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Madman Atomic Comics #1
Madman Atomic Comics, Volume 1: Existential Exits
Michael Allred's Harvey-award winning and critically acclaimed Madman returns in Madman Atomic Comics! Featuring the entire cast included in Madman Gargantua, as well as Madman and The Atomics on their genre-bending, space-faring adventure!
Contains: Madman Atomic Comics #1-7
Contains: Madman Atomic Comics #1-7
162 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2008
83 people want to read
About the author
Mike Allred
721 books178 followersMichael 'Doc' Allred (Also Credited as M. Dalton Allred) grew up in the 60's and 70's and was surrounded with the best in pop culture and a steady diet of music, movies and comic books including the three B's: Beatles, Bond and Batman to the point of obsession.
So it should come as no surprise that he keeps a hand in film and music (He's the lead singer and guitarist for The Gear), but comic books have always been a seminal source of joy for Mike and that joy remains the main ingredient in most of his work.
Allred first tasted success in the comics field with his wildly popular MADMAN series, which is currently being developed for a live action film with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. His earlier work from GRAFIK MUZIK was turned into the cult hit movie G-Men from Hell directed by Christopher Coppola (featuring Robert Goulet as the Devil). Other work includes Red Rocket 7, his history of Rock and Roll told in the context of a sci-fi adventure storyl the Madman spin-off THE ATOMICS and his magnum opus, THE GOLDEN PLATES, where he's illustrating the entire Book of Mormon.
Mike counts the secret to his success to be his wife, and creative partner, Laura Allred, who is is considered to be one of the best colorists in the business.
So it should come as no surprise that he keeps a hand in film and music (He's the lead singer and guitarist for The Gear), but comic books have always been a seminal source of joy for Mike and that joy remains the main ingredient in most of his work.
Allred first tasted success in the comics field with his wildly popular MADMAN series, which is currently being developed for a live action film with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. His earlier work from GRAFIK MUZIK was turned into the cult hit movie G-Men from Hell directed by Christopher Coppola (featuring Robert Goulet as the Devil). Other work includes Red Rocket 7, his history of Rock and Roll told in the context of a sci-fi adventure storyl the Madman spin-off THE ATOMICS and his magnum opus, THE GOLDEN PLATES, where he's illustrating the entire Book of Mormon.
Mike counts the secret to his success to be his wife, and creative partner, Laura Allred, who is is considered to be one of the best colorists in the business.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 9, 2018
Madman Atomic Comics Volume 1 collections Madman Atomic Comics 1-7.
This volume picks up with Frank in a catatonic state as a result of the last volume. Frank, with Mister Excitement as a guide, struggles to escape limbo. Once he does, he goes off on a cosmic adventure to take on the Crimson King.
This was one fucked up collection. It reminded me of Jim Starlin's Adam Warlock comics from the 1970s. It was incoherent at times, as cosmic stories sometimes are, and I'm not precisely sure what happened or even if I liked it or not.
There was one sequence in limbo where Allred played with other artists' styles, drawing Madman and Mr. Excitement in the style of Archie and Richie Rich and others. I quite enjoyed that bit. Like I said before, I'm not really sure about the rest. The art in the rest of the book didn't feel like Allred's signature style and even the coloring was different. I hate to be a humbug but this didn't really feel like a Madman comic.
I'm not giving up on Madman but I'm not rushing out to buy the next volume. Two out of five stars.
This volume picks up with Frank in a catatonic state as a result of the last volume. Frank, with Mister Excitement as a guide, struggles to escape limbo. Once he does, he goes off on a cosmic adventure to take on the Crimson King.
This was one fucked up collection. It reminded me of Jim Starlin's Adam Warlock comics from the 1970s. It was incoherent at times, as cosmic stories sometimes are, and I'm not precisely sure what happened or even if I liked it or not.
There was one sequence in limbo where Allred played with other artists' styles, drawing Madman and Mr. Excitement in the style of Archie and Richie Rich and others. I quite enjoyed that bit. Like I said before, I'm not really sure about the rest. The art in the rest of the book didn't feel like Allred's signature style and even the coloring was different. I hate to be a humbug but this didn't really feel like a Madman comic.
