like there's no tomorrow. A juicy premise which begs for a more serious treatment. Chas' exact plan is vague, which makes it hard to get behind. Some lazy writing: it's mentioned early on that Chas is 14 years old, but also that he dates supermodels, competes in Formula 1 races and sits on the Board of a company? Also, he gets tied up twice, and both times his bonds literally just fall off at a convenient moment.
December 6, 2021
The problem with an anti hero is you have to in some way find him likeable enough to be interested to see where the story goes, and Chas Worthington III entirely fails to be likeable. He is brash, annoying and self involved and as such I kind of spent the whole of the first volume willing him to fail because he’s such a dick. The octopus was cool though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews