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Paradox Press series of Big Books
The Big Book of Weirdos
Provides comic strip profiles of such original individuals as Ivan the Terrible, Adolf Hitler, Thomas Edison, and flagpole-sitter Shipwreck Kelly
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 11, 2019
Still loving The Big Book series. This one focused on history's "weirdos". Some were famous only for being weird, but many were famous for other reasons and it just came out how weird they were later. Perhaps one is linked to another? I'm sure in some cases that's true. Another great volume. If you enjoy quirky factoids then you can't go wrong with the Factoid Books series.
March 2, 2022
Ever hear of the story of the twins who both became gynecologists, drug addicts and wound up killing themselves? Or the two Jamaican sisters who invented their own private language to convey evil suggestions to one another? Surely you've heard of Lawrence of Arabia, who enjoyed being whipped and Idi Amin, who had one of his political enemies served to him for dinner? All these and more (Poe, Burroughs, Warhol) are featured in this gallery of artistic, political, and religious weirdos, along with "mixed nuts". And, it's all true! I plan to be around for feature in the second edition.
August 11, 2014
This is a fantastic introduction to several great historical minds. Told in graphic novel style, this book shows us the quirks and eccentricities of Ambrose Bierce, Nikola Tesla, and Hetty Green, just to name a few. Highly entertaining and deftly illustrated, The Big Book of Weirdos is a treasure trove of odd facts about odd people.
August 7, 2024
Technically this book was a re-read. Only I read this book years ago. Long before I started to keep a reading journal. The first time I encountered this book was when I was living in Durham NC, after having just got married. So at most, I read this book for the first time 25 years ago. The Big Book of Weirdos was one of the Durham Public Library Main Branch's few honest-to-God graphic novels placed in the graphic novel section of the library. In those days, if you went looking for graphic novels at the library, you were lucky if you could find something other than Garfield and Bloom County on the shelves.
This book written by Carl Posey examines the lives of famous people we collectively think of as rather strange, like Howard Hughes, depraved, such as Rasputin and Caligula, or rather terrifying, such as Ivan the Terrible. However, the majority of the book is made up of people who had underlying mental illness brought about the abuse of drugs and alcohol or those whose lives spiraled out of control because they lived in an age of primitive mental health practices or were surrounded by 'yes men'. Occasionally, there's a subject or two of which my grandmother would classify as 'just damn mean.'
This is the 6th book from Paradox Press that I now own. I love these treasuries of various subjects that are given the short story sequential art treatment by multiple talents. In this edition, Rick Geary, Batton Lash, Kieron Dwyer and Frank Quietly are among over 5 dozen talented artists who contributed. There's about 8 more books in the series out there that I hope to one day get my hands on.
Though I haven't read them all yet, The Big Book of Weirdos is one of more spicier books. Sex, murder, cheating, corruption are just some of the seven deadly sins being broken in this book. And that's not to mention the 10 Commandments, of which at least 13 are broken by the artists, politicians and socialites whose alternative lifestyles are examined inside.
This book written by Carl Posey examines the lives of famous people we collectively think of as rather strange, like Howard Hughes, depraved, such as Rasputin and Caligula, or rather terrifying, such as Ivan the Terrible. However, the majority of the book is made up of people who had underlying mental illness brought about the abuse of drugs and alcohol or those whose lives spiraled out of control because they lived in an age of primitive mental health practices or were surrounded by 'yes men'. Occasionally, there's a subject or two of which my grandmother would classify as 'just damn mean.'
This is the 6th book from Paradox Press that I now own. I love these treasuries of various subjects that are given the short story sequential art treatment by multiple talents. In this edition, Rick Geary, Batton Lash, Kieron Dwyer and Frank Quietly are among over 5 dozen talented artists who contributed. There's about 8 more books in the series out there that I hope to one day get my hands on.
