Off Road [Paperback]

Sean Murphy (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2005

When three misfit friends from high school reunite after a string of bad luck in their personal lives, what is the first thing they do? Go off-roading, of course! Trent, the art school student's girlfriend has just broken up with him. Brad is a good guy, but his abusive father is making his life hell. Greg is full of money, but he's as aimless as he is rich. Each one thinks that challenging Mother Nature is somehow going to fix whatever issues they're dealing with. That is if they ever get their Jeep out of the increasingly bizarre swamp that they are trapped in.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nothing says manly more than a yellow Jeep covered in mud. At least that's what art school student Kent thinks. Fresh from a messy breakup, Kent goes home to regroup. When he sees his friend Greg's brand-spanking-new Jeep, Kent seizes on the perfect way to reassert his masculinity—take that baby off road. Kent and Greg pick up their friend Brad, a burly guy who says what he thinks, often with his fists, and the testosterone level of the three combined is enough to convince them that driving a new Jeep through a swamp is a good idea—what could go wrong? When the Jeep inevitably gets stuck in the middle of the marsh, the three friends are forced to work out their problems. They face Brad's cheating father, Kent's snobby high school crush and her new beau, a pack of rednecks shooting fireworks at one another—and that's just the start. Kent's pigheadedness is both endearing and hilarious. Despite the big issues Kent and crew are wrestling with on their adventure, Murphy packs in enough tough guy humor to steer clear of any mushy stuff. With its angular, character-driven art, Murphy's Off Road is a delight. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press (December 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932664300
• ISBN-13: 978-1932664300
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,017,107 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 Off Road, December 9, 2005

By 

Greg "Greg" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Off Road (Paperback)

WOW!! A laugh a minute! It was the best comic I have read in a LONG time...great story, great artwork, and VERY funny. It is an astonishing adventure and I really connected with the Greg character. The extra comic strip in the back of the book is a funny bonus. I would recommend this book to anybody that had a sense of humor.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Enough / Interesting Art, June 23, 2011

By 

Scott Asher "ashertopia" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Off Road (Paperback)

Off Road is an interesting read; one that serves as a multitude of brief intros into worlds you can begin to connect to. Readers can attempt to relate with both the charaters and the off beat situations those characters subject themselves to.

The story begins with a glimpse into the world of Trent, an individual with a sordid history of relationships and a current lifestyle best described as, alternative. This is the first time we can begin to see ourselves in his world, when many of us too, have had our trouble with relationships. We then meet his best friend, a preppy individual psyched about getting a brand new jeep. The third member to tag along is a muscle bound, somewhat jock individual having trouble with his parents. Each character is introduced as though their story would be deep and well told, we soon find ourselves going no deeper into their lives than to know their names and how they feel that day. As the development of each character wanes, so does the readers ability to relate to them as they go through the work.

As the story continues, the hijinks of the day focuses around an off roading expedition, hence the novel's apt title, where the men get into physical turmoil via their transport, emotional turmoil as they fight amongst one another, and Trent relives his past. The dialogue seems forced; based upon what one might imagine he or she would actually say amongst friends, but could be better served if some of the foul language was avoided.

The art does make the story more interesting, as the artist paid great attention to detail throughout each pane. Also, as the story turns its apex and reaches towards the end, the plot, itself makes an outlandish and pleasant reach towards the ridiculous. This move becomes much more entertaining than the originally underdeveloped characters and as a reader you can find yourself eagerly turning the pages to find out where the story will finish. Start this read to first relate to the characters, continue to read it as you appreciate the art, and finish the story as the final points of the plot become interesting enough to see where it will end up.

Originally published at BookGateway. Review copy provided by the publisher.