1000 Steps To World Domination [Paperback]

Rob Osborne (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2004

Award-winning writer/artist Rob Osborne wants to conquer the world, and he wants to do it through comics. Seriously. Delusions of grandeur or tyrannical genius? His wife just rolls her eyes. God provides divine insight. A monkey chimes in with unwanted feedback. Resistance is futile!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Monty Python has an American cousin. Osborne manifests the same propensity for attempting the improbable by means of the ridiculous that propelled the Pythons to the pinnacle of comedic renown. But the heck with comedic renown. Osborne wants world domination. Through comics (black and white, yet). On paper, he looks the part: shaved head, square jaw, fills a T-shirt nicely. Steps toward his goal include telling Butch (his dog, one of three, all drawn very realistically); talking it over with his wife ("I don't even want something like that in the house," she says); trying on a Godzilla suit (Butch isn't impressed); wrestling with a wisecracking, deprecatory monkey (clad in either plaid suit and bowler hat or various clown getups); and wearing a football helmet at the drawing board. God drops in with en/discouragement, the devil tries to reach Osborne through TV, and aggressive General Fragg shows up to whip him into shape. Meanwhile, a tortoise races a hare, space invaders give humans anal probes, and Osborne gets promoted at his day job. Marvelously demented! Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Rob Osborne’s obsession with world domination began at an early age. He read comic books about heroes and villains in epic struggle, clashing as the world hung in the balance. Eventually, he would utilize comic books as a means to his own global conquest. In 1000 Steps To World Domination, Rob spelled out his grand ambitions. The work won the Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics in 2003, and shortly after, 1000 Steps was published as a graphic novel. Rob followed up with the surprising, critically-acclaimed graphic novella Sunset City. Other works include the comic book series The Nearly Infamous Zango, The Accountants, and Talking Noggins. Most recently, Rob released Old Man. Austin, Texas is Rob’s current base of operations. He lives there with his wife and dogs. Visit www.RobOsborne.net and www.AbsoluteTyrant.com. You may reach the author by email: [e-mail] --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: AiT/PlanetLar (November 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932051260
• ISBN-13: 978-1932051261
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,614,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!, April 13, 2009

By 

Mollie Brown (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1000 Steps To World Domination (Paperback)

1000 Steps is funny and it also makes you want to get up off you hiney and do something with your life! The art is beautiful and each page delivers something a little different. The pages work together to chronicle Osborne's climb out of a dead-end job into a life of purpose. Buy it and go chase your own dream!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My all time favorite GN, June 8, 2010

By 

Joshua Pantalleresco "Expand Horizons" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1000 Steps To World Domination (Paperback)

I had the chance to meet Rob in Phoenix years ago. We were talking about this book for a column I was writing at the time and it prompted my curiosity. Rob has a very dry and wicked sense of humor and the whole concept of him creating a manifesto on conquering the world was just too much for me to pass up.

I expected the book to be funny, and it is. A cartoonist deciding one day to take over the world is not exactly taken seriously and Osborne runs with the absurdity. His inner doubts are represented by a monkey. His wife can't look at the concept seriously, and even he himself has doubts. After all, this is a man who decides that battle armor for world domination involves a football helmet and a pencil. Run that through your head for a second.

Perhaps what's even more hysterical is the anecdotes in between. My favorite involves the alien conducting his first anal probe. Or maybe the devil groaning when Rob turns off the tv set. Or maybe when Rob chokes out his monkey. In any case, I was laughing.

Rob you see, is one gifted story teller. His art in a panel can tell a whole story by itself. If you doubt me, read the alien piece by itself when you first come across it. This book could have played out not just with superman or batman on a monthly basis, but with Charles Schulz, Jim Davis or Johnny Hart. Almost every page in there is an installment by itself. Put together it transforms into a fine story from start to finish.

Rob is so talented that I found myself understanding Rob's feelings all too well. I too was Rob. I too have been in a dead end job going nowhere I wanted to. I have been the alien doing the anal probes. I have been caught on the road going nowhere. And perhaps most importantly, I too have my own dreams and goals to pursue. I didn't expect that reading it. How many of us take jobs we cannot stand, do things we know in our hearts are wrong for us, and try our damnedest to bottle away our desires? While I think the humor is important, it's the message that makes this book stand out so well.

This book is about a man that wants to pursue his dreams. This is a book about a man that wants to make changes in his life, and this book is about walking away from the boxes and cages and cubicles that surround us. Rob Osborne has created an excellent piece of graphic literature. It's funny yes, but I think even more importantly, it's motivational, and very personal.

If you want to find Graphic Novels that don't fit the standard mold of a what a comic is, this is THE perfect book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, October 28, 2004

By 

William Harms (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1000 Steps To World Domination (Paperback)

Osborne's dry sense of humor and brilliant pacing create one of the funniest graphic novels of the year. This book is highly recommended.