Though I haven't read them all yet, The Big Book of Weirdos is one of more spicier books. Sex, murder, cheating, corruption are just some of the seven deadly sins being broken in this book. And that's not to mention the 10 Commandments, of which at least 13 are broken by the artists, politicians and socialites whose alternative lifestyles are examined inside.
December 16, 2024
A whole bunch of short biographical entries on odd people, each drawn by a different artist. Some are really well done and very well illustrated. Some have styles that especially compliment the subject. A few feel either poorly researched or like they ran out of time. By which I mean, the entry equates to, "there was this person who was into this thing...I guess. The End." Most of the people are folks you'll have at least heard of by cultural osmosis. A few were just one step of obscurity past my reckoning (the guy who inspired the guy who I was vaguely aware of). A couple of people were totally new to me (do I need to go to Florida to see that coral castle?).
It's especially odd reading some of the entries that were made when the subject was still alive, like William S. Burroughs.
It's especially odd reading some of the entries that were made when the subject was still alive, like William S. Burroughs.
November 15, 2022
A very good and entertaining summary of some very odd people.
I thought I could have guessed them all and along comes Cyrus Teed. Wow.
Also, a fine selection of artists. All very good and all very different.
Definitely an "R" rating, however. Not for kids.
I thought I could have guessed them all and along comes Cyrus Teed. Wow.
Also, a fine selection of artists. All very good and all very different.
Definitely an "R" rating, however. Not for kids.
December 9, 2019
I absolutely loved this. Just got a copy for my teenage daughter for Christmas ...
March 9, 2020
A collection of short biographies of famous and not so famous people who led some strange lives both publicly and privately. Especially enjoyed the artwork of Russ Braun and Donald David.
February 26, 2016
Buku yang menarik.
Di antara tokoh-tokoh 'eksentrik' yang ditampilkan, yang paling berkesan bagi saya adalah bagian Franz Mesmer. Franz Mesmer adalah seorang dokter mujarab yang bisa menyembuhkan pasien2nya hanya dengan sentuhan tongkatsihir -nya. Dia menjelaskan bahwa metode yang ia pakai adalah 'animal magnetism' (i didn't get it either).
Sayangnya ada raja Louis XVI meragukan keabsahan metode Mesmer dan memanggil ilmuwan2 (termasuk Ben Franklin dr Amerika) untuk menguji metode Mesmer. Alhasil, mereka menyatakan bahwa pengobatan Mesmer tidak ilmiah dan sangat bergantung pada pikiran pasien (placebo effect?).
Praktik pengobatan Mesmer tersendat dan sampai akhir khayatnya ia bertanya2 akan metode yg ia pakai itu. Metode yang sekarang kita kenal sebagai 'Hipnotis'. Dan saat membaca bagian itu saya baru juga sadar bahwa kata "mesmerize" diambil dari nama Franz 'Mesmer'.
Di antara tokoh-tokoh 'eksentrik' yang ditampilkan, yang paling berkesan bagi saya adalah bagian Franz Mesmer. Franz Mesmer adalah seorang dokter mujarab yang bisa menyembuhkan pasien2nya hanya dengan sentuhan tongkat
Sayangnya ada raja Louis XVI meragukan keabsahan metode Mesmer dan memanggil ilmuwan2 (termasuk Ben Franklin dr Amerika) untuk menguji metode Mesmer. Alhasil, mereka menyatakan bahwa pengobatan Mesmer tidak ilmiah dan sangat bergantung pada pikiran pasien (placebo effect?).
Praktik pengobatan Mesmer tersendat dan sampai akhir khayatnya ia bertanya2 akan metode yg ia pakai itu. Metode yang sekarang kita kenal sebagai 'Hipnotis'. Dan saat membaca bagian itu saya baru juga sadar bahwa kata "mesmerize" diambil dari nama Franz 'Mesmer'.
March 16, 2023
You get pretty much exactly what the title promises... An illustrated compendium of short biopics for some of history's greatest weirds, crackpots, and fringe visionaries. It runs the gamut from infamous imperial menaces (e.g., Ivan the Terrible, Ludwig the Mad) to relatively harmless common crackpots (e.g., Joshua Norton (Emperor of these United States)). There is some great artwork and some potent writing to accompany. Well done overall.
