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Jellyfist
Barely conscious and muttering to himself, Jhonen Vasquez grabbed a fishbone and scrawled on the side of a cat out a series of surrealist scripts never meant to be read by anyone. Two thousand miles away, J.R. Goldberg hears these very scripts whispered into her sleep by her pet ferret, devoid of any real direction beyond the dialog. Goldberg awakens to find that she has illustrated these scenes. In Jellyfist, two artists battle with interpretation, however absurd the intent or outcome, with running commentary from the creators on just how wrong or right it's all gone. The first book published as a result of ferret-aided, carved-kitten-transmitted telepathy, Jellyfist's collection of highly important nonsense just might change your opinion of almost all known things. This full color comic has production values and bindings far beyond what the content would seem to dictate.
48 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
284 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 17, 2019
This is beyond weird. Great concept of one artist writing the script and the other drawing the comics. Pity the commentary is so negative towards the person drawing. Vasquez appears to have an exact idea in his head and is very critical when it doesn’t meet that.
August 31, 2024
This is the funniest book I’ve ever read in my life.
“Brilliant in theory, disastrous in execution.”
It’s perfect.
Even the typos.
“Brilliant in theory, disastrous in execution.”
It’s perfect.
Even the typos.
February 2, 2008
I have everything Jhonen put out in major publication, but this one was way beyond me. I bought it, read it through once, and it's been on the shelf ever since. I suppose if I ever meet a nutjob who's heavy into mind-drugs I'll ask him to interpret it for me.
January 25, 2009
I'm not too old for Johnny Mutton, but I think I'm getting too old for this type of stuff.
January 14, 2009
never should of given dem bees those powers. 'dem bees is pissed.
May 27, 2010
Less a graphic novel or comic book, this book is really more an anthology of bizarre, surreal stories tied together by the muted color palette of the drawings. As a whole, it is amusing as an experiment of creative collaboration, especially with Jhonen and Jenny's back-and-forth commentary down the side of every page. It's a different kind of experience than when the author just leaves you to intuit your own meaning over the work.
My favorite story is "Sign of Times". It reminds me a lot of the world of possibilities in the cartoons I loved as a kid. This time, a flounder exploding as it crashes into the neck of a giant baby while tiny worm people watch. I grin just to think of it. Some of my other favorite stories were "Minipigs" (loved the sticky-tongued kid), "The Old Gods" (pants of awesomeness and a bird with a good grip), "The Breakfast Master" (granny shaving squirrels) and an untitled one involving drippy ice cream which is too funny to explain. The only story I didn't like was "Mother in a Puddle" because it left me monstrously unhappy.
My favorite panel, though, comes in the story "He Gonna Do It" - panel 12. I love the hellfire in the tall cat's eyes, and then the next 4 panels which are also awesome for the way they change perspective cinematic-ally.
It was an interesting romp, but I am left wondering why the bear and bunny suits?
My favorite story is "Sign of Times". It reminds me a lot of the world of possibilities in the cartoons I loved as a kid. This time, a flounder exploding as it crashes into the neck of a giant baby while tiny worm people watch. I grin just to think of it. Some of my other favorite stories were "Minipigs" (loved the sticky-tongued kid), "The Old Gods" (pants of awesomeness and a bird with a good grip), "The Breakfast Master" (granny shaving squirrels) and an untitled one involving drippy ice cream which is too funny to explain. The only story I didn't like was "Mother in a Puddle" because it left me monstrously unhappy.
My favorite panel, though, comes in the story "He Gonna Do It" - panel 12. I love the hellfire in the tall cat's eyes, and then the next 4 panels which are also awesome for the way they change perspective cinematic-ally.
It was an interesting romp, but I am left wondering why the bear and bunny suits?
March 30, 2016
Ugh. As a kid, I loved Jhonen Vasquez's television series Invader ZIM. Both the weird sense of humour and the cynical darkness of its take on humanity appealed to me. So, naturally those were the elements I took to in his comic book work, making me a fan of JTHM and Squee.
This book is not that. This book is that kid we all knew in middle school who would just scream nonsensical things at you for no reason and find it hilarious, that loved the sound of certain words and did things to make people uncomfortable for no reason other than "LOL, so random!" Random is indeed the best way to describe this book, but only that kid will think that's a positive quality.
There's no humour here. There are just uncomfortable non-sequiturs that build up dramatic tension with social awkwardness or surrealism and then do something horrible but completely unrelated.
A huge disappointment, Jhonen. Readers: don't waste your money on this comic. Just don't.
This book is not that. This book is that kid we all knew in middle school who would just scream nonsensical things at you for no reason and find it hilarious, that loved the sound of certain words and did things to make people uncomfortable for no reason other than "LOL, so random!" Random is indeed the best way to describe this book, but only that kid will think that's a positive quality.
There's no humour here. There are just uncomfortable non-sequiturs that build up dramatic tension with social awkwardness or surrealism and then do something horrible but completely unrelated.
A huge disappointment, Jhonen. Readers: don't waste your money on this comic. Just don't.
January 5, 2014
The first few strips and commentary had me laughing out loud. The art is quite good, and the surrealism is of a special kind -- the sort of kind that I love getting from Vasquez.
Unfortunately, the commentary drawled on in a lot of places and didn't allow me just to enjoy the work (especially when both artist and writer took a negative stance towards the work). I found myself riveted to it in the first couple pages, then skipping it entirely by the end of Jellyfist's 48 pages. Their marginal bickering could have added to the hilarity and surreality of the entire work, but it fell flat. Definitely a missed opportunity.
It won't stop me from delving into Vasquez's other work, though!
Unfortunately, the commentary drawled on in a lot of places and didn't allow me just to enjoy the work (especially when both artist and writer took a negative stance towards the work). I found myself riveted to it in the first couple pages, then skipping it entirely by the end of Jellyfist's 48 pages. Their marginal bickering could have added to the hilarity and surreality of the entire work, but it fell flat. Definitely a missed opportunity.
It won't stop me from delving into Vasquez's other work, though!
June 15, 2015
Nah, not exciting, not even funny and not cute and cuddly. So what's the point of a comic if none of the above apply? A couple of stars for Vasquez but stop scribbling around and get back to JTHM or somethin'!
April 20, 2007
Why have I not heard about this one yet? I'll buy it at APE this weekend, I guess.
April 28, 2008
The art is hilarious and some of the stories are funny, but it's just a bunch of gross pointless humor, much like Filler Bunny.
November 24, 2008
Some laughs, but it's nowhere near as good as the JTHM comics
April 6, 2009
Sorry, Jhonen.
June 5, 2023
The humor leaves something to be desired, but the illustrations are fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews