Ragmop

Ragmop #1

by Rob Walton

When the earth is threatened to be hit by an asteroid, America's Secret Government hires Alice Hawkings to find the O-Ring, a cosmic device that controls the laws of nature, and the only weapon powerful enough to destroy the asteroid. But do they want the O-ring to save the earth or to enslave the earth?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

Paperback

First published December 12, 2006

About the author

Animator and comic writer.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walton's political satire uncovers the secret history behind the secret history of the Universe. Complete with buffoon gods, three squabbling time traveling dinosaurs (named Einstein, Darwin, and Huxley), crazed Vatican assassins, covert government agencies, and a lovely ex-super villain, Ragmop pummels with over-the-top Looney Tunes/ Three Stooges humor as Walton hammers his ideas home. Theoretically centered around the aforementioned former baddie, Alice Hawkins' hunt for the O-Ring, a cosmic device that controls the laws of nature, Ragmop exists merely as an excuse for the talented Walton to express his political views in a wildly entertaining manner.

[Mercurymouth]

10 years later and this graphic novel is spooky accurate. Another republican stole the election (again) and everything still revolves around power & the almighty dollar. Women & minorities are still silenced and white men still rule America.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it satire? Is it wacky?

Is it forced and ponderous? Yes.

[Chris Hepburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely a funny read

[Keith Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ragmop is a crazy romp through conspiracy theories, bizarre religious speculation, and quantum hocus-pocus. Walton's art is like a cross between old Looney Tunes cartoons and 1960's Marvel comics. I first encountered Ragmop when it was serialized in comic book form back in 1994 and was very disappointed when Walton announced in the back of issue 12 that he was forced to cancel the series due to low sales. Browsing online one day I was pleased to discover that not only had the series been collected in a graphic novel but Walton had completed the story as well.

Reading the collection I was surprised to find that Walton had rewritten parts to bring it up to date to a post-9/11 world. I have to question the wisdom of the rewriting. Imagine the Smothers Brothers taking episodes of their old TV series and dubbing over jokes about Richard Nixon with jokes about George W. Bush. Topical humor does not age well, but like George Lucas' continued fiddling with Star Wars, attempts to update just serve to lessen the whole.

I'm giving the collection 4 stars for how much I loved it 15 years ago. The intervening years have lessen my enjoyment of conspiracy theories and all the nonsense about quantum theory meaning "anything can happen at anytime" just irritates me.

[Mike Aragona · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you spend $25 on a book, graphic novel compilation or not, you want to feel that you get your money's worth. In the case of Ragmop, it's definitely money well-spent and more![return][return]There's nothing I love better than a zany romp through the Universe where everything and anything is questioned and poked fun at. And when even the most absurd accusations can ring frighteningly true (New World Order, anyone?) then you know that there's a lot more than just satire at work here, there's intelligence. Add in a slew of nods and winks at the animated hijinks of my youth (be it a Bugs/ Daffy joke or the idea of The Enterpise taking shore leave at a Starbucks planet) and the guffaws keep coming![return][return]This book is just so much fun on so many levels that some might miss the fact that everything questioned in done because Rob truly cares about the answers, even while pointing out the absurdity of it all![return][return]I loved the story, I loved the art, I loved the zaniness (and especially the dinosaurs!)... I just really loved the book![return][return]A hearty congratulations to Rob Walton for finishing this incredible tale!

[Brenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ragmop is an irreverent satire that, in the guise of a Kirby-esque cosmic epic, skewers world history, politics, economics, theology, and philosophy. Parodic references to other comics, cartoons, and bits of American culture abound. I don't usually go in for this sort of comic, but it ended up being rather amusing and fun. Originally a periodic title in the mid 90s, Ragmop was set aside for five years until Dubya's second election compelled Walton to update and complete his work. This printing is also chock full of extras, with various appendices, backup comics, essays, and outtakes collected to round out the finished main story. All told, it will give you quite a few chuckles and will appeal to anyone who's idolized John Stewart or Stephen Colbert for the last ten years.