I'm not giving up on Madman but I'm not rushing out to buy the next volume. Two out of five stars.
October 25, 2015
Madman and Mike Allred have been staples of the independent comics scene for a while now so with any new issues you pretty much know what to expect: beautiful, clean artwork and mind-bending, surreal stories. This collection of issues 1-7 of Image's "Madman Atomic Comics" series certainly falls into that categorization but the two story arcs contained within vary widely in their degree of success. Overall, though, it left me feeling very underwhelmed.
The first story arc was the more interesting of the two, by far. It follows Frank Einstein, in a deep coma-like state, as he grapples with his concepts of existence and perception and I thought it was pretty fascinating. Psychedelic and philosophical, the pinnacle of the arc is the third issue where Madman tries on various personas, giving Allred license to use a variety of famous drawing styles and characters. It was truly astounding. The second arc, an ill-defined space battle against an energy-absorbing entity, was a mess and undid a lot of the good work that the first few issues accomplished. Allred's art was predictably breathtaking but I found myself wishing the plots matched that level of quality.
My recommendation is that anyone who picks up this volume should read the first three issues and then stop. Look at the artwork in the second half of the book - it's inventive and crisp - but don't bother with the stories. Those first few issues, though... Wow! They're a mindfuck and I wish the whole collection had been like that.
The first story arc was the more interesting of the two, by far. It follows Frank Einstein, in a deep coma-like state, as he grapples with his concepts of existence and perception and I thought it was pretty fascinating. Psychedelic and philosophical, the pinnacle of the arc is the third issue where Madman tries on various personas, giving Allred license to use a variety of famous drawing styles and characters. It was truly astounding. The second arc, an ill-defined space battle against an energy-absorbing entity, was a mess and undid a lot of the good work that the first few issues accomplished. Allred's art was predictably breathtaking but I found myself wishing the plots matched that level of quality.
My recommendation is that anyone who picks up this volume should read the first three issues and then stop. Look at the artwork in the second half of the book - it's inventive and crisp - but don't bother with the stories. Those first few issues, though... Wow! They're a mindfuck and I wish the whole collection had been like that.
May 6, 2012
It is undeniably gorgeous, but I wish that Allred would have just done a Heavy Metal style book with some new characters. Everything that everyone did here was forced and shallow. The dialog was trite and often felt spread on out of obligation. The first internal storyline is a great study in art, but as a story it seriously drags and is overly repetitive. The second space story just sucks.
As a big fan of the series up to this point, I might give it another go, but it is likely that this will be the end of the road for me.
The resolution of the four took 10 years and it all came down to a lame contrived story. Plus, the forced ending is just in complete disregard for everything that he established previously. Total crap.
Still, it really is beautiful.
As a big fan of the series up to this point, I might give it another go, but it is likely that this will be the end of the road for me.
The resolution of the four took 10 years and it all came down to a lame contrived story. Plus, the forced ending is just in complete disregard for everything that he established previously. Total crap.
Still, it really is beautiful.
October 4, 2011
How did it come to this? I hated these so much that I quit reading the original series when it was coming out, despite Madman previously having been one of my favorite comics ever. Then after a while I felt bad, because the last half of this series were the only Madman stuff I'd never read. I picked up what I'd missed, but quickly realized I'd need to go back and reread from the beginning, which was a terrible idea.
These are so bad that I not only got angry a second time when re-reading them, but after finishing the entire run I actually liked Madman less than I had before this even existed.
Awful.
These are so bad that I not only got angry a second time when re-reading them, but after finishing the entire run I actually liked Madman less than I had before this even existed.
Awful.
August 2, 2008
that's not the right cover! whatever.
yeah, so even tho i loved these monthly issues as they came out, sometimes i was still a little lost. but getting them all in the trade, and reading straight though, man...allred's brain, imagination...ah!! it's a little more out there than the 90's madman, but still nothing else on the shevels like it. and look at laura's colors. man-alive!! love it. big time love it.
yeah, so even tho i loved these monthly issues as they came out, sometimes i was still a little lost. but getting them all in the trade, and reading straight though, man...allred's brain, imagination...ah!! it's a little more out there than the 90's madman, but still nothing else on the shevels like it. and look at laura's colors. man-alive!! love it. big time love it.