February 28, 2008
One of my favorites of the Factoid Books series, The Big Book Of Weirdos introduces us to the strangest folks in history, literature, art, religion and commerce, all told with concise comics illustrated by numerous artists. Absurd, disturbing, and often hilarious, it's a hard book to put down and educational to boot.
Nikola Tesla had a fear of women with pearl earrings? What's the deal with that?
Nikola Tesla had a fear of women with pearl earrings? What's the deal with that?
October 16, 2011
Short biographies of famous and very strange people were packed with some nutty art style. The famous and crazy with the not so happy ending was the best choice for the authors. Weirder...better from roman time to the modern age psychos. Rulers, actors and many more got their place in this book.I think be famous because you are nuts is not the greatest achievement, but still being famous is right...ehm never mind.
January 22, 2015
Another big book that proved to be an interesting read. I thought that the book would mostly contain weird individuals who were mostly unknown except for their weirdness. But I was surprised to see a lot of extra ordinary individuals who made big contributions to society who had their share of hidden weirdness. Greatness often demands that you deviate from normal thoughts and actions, I guess. Loved this big book as well.
February 2, 2011
The title was the first thing that got my attention. I loved this book and thought it was amazingly creative, and a brilliant way to learn about histories "weirdos". The whole book is in a comic book format which makes it even more enjoyable. And some of the things, or people that ended up in this book may surprise you. If you want a fascinating, and enjoyable quick read I would recommend this.
June 26, 2017
As the guy most often called "the weirdest guy I know" by friends and family, I was pretty drawn to this book. History is full of great eccentrics, people who walked to the beat of their own drummer. They were sometimes harmful and dangerous, but (exempting Hitler, obviously) I think we're better off with the crazies to liven up history.
February 2, 2014
The biographies in this book are interesting, but even more interesting for me was the variety of ways different artists used the 9-panel grid and black and white artwork to produce such rich and unique results. Particularly noteworthy for me was Craig Hamilton's retro-inspired artwork in the Isadora Duncan piece. Now, where's my scarf?
March 19, 2013
Graphic stories, from a few years earlier than when graphic novels really hit their heyday. Weirdos from Caligula to J. Edgar Hoover. Artists from Ed Hillyer to Rick Geary (whose Victorian Murderesses series I love).
May 25, 2007
This book is fun, and a lot of the art is great. Also I didn't object to having a graphic novel teach me a little something.
June 29, 2007
Weirdos is a particularly vague topic, but that doesn't mean this isn't a great launching pad into bizarre people.
April 23, 2009
Bought this in college and have probably lost my copy. The little bios were short and each were illustrated by a different artist, making it really new and exciting at every page.
July 29, 2009
what's not to like. The life of various weirdos in comic book form!
Read
July 29, 2011"Big Book of..." is great illustrated series on a wide variety of topics with lots of top-notch artists and authors.
August 8, 2012
Oh, the supreme delight of finding this book at some friends’ cabin! Strange tales told in graphic novel format.
November 22, 2016
patchy. Quite good in places, but most of it was dumbing down on the subjects involved, with few redeeming factors, such as humour. Far too much on America, far too little on anything else
April 30, 2017
With Carl Posey's The Big Book of Weirdos, the second book in DC Comics' Paradox imprint's Big Books Of…, the imprint starts to come into its own. Yes, there are a couple glaring flaws in this second outing, but on the whole, The Big Book of Weirdos is both interesting and enlightening.
