Bomb Queen Volume 3: The Good, The Bad And The Lovely (v. 3) [Paperback]

Jim Valentino (Author), Jimmie Robinson (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

When Bomb Queen (the bad) discovers her old sparring partner, Blacklight (the good), has broken New Port City law to rescue Rebound's (the lovely) mother, all hell breaks loose! No rules, no laws, no holding back - just how the bloodthirsty Queen loves it! But that's not all... introducing Bomb Teen! Who is she? Where did she come from? What does she want? And, more importantly, will she turn our menage-a-trois into a fantastic foursome?! Answers, yuks and salacious double entendres abound in this third volume of the wildly popular Bomb Queen series!

Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158240819X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582408194
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sigh..., May 25, 2008

By 

Tom Knapp "Rambles.NET editor" (Lancaster, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bomb Queen Volume 3: The Good, The Bad And The Lovely (v. 3) (Paperback)

It was with a certain grim resolve that I decided to plunge into yet another Bomb Queen collection from Jimmie Robinson and Image Comics to see what the anti-heroine of New Port City was up to this time. Once again, I was impressed with Robinson's overt cheesecake art and the clever ideas he put into play in a city ruled by fear and murder -- but once again he spoiled the brew with a sense of humor that just doesn't sit well in comics -- or, for that matter, any medium I can think of.

Sure, that wacky Bomb Queen is a spitfire, and she kills people without forethought or regret for the tiniest of slights. She dominates an entire city and lets those residents who don't cross her get away with murder -- literally -- as well as any crime that doesn't directly trouble her day.

When trouble -- often in the form of a misguided hero who wants to end her evil reign -- rears its head, she beats it down with a wicked smile, an endless supply of explosives and a supersuit that starts off as revealing and quickly becomes shredded and torn in ways the old Comics Code would never have condoned. Oh, that wacky, silly Bomb Queen!

But as I keep saying, the humor falls flat when it includes little nuances like a date-rape reality show on TV and a sexual lubricant designed for use with animals and children. I just can't think of any context where a fairly normal, well-adjusted person would find that sort of thing funny.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(net) editor

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "THIS IS MY CITY!", Bomb Queen III divides..., August 31, 2008

By 

Pseudobyte (Minnesota United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bomb Queen Volume 3: The Good, The Bad And The Lovely (v. 3) (Paperback)

...But doesn't quite conquer. Still, I enjoyed this chapter of Bomb Queen and the cover showcased here by Joseph Michael Linsner is quite pretty too. As always though, this book is Jimmie Robinson through and through; story and art. I felt compelled to write a counterpoint review so potential readers might be able to better gauge whether they'd enjoy this collection. The trade collects Bomb Queen III: The Good, The Bad and The Lovely issues 1-4, published by Image Comics under the Shadowline imprint (Jim Valentino's line of books).

First of all, this comic book is billed as "America's Best Villain Comic Book" and that should be kept in mind while trying to decide if it's your cup of tea. The story is set in the Image universe (just barely) within the fictitious New Port City where superheroes are outlawed and the Bomb Queen rules with an iron fist but this is all explained in the first volume of Bomb Queen and if you haven't, I suggest you start there and read in published order to maximize your enjoyment of this irreverent title. Each volume recaps a bit though so if a reader were determined to read out of order, they wouldn't be completely lost (which is something not all comics can claim and should be noted at least). This chapter is entitled for the three female leads featured in the story. The Good: Blacklight; a superhero with agoraphobia who is learning to master her powers. The Bad: Bomb Queen; the title character, dictator of New Port City. The pinnacle of Alpha Female and powered by an explosive/concussive blast generating suit that does little to protect her from the elements. The Lovely: Jen (or Rebound); she has limited powers (apparently a supporting character from the recent iteration of Shadow Hawk; his girlfriend) and aside from her relationship with Shadow Hawk and New Port City, nothing is really explained in regard to her. Each issue is headlined by a quote from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Sergio Leone) by such characters as Blondie, Tuco and Angel Eyes. Beyond that, no real connection to the inspiration for the title of this volume.

The story is fairly straightforward in that Bomb Queen is pursuing Red Cross, an assassin hired (it's learned later) by The Shadow Government to take The Queen down so they can replace her and take control of New Port City. The Shadow Government in Bomb Queen ACTUALLY refers to themselves as The Shadow Government so that should give you an idea as to how silly the book is. The story becomes complicated when Red Cross calls on her daughter (Jen) to help her when she botches her assassination attempt and then Jen calls on Blacklight for help. Previously there was a Bomb Queen/Blacklight one-shot where the two characters tangled so that is referenced a little in this story as well. So Bomb Queen roughs it up with Red Cross, Blacklight and Jen in varying order and to varying affects (mostly with Bomb Queen dominating and making the others look quite the fools which is amplified by the citizens of New Port City participating against the heroes). Somehow though, her top always gets shredded to ribbons and her nipples tend to spill onto the subsequent panels. I'm not complaining!

Here's the real question though: Is the humor in this book offensive? Can you, the potential reader, enjoy this comic book without being offended? I did. Maybe I'm sick. Okay, I AM sick but still let's look at the gags in this volume really quick and then you can decide if it's worth your time. I'll try not to actually spoil things so this might be more complicated than it needs to be.

New Port City is depicted as a city without morals that embraces the fact that they, as a whole, have no morals. In the backgrounds of many panels, there are storefronts with obscene and suggestive marquees and the TV programming in this city destroys the bottom of the network pandering barrel that exists in our actual reality reaching record lows in Urge/Satisfaction/Voyeurism category. Background denizens of New Port also wear slogans like "Nazi", or "KKK" or "Kill White Boys/KWB" or often dress themselves (or don't dress at all; depicted entirely nude) in "traditional" garb like white hoods or military uniforms (SS/Nazi). Occasionally, in the distant background, sketched figures can be seen committing obscene acts on one another too. What I'm describing is just a taste of the humor that Jimmie Robinson is incorporating into his narrative and while it is plainly offensive, it is also plainly satirical in nature. Robinson is criticizing superheros in forefront with his Villain As Protagonist vehicle while also criticizing American Pop Culture and The TV Generation and it's oftentimes presented in a single panel as such. No, this book isn't for the faint of heart as Robinson obliterates all lines in regard to good taste but for someone who is game for some over the top commentary and has a "no rules" sensibility when it comes to their entertainment, then this book totally delivers.

I mean think about it. Top network shows deal in voyeurism and interpersonal drama; Robinson just takes it up a notch (or ten, to 11!) when there are no network censors in place, so to speak. It's an allegory for Image Comics compared to Marvel and DC too since the freedom of creators working with Image is leaps and bounds above that of creators doing work-for-hire at "The Big Two". If you don't like jokes about sexually aberrant behavior, sensationalism versus substance, obscene language, nudity and/or amoral doctrine then please don't read this book. If none of that offends you, then you're in for some fluffy superhero fiction with Tn'A in spades that turns traditional superhero comics on it's head and will likely crack you up and tickle your fancy (to put it lightly).

As a story, BQ v.III suffers from dividing the focus of the narrative between Queen, Blacklight, and Jen. It doesn't benefit from the initial shock that the original series generated and it doesn't place The Queen in any situations that really allow her to shine as The Villainess Incarnate that she is. Still, it's funny and great escapism and that's something to be said in an industry that is lately bogged down by editorial interference and slavish acknowledgment to continuity.