Recess Pieces [Hardcover]

Bob Fingerman (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2006

Bad things are brewing in the halls of the Ben Turpin School for K-8. When a science project goes wrong, only the prepubescent children are spared the fate of zombification - which is not to say that they're immune from being eaten alive! George Romero covered night, dawn and day, but how about recess? With Recess Pieces, Bob Fingerman (Beg the Question, You Deserved It) dishes up a grisly combination of Hal Roach's "Our Gang" and zombies, zombies and more zombies.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The creator behind Beg the Question and Finger Filth, Fingerman gives the world another helping of outright fun with this Our Gang Meets Dawn of the Dead gene-splicing. When an elementary school science experiment goes awry and causes several of the children and teachers to become flesh-eating zombies, it's every kid for himself. The grade-schoolers must give just as gorily as they get, gruesomely and gleefully rising to the occasion, with one kid memorably converting a clunky industrial arts paper cutter into a very effective zombie deterrent. Refreshingly peopled with a multiethnic band of well-defined young characters, those not put off by the hilariously grisly content will find Fingerman's dark sense of humor is in overdrive, and his lush, offal-drenched artwork is a delight. Beware: despite starring a cast of children, this is in no way a children's comic, as it is replete with realistically frank language and extremely graphic depictions of violence and entrails-munching cannibalism. Fingerman hits one out of the park with this perfect antidote to stodgy "summer" reading. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

It's 1974, and for Bobby and his friends, surviving fourth grade at Ben Turpin School gets more complicated than dodging the local bully. After a science experiment gone awry floods the school in stinking, zombie-making gas, Bobby must lead his friends out. Picture Romero's Dawn of the Dead and That '70s Show done in Mad parody style, and you've got pretty close to Recess Pieces. It's a little dialogue-heavy at times, and some jokes are groaners, but the sight gags are priceless. Fingerman's art--which juxtaposes beautifully rendered detail and over-the-top gore and violence--is the real star. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593074506
• ISBN-13: 978-1593074500
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,505,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bob Fingerman authors both graphic as well as straight prose novels. His books include the critically acclaimed graphic novels BEG THE QUESTION (a reworked collection of the comic series MINIMUM WAGE) and WHITE LIKE SHE (both Fantagraphics). Other books include YOU DESERVED IT and RECESS PIECES (both Dark Horse Books), and the illustrated novella, CONNECTIVE TISSUE (Fantagraphics).

His debut prose novel, BOTTOMFEEDER, was published in 2007. From Fangoria's Book of the Month review: "If, like me, you've been looking for the balls that have been torn from the modern vampire, you need to pick up this book."

His newest graphic novel FROM THE ASHES (IDW), a satirical "speculative memoir" set in the post-apocalyptic ruins of NYC will be released in March 2010. Bob's next novel, PARIAH, will be released by Tor in July 2010.

He lives in NYC with his wife, Michele.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood! Gore!! Fun!!!, August 22, 2006

By 

Gary Clair (Burbank, ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recess Pieces (Hardcover)

Blood Thirsty Zombies vs. School Children locked up in a school! Nuff' said.

A Very Fun read!! Very well illustrated! Can't recommend it enough! Your eyeballs will thank you!

It's a must have at $10.. That's cheap at twice the price!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars School's Out!, September 23, 2006

By 

Mike Hunter (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recess Pieces (Hardcover)

Who'd think cute-as-a-button kids and glistening viscera would combine so nicely? A science lab experiment (that will run awry, needless to say) begins the book, as we then are introduced to the young, resourceful, and exceedingly smart-mouthed cast of "Recess Pieces." No detail of existence in the behavioral sink known as "school" goes unsatirized, from the institutional green-hued décor, prisonlike setup, power-struggles among the inmates and their keepers, absurdly out-of-it attempts by the latter to be hip.

The shambling flesh-munchers make their appearance slowly, Fingerman setting the scene, laying out characterizations. There's not a lazy line in this book, even minor background characters carefully individualized, and the painted art - for those more familiar with Fingerman's line drawings in this noted alternative comics creator's other books - is lushly rendered, as the earlier mention of "glistening viscera" hints.

Comedy abounds as well as thrills, the young 'uns attempting to arm themselves against the onslaught of the undead:

"...Safety scissors with rounded blade? Six-inch ruler?..."

"This crayon is pretty sharp..."

The man's got a way with dialogue, words both kid-like and urbanly wisecracking adding much to the goings-on. I'm reminded of the richly rolling dialogue by Paddy ("Marty") Chayefsky, yang to Mamet's spare yin.

Trapped in a room by zombies, the kids speak thus:

Wendy: "I don't know if I can do this."

Lisa: "We're just kids."

Bobby: "Just kids? Just kids? Grownups think we're sweetness and innocence, but we know better, don't we? We're pure id, untamed and unfettered by conscience. We're petty and cruel. Let's use that to our advantage."

Crisp wit, characters you care about, juicy, top-of-the-line art, and zombies...what's not to like?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can a book about school children surviving a day trapped with the undead be charming?, September 20, 2006

By 

Avedis Bastermagian "Avi" (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recess Pieces (Hardcover)

The answer is, oddly enough, yes. Bob Fingerman captures the dynamic of school yard interactions to great effect. The characterization of the children is in the vein of Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes... they are ruthlessly witty and innocent at the same time. Insightful commentaries on childhood, genre clichés and the inadequacies of the public school system are peppered throughout the narrative, but never feel forced or preachy. Not to worry, though, there are plenty of gory and horrific scenes of dismembered bodies being devoured by newly minted ghouls to satisfy any zombie fan. If that wasn't enough, it's all drawn in a lush, full color style that is reminiscent of his work on the Minimum Wage covers but with a lighter, more nimble line that indicates further mastery of his craft. It's a great read that I can't recommend highly enough. I hope that there are further adventures in the works...