Black Metal Volume 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Rick Spears (Author), Chuck BB (Author)

Book Description

Series: Black Metal | Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, aren't your typical kids - sure, their dark moodiness and deep dedication to metal isn't that unusual but their mysterious parentage sure is! Empowered by the legendary sword of Atoll, these kids are determined to thrash and wail on however many demons they have to in order to fulfill the ancient prophecy and regain their rightful position as Hell Baron of the Pit. Loud, fast and heavy like the music it is inspired by, Black Metal ties into the youth culture that has grown up around this ferocious sound. Then infused with a shot of ancient myth and a healthy dose of high adventure, it rises to the level of a truly epic tale.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Heavy metal is a rock 'n' roll genre known for guitar-worship, bombast and pomposity that serve to fuel young men's fantasies of heroism and machismo, sometimes with elder gods, their amoral mythologies and their inevitable return thrown in. In other words, it's a subject ripe for lampooning, and this graphic novel is one of the funniest takes on the clichés of the genre since This Is Spinal Tap. Upon playing a Frost Axe album backwards, black-clad metalhead twins Shawn and Sam discover their true arcane heritage, obtain the mythic Sword of Atoll and embark on a mission to conquer Hell itself. Demons, dark lords, Norse deities, a black metal band that really practices what they preach, armies of the damned and even Satan himself all turn up and provide fodder for hilarity that wouldn't stand a chance in Hell of being endorsed by the Church. Hilariously illustrated cartoon mayhem of the most entertaining order, this amusing tale ends much too soon, leaving the reader foaming at the mouth, hands upright and flashing the horns, anxiously awaiting more devilry and guitar solos. (Aug.)
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From the Publisher

Tripping the Life Fantastic:

"Right now, it is good to be a Metal head."

"It's a great action/adventure rock-n-roll tour de force and you shouldn't miss it."

Manga Life:

"I really enjoyed the rocktastic attitude of the book; the fact that the plot is introduced from a black metal album is genius."

Comics Alliance:

"Experience the axe to the forehead that is: Black Metal."

"BLACK METAL, by Rick Spears and Chuck BB is about as metal as it gets."

"The story, a combination of Norse mythology, tween angst and high adventure, is a ridiculous amount of fun."

"BLACK METAL is the SCOTT PILGRIM of hard rock."

Comic Pants:

"More than a loving homage or simply parody, Black Metal manages to be a sincere love letter to heavy metal music as well as a humorous send-up of it."

"Black Metal is often laugh-out-loud funny, it is also pump your fist in the air awesome, a mixture of teen road trip and high fantasy quest decorated with the trappings of heavy metal."

"You can trace [Black Metal's] lineage back to the height of metal music in the '80s... thanks to BB's art style and Spears' writing, Black Metal never feels retro or nostalgic, but those who have a touch of metal retro nostalgia will no doubt find a spiritual home in these pages."

"If you've ever played a record backwards to see what was on there, if you've ever thrown the devil horns at the sound of a ripping guitar or drum solo, if you ever thought Ozzy was in league with Satan and that much cooler for it, than Black Metal, my friends, is for you."

Precocious Curmudgeon:

"It's a strangely endearing combination of high adventure and low comedy. I'm not a metal fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Shawn and Sam's enthusiasm for it and the mythos around it is contagious. Spears makes these spooky little thugs very likable, and he surrounds them with a motley crew of friends and foes. BB's illustrations are of the creepy-cute variety, and they really work for this material. The pages are laced with dark comedy and a weird kind of sweetness that's right in step with the script."

Comics Waiting Room:

"The characters are amusing, the concepts are slyly structured... and there's obviously a sequel on the way. There's nothing deep about it, but BLACK METAL is a solid way to shut it down and enjoy a decent read for a while."

The Johnny Bacardi Show:

"If this was done with a smirk, it would be unbearable, but Spears and Chuck play it completely straightfaced, and it's a hoot and a half- a fun and exciting Black Metal/D&D quest tale that rises above its origins and demonstrates a lot of love for not only the metal genre, but gaming and just the simple state of being a misfit teenager. It's more enjoyable than any five episodes of Metalocalypse you can name."

The Vault of Buncheness:

"No bullshit, this is the perfect book to read while listening to Mercyful Fate's DON'T BREAK THE OATH, and a higher compliment I would be hard pressed to give. And it's even appropriate for the 10-and-ups, so become the bad influence your kids/nieces/nephews/younger siblings need and get them a copy."

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932664726
• ISBN-13: 978-1932664720
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, October 16, 2007

By 

shaithis77 (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Metal Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Since day one, the genre of music known as "black metal" was asking to be spoofed. Grown men in pseudo-KISS make-up, singing about trolls, frost, castles, and frost trolls that live in castles. It's pretty silly. But I've always loved it, none-the-less.

When it comes to Spear's & BB's graphic novel take on black metal (called Black Metal, of course. I mean, c'mon!), I feel the same way- it's over the top and silly. And that's the point. However, one can't really call this a spoof, because it's obvious these guys love the genre, and aren't simply laughing at it. They're honoring it in the best way possible- with a good mix of humor, violence, action, the supernatural, and an itty-bitty dash of romance.

A truly grim and epic adventure!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Metal....amazing., October 16, 2007

By 

gravitass "mavis bacon" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Metal Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

This book is a fun, intriguing read from start to finish. Great character designs and an epic story propel the reader into a cartoony homage to the grim music of Black Metal. You can tell this book is a labor of love. Keep more stuff like this coming.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TOTALLY AWESOME!, February 2, 2008

By 

J. Grubbs "Schiachperchten" (northeast corridor) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Metal Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

i'm not much of a comic reader, but this is definitely the exception to the rule...THIS RULES!!!! Shawn and Sam Stronghand are the reincarnation of a hellbound entity split in twain, and realize their quest for dominance by how? playing a record backwards, summmoning the dark forces that have shaped their lives from the uterus! GET THIS, OR DIE SUCKING!!!!!