Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before Judd Winick became a writer of superhero comics, he wrote (and drew) this comedy series about a boy with a 350 IQ. Barry Ween is a foul-mouthed, sarcastic, junior mad scientist. Sometimes his experiments go wrong, which is where the humor comes from. Be advised that while this comic is about kids, it's not actually for kids (although it's ok for teens).

Barry Ween is one of the funniest books I've read in the last few years. There were several points where I nearly stopped breathing from laughter. Barry Ween is a Boy Genius. His friend, Jeremy, has a knack for getting into trouble. Mostly Barry gets Jeremy out of trouble. This series has brilliantly funny humor. Barry's vocabulary is very R-rated though. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This volume collects the first three issues of The Adventures of Barry Ween: Boy Genius.

Barry Ween is not the boy next door. At least, you'd better hope he's not. If he is, chances are you probably don't want to know, because you probably have radioactive waste stored under your house, have had your entire life history scoped out, have had your future pre-determined, and your cat is probably a clone.

Barry is not your typical 10 year old. As he says, if his IQ could be measured, it'd loom somewhere around 350. He remembers his time in the womb. He has, however, hidden his staggering intelligence from his family and from most of his 'peers.' The only one who seems to know the truth about Barry is his best friend Jeremy. The attraction there is certainly not because Barry recognizes a kindred spirit. While not dumb, Jeremy would rather spend his energy thinking about [breasts] and food than world domination.

If you're familiar with The Tick, you might remember Charles. Barry reminds me of Charles, except not as manic, more intelligent, and with a much more ... colorful ... vocabulary. But, despite the conniving, calculating, impatient, overbearing nature of our boy hero, he has a soft side (though he'd never admit it). Whether working to change Jeremy back into a human (long story), or saving his classmates from a group of Austrian art thieves, Barry generally finds a way to do 'the right thing' to get his friends and himself out of sticky situations, swearing up a blue streak all the while.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading more.

Judd Winick is a rising star in the comic book/graphic novel arena. His book, The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius is one of the funniest graphic novels that I have read in years. Biting sarcasm, dead-on movie spoofs, great writing & nice (but rather primitive) artwork combine to make this a five-star collection. As the cover blurb from Garth Ennis says, think Calvin & Hobbes on drugs. My only caution is that there is some rather vulgar language in the book, so it is not appropriate for young children.

I actually found this title by chance after reading an interview with Judd Winick and am happy to say that it was very well received.

This book is a grown up version of what comics should strive to be. It's funny, moving, and entertaining in a brilliantly foul mouthed and arrogant package.

Along with Plastic Man and She-Hulk, this comic books bridges the gap between what comics are today and what they can be on their best day. Simply put Winik's work is genius and should be experienced by everyone who has ever picked up a comic book.

I can't recommend this and every other Barry Ween collection enough to you.

One side note, this is not intended for children in any way. Look for other alternatives, like Plastic Man or Power Pack for young reader appropriate choices that are still enteraining for adults.

I decided to try this book out on the unqualified recommendation of Comic Buyer's Guide columnist Tony Isabella. Dee and I were at Mid-Ohio Con's pre-convention party at the Laughing Ogre, and so, on a lark and with some dough to blow, I picked it up and took it back to the hotel with me.

Damn Tony and his calculating, seductive ways! He KNEW that I would become a "Weenie" and would immediately be scouring the convention for the next two volumes.... of which only "2.0" was available. But like a junkie in need of a fix, I scarped it up and, late that night, kept Dee awake with my incessant laughing and reading aloud nearly every passage. You can't help but read this stuff out loud, the book practically talks by itself.

When I was finished, I got that terrific feeling again, the feeling I got when I first experienced Jeff Smith's BONE, or Brian Michael Bendis' first Ultimate Spider-Man, or when Frank Miller gave new meaning to both Daredevil and Batman, or when a young neophyte from Canada named John Byrne launched a career I officially mark with his first writing and drawing gig on the last issue of Charlton's SPACE:1999. This, this is why I love comics and the people who make them. This is indeed a boom year for great comics, and every now and again, you find something that seems to transcend the medium. I wish only great things for Judd Winick and I'm climbing the walls waiting to see where he's taking Barry, Jeremy, and Sara next.

This is perhaps the funniest comic book I've read in a long time. Not since Bisley's Lobo have I laughed so hard and loud at comic characters. Barry Ween has a dry wit, and he lives in such an absurd world with oblivious adults and ignorant children. Barry possesses an unparalleled genius mind, and he gets wrapped up in bizarre adventures to the merriment of his friend Jeremy. Judd Winick has just the right off kilter sense of humor to make me laugh for hours. There were a number of times I had to put the book down to laugh. Recommended.

Finally reprinting the hard-to-find mini-series, Judd proves once again he's one of the most hilarious writers out there. While the art cannot compare to many other books for detail, it is the perfect style for this. All three stories are rude, crude, and downright gut-bustingly funny. This is definately a must have for anyone who has even mildly enjoyed the more-obtainable "Barry Ween 2.0", any Kevin Smith books or movies, "Milk and Cheese", or MTV's "The Real World", as Judd was a cast member for one season.

Barry Ween is a very disturbed, very intelligent ten year old, with a penchant for experimentation and a secret desire to rule the world. Unsurprisingly, this particular stereotype feels a little bit exhausted.

Still, as a story-telling device, there's surprisingly little you can't fit into the set-up. And, even in the first three issues, Winick shows off his ability to think (very) creatively using the Boy Genius as his foundation.

Barry Ween also shows off a talent for comic-strip comedic timing - panels without dialog or action are a common occurrence as Winick sets up a punchline. The art supports this neatly, although, to be fair - it does little else.

"Calvin and Hobbes on crack," is what I can say in one sentence. Before Winick went commercial and started working for DC comics, he wrote this hidden gem. Though not for kids, this graphic novel will make anyone who enjoys Jim Carrey-type humor laugh out loud. The mouth on these characters seem to flow like water and they cuss more than sailors. The situations are engaging and there are pop culture references abound. Very consistently drawn and the comedy insults are hilarious.