July 6, 2023
The continuation of Frank Einstein's journey is a wonderfully poignant tale of self discovery and acceptance; with Frank realizing he has to let go of who he was in order to become who he is.
Mike and Laura's artwork and coloring continue to be refined- this maybe the best Madman and Joe have ever looked- which makes this an amazing piece of art.
Mike and Laura's artwork and coloring continue to be refined- this maybe the best Madman and Joe have ever looked- which makes this an amazing piece of art.
October 18, 2009
mind. blown.
December 15, 2013
Frank Einstein, how could I ever give you anything but a five star rating. Mike Allred is still at the top of his game here.
February 12, 2022
Carina anche la nuova serie di Madman.
Carina, ma nulla di più, perché purtroppo mi sembra che Allred voglia per lo più divertirsi e intrattenere solo in parte il lettore, senza un progetto ben preciso.
2 stelle e mezza.
Carina, ma nulla di più, perché purtroppo mi sembra che Allred voglia per lo più divertirsi e intrattenere solo in parte il lettore, senza un progetto ben preciso.
2 stelle e mezza.
July 12, 2023
Wow. Didn't expect any of that.
June 10, 2025
This was an amazing book that takes you on a deep personal journey to introduce you to Frank Einstein and The Atomics with gorgeous artwork that is a celebration of the comic book medium!
March 8, 2017
The ending is so bad I believe it must be a trick. But everything else is pretty good. . . .
September 15, 2015
3.5/5
Now, bear in mind that I don't have hardly any knowledge of this character, but this book was handed to me from a good friend and big fan of the Allreds, and it is for those reasons that I gave this book a go.
Allred art really knocks it out of the park in this volume, from the gorgeous spreads and creative page reads to the exploration of different signature artists' styles.
Writing could be a little stilted and disorienting at times, but well worth the read and very enjoyable. Allred also deserves some serious points for the territory he is covering here, which itself is a bit more than a walk in the park.
Will definitely be asking for more from Kirby's collection.
Now, bear in mind that I don't have hardly any knowledge of this character, but this book was handed to me from a good friend and big fan of the Allreds, and it is for those reasons that I gave this book a go.
Allred art really knocks it out of the park in this volume, from the gorgeous spreads and creative page reads to the exploration of different signature artists' styles.
Writing could be a little stilted and disorienting at times, but well worth the read and very enjoyable. Allred also deserves some serious points for the territory he is covering here, which itself is a bit more than a walk in the park.
Will definitely be asking for more from Kirby's collection.
January 11, 2013
Maybe this would have seemed more coherent if I'd read some of the earlier Madman stuff; this is not a good jumping-in point. The first several issues don't tell a single story, and at least some of the emotional kick is blunted not only by my ignorance of the characters but also by the flat way emotions are handled, especially in a narrative depending on close friends saving the universe. There's some nice art, though, especially in a pastiche sequence in which the character passes through various comics worlds, drawn usually very well in the characteristic style of the artist in question.
August 28, 2013
Another major leap in style and tone -- and yet its completely consistent with earlier Allred stories. And it ends on a moment that confuses me so greatly I can't process and really review it without continuing on to volume 2. Wish me luck.
June 29, 2015
Madman è folle,imprevedibile,ricco di dettagli e sorprendente,riesce a sconvolgerti a ripetizione con continue trovate surreali e imprevedibili,e lo stile,sia di scrittura sia grafico,cambia di continuo,senza darti la possibilità di mantenere punti di riferimento.
March 30, 2009
this maybe the best illustrated comic series i've ever seen
October 28, 2011
Probably my favorite Madman story yet. The Madman in Space arc starts off with some crazy revelations and ends up moving forward from there. Fantastic stuff.
January 24, 2012
I love my other Madman trades to pieces, but I can't help but feel disappointed by this one. Even if the art is as superb as ever, if not more.
June 22, 2008
More great Allred collaboration.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews