Goats Infinite Typewriters

by Jonathan Rosenberg

It’s not as if one decides to wake up one day, argue existentialism with livestock, and fly a spaceship to the center of the galaxy to meet, greet–and eat–God. It just sort of happens. At least it does in the world of Goats, the cult-hit webcomic wherein a clutch of brave if baffled barflies (including humans, chickens, and a cyborg goldfish) hit the interdimensional bricks to save the multiverse from certain doom kicked off by a cosmic computer glitch. You can’t make this stuff up–unless you’re one of the monkeys tapping on infinite typewriters who controls all reality. You’ll see. . . .

Genres: Comics, Humor, Graphic Novels, Webcomic, Science Fiction, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels Comics

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2009

About the author

Jonathan Rosenberg was born on November 27th, 1973.Most of his childhood memories were erased in a freakish blimp accident. Rosenberg’s interests include sleep, sarcasm and cheesesteaks.

Rosenberg has been drawing comics and posting them on the internet since 1997, starting with seminal webcomic Goats (goats.com). He is also the creator of teen sensation megaGAMERZ 3L33T (megagamerz.com) and the inventor
of the squirrel.

Today Rosenberg lives with his wife and children in Westchester, NY. There is a small window in his office where he can watch the sky. You can see more of Rosenberg’s work at amultiverse.com.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the extended story format and the art is fine but I didn't like how similar characters were to one another and how the only female beings in the universes are plot devices without any other characterization. The Bechtel Test is a pretty low bar to fail at. But there's also a surprising level of homophobic jokes for a book that relies so heavily on male pairings. Amd then there's the special guest star in the last segment that really put me off. Contrariwise I can imagine that later books would show significant improvement and there were elements of plot and dialogue and a sense of humor that at times I quite enjoyed.

It's weird that there are aliens and supernatural beings and anthropormorphized critters as well as humans and there isn't a human of color until like halfway. I might not have noticed if I'd read this in 2009 when it was published, but after this past year it was glaring.

Personal copy

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like. At all.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book collection of Rosenberg's online strip Goats, and it's very clever stuff. Funny and fast-moving, well drawn, and just a good time to read. I'd recommend checking it out.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how some serial comics strips reveal a rich, complex backstory over time, as the gags slowly, subtly give (some) way to intricately layered plots? Jonathan Rosenberg's GOATS is one of those strips, and Infinite Typewriters is just the first volume in what promises to be a sprawling epic. Imagine early Berke Breathed by way of Philip K. Dick, and you've got a vague sense of what's in store for you.

Note: This isn't a nice-and-friendly newspaper comic strip; one of the main characters is a satanic chicken who clones an even-more-evil son who runs away from home to blackmail Michael Jackson, and then there's several pages devoted to a concept called "Good Hitler vs. Space Hitler"... If you refuse to be scared off, though, I think you'll get a lot of laughs out of this thing.

[Margot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will take you on a wild and crazy ride, starting with philosophical & theological discussions on the existence of God that lead to God being visited and eaten, then leading to entrance into alternate dimensions as well as the center of all things, where the universe is directed by monkeys typing on infinite typewriters and existence is controlled by Woody Allen's laptop. And I almost forgot to mention the sadistic chicken, the despotic chick, the brilliant-yet-evil goldfish, the vengeful goat, and the helpful alien sidekicks willing to let a friend go for a joyride in their spaceship. Read it!

[Keith Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goats is an online comic series featuring a set of oddball characters who talk about their evil plans to take over the universe and destroy their rivals but not much ever comes of it. The tone is like one of those late night undergrad conversations where everyone tries to sound smart and edgy while at the same time having no life experience whatsoever.

I wanted to like Goats because I enjoy the author's other web comic series Scenes From a Multiverse. Scenes consists of standalone or loosely linked comics that focus on satire and topical humor. Goats is an ongoing narrative that meanders around and goes nowhere. I often find Scenes funny but Goats not so much.

[Casey]

While this book start out hilariously, it only took me about 20 pages (actually, more like 5) to realize that this is not one that I could ever recommend for a teen collection and since I was reviewing strictly to recommend or not recommend to teachers and librarians who deal with teens, I stopped. Hopefully one day I will finish but it may take me awhile so don't hold your breath.

My current favorite thing from this book: God's front lawn had a sign that said "Republicans for Voldemort."

[BAYA Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This web-comic now published into a book is certainly epic. It was hard for me to get into at first, because it is fairly philosophical, but with humor and nonsense mixed in. Reading three-frame segments were more interesting and fulfilling to me than following the over-arching narratives. The color choices are captivating and the graphic choices for depth and focus draw attention to the characters well. I felt tired after reading this though, perhaps because it felt too infinite?

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow this book manages to be hilariously random and nonsensical, while commenting on important matters. I found out about half way through that it was originally a webcomic (goats.com), which made sense with it being so random. In any case, basic art and a funny story with an unimportant plot. A wonderful read as long as you know what you're getting into.

[ehme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Rosenberg is my hero.

He just gets better and better every single year. I bought the complete three pack when he announced that Goats was going on hiatus and I have been slowly enjoying them over time. Smart, funny, and insane. Perfect.

[Elizabeth]

As seen on Dinosaur Comics.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very odd, violent, I didn't really like any of the characters yet I was compelled to read to the very end! I did like the monkeys.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Webcomic with an intricate plot that just goes and then keeps going. Very wordy, violent, and funny.

[Monte · Rating 5 out of 5]

...easily the best graphic novel I read this year
The forward was written by Tycho Brahe (since he died in 1601...quite a feat)...great read

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't even know. Whoa.

[Joseph Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such an amazing style where it is very cynical in unconventional terms while remaining upbeat and entertaining.

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Witty, random, quick-paced, and humorous. The style is unique, the colors great, and the story actually rather philosophical.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay. I said I was going to stop reading graphic novels. Now I really will.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xibalba is for lovers!