Popbot Collection

Popbot #1-6

by Ashley Wood, Sam Kieth

Ashley Wood's robotic tour de force is collected here in this special volume, chock full of new extras and an all-new Wood cover. This collection offers up the sold-out first six issues of Woods' Popbot, which means appearances by Andy Warhol, Kitty and his band, a special appearance by Sam Kieth's the Maxx, and the typical array of freaks, misfits and hotties that populate Pop's world.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Australian artist known for his works in comics and ilustration.

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why this comic was never successful and only made it so far. It was certainly bizarre and pushed some repulsive shit. The story -- if one can call it that, as there is a vague inkling of one forming at a snail's pace -- is rife with overt sexism, homophobic slurs, and even racist stereotypes, which does little to assist the reader, nevermind the questionable bestiality (and possible rape glorification) from the lead? character, Kitty.

So, ignore the storyline all together and take it as secondary to what is really the star of the show: the full page art of Ashley Wood. I think, perhaps, the most enjoyable and surprising aspect of this collection is the authors' decisions to primarily use full-page art and single panels to tell their story. It is effective and riveting, you get to see more detail, and soak in the fine use of washed-out, dreamy coloring. There is a brilliant blend of art styles and it touches on tropes in great literary genres: science-fiction and space opera, westerns, noir and hard-boiled crime, spy thrillers, and gritty war stories. Elements that seemingly have no connection are slowly drawn in and we can only wonder where Wood and Kieth were going with their yarn. I wish we would have found out, but I'm not really all that disappointed to be honest, because the entire package is so singularly odd and "cult-y", I don't wish it to ever change.

Overall, a spectacular read if nearly solely from a sheer artistic perspective, when strange art is coupled with even stranger stream-of-consciousness writing. Kudos to Keith for including a stark nod to the incredible "The Maxx" as well!

[Garrett Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Keith has nothing to do with this project... Ashley Wood is at his wildest again. Like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, this ambitious project functions at the higher level of its creator's wet dream. Anything fun and exciting Wood has ever wanted to write/draw about is inserted into this piece. Beautiful naked women, crazy neurotic robots and homocidal maniacs are all inserted with the frequent obscure reference to Warhol or Freud. Oh, and the artwork is brilliant...

[ILANA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might as well be a collection of Sam Kieth's artwork. It's beautiful but the story is muddled, if even that.

[Matilda Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

if anyone can figure out what the hell is really going on inside this graphic novel i commend you. i want the art. ashley wood at his best.