Humankind has always been fascinated with the unusual; something about our idols, celebrities, and leaders having feet of clay, at least to some extent, has humanized them and made them feel more like "us". So, The Big Book of Weirdos—as Gahan Wilson's introduction makes amply clear—serves to show how people both famous and infamous were also weird—like us. The beloved celebrities, whether popular (such as Ed Wood, Jr., beloved for his schlocky movies) or political (Prime Minister William Mackenzie King of WWII Canada), are shown as weird for that obvious reason—and those infamous (such as Caligula or Dr. Walter Freeman, he of the mass-production frontal lobotomy) suggest, as does Wilson, that maybe the potential for weirdness gone out of control lies in us all. Also, some of the more outstanding profiles in this volume serve to show how certain weirdos' proclivities made them special, rather than "simply" weird; the profiles of Louis Thomas "Moondog" Hardin, Edward Askew Sothern, and David Edward "Lord" Sutch are exemplary in this regard, either because of their subjects' influence on society or because their talent was beyond compare, despite their reputations, or both. That Posey has researched his subjects extensively is all the more helpful.
The Big Book of Weirdos' biggest flaw, however, is the short shrift it gives to those whose weirdness smacks of tragedy rather than comedy; mental illness features prominently in these profiles, something that Posey doesn't touch on as well as he should. Nikola Tesla, Franz Kafka, Howard Hughes, and King Ludwig II of Bavaria fall into this category; all four of these individuals clearly had crippling mental illness that prevented them from achieving proper recognition for their great brilliance. Likewise, calling Adolf Hitler merely "weird" seriously risks trivializing the horror of the Shoah. And the profiles of Aleister Crowley and Ambrose Bierce stand out because their subjects, while not mentally ill, were so much more than that for which their "weird" reputations precede them.
Nevertheless, the profiles of Crowley and Bierce are demonstrative of the quality of The Big Book of Weirdos. Yes, they offer a less-than-complete picture, but at the same time, no brief few pages of comics could offer such a complete picture; the bibliography at the end of the book offers sources for full ideas of the profiled individuals, and even those seemingly less fair portrayals do provide what the reader came for. All in all, Weirdos is a worthwhile read.
Humankind has always been fascinated with the unusual; something about our idols, celebrities, and leaders having feet of clay, at least to some extent, has humanized them and made them feel more like "us". So, The Big Book of Weirdos—as Gahan Wilson's introduction makes amply clear—serves to show how people both famous and infamous were also weird—like us. The beloved celebrities, whether popular (such as Ed Wood, Jr., beloved for his schlocky movies) or political (Prime Minister William Mackenzie King of WWII Canada), are shown as weird for that obvious reason—and those infamous (such as Caligula or Dr. Walter Freeman, he of the mass-production frontal lobotomy) suggest, as does Wilson, that maybe the potential for weirdness gone out of control lies in us all. Also, some of the more outstanding profiles in this volume serve to show how certain weirdos' proclivities made them special, rather than "simply" weird; the profiles of Louis Thomas "Moondog" Hardin, Edward Askew Sothern, and David Edward "Lord" Sutch are exemplary in this regard, either because of their subjects' influence on society or because their talent was beyond compare, despite their reputations, or both. That Posey has researched his subjects extensively is all the more helpful.
The Big Book of Weirdos' biggest flaw, however, is the short shrift it gives to those whose weirdness smacks of tragedy rather than comedy; mental illness features prominently in these profiles, something that Posey doesn't touch on as well as he should. Nikola Tesla, Franz Kafka, Howard Hughes, and King Ludwig II of Bavaria fall into this category; all four of these individuals clearly had crippling mental illness that prevented them from achieving proper recognition for their great brilliance. Likewise, calling Adolf Hitler merely "weird" seriously risks trivializing the horror of the Shoah. And the profiles of Aleister Crowley and Ambrose Bierce stand out because their subjects, while not mentally ill, were so much more than that for which their "weird" reputations precede them.
Nevertheless, the profiles of Crowley and Bierce are demonstrative of the quality of The Big Book of Weirdos. Yes, they offer a less-than-complete picture, but at the same time, no brief few pages of comics could offer such a complete picture; the bibliography at the end of the book offers sources for full ideas of the profiled individuals, and even those seemingly less fair portrayals do provide what the reader came for. All in all, Weirdos is a worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews