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charliekirchoff's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favorite book Mike has put out. Just plain fun.
theladysiona's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, whimsical, quick read. I don't have much to say about it. I liked the Wizard and the Snake story the most. I wouldn't mind if The Screw-On Head became its own major title in the Mignolaverse.
teethbonjour's review against another edition
5.0
I read this years ago, and it continues to be a very fun read.
seanquistador's review against another edition
4.0
I remember finding The Amazing Screw-on Head years ago, thoroughly enjoying it, and the disbelief and dismay when I reached the conclusion to discover Mignola did not write (nor does he plan on writing) any more than the single issue. I completely understand the urge to scratch an itch that isn't already rubbed raw, and Mignola wanted a break from Hellboy.
I am obliged to point out that if you can find the single-episode animation based on this comic, it's well worth your time (about 20 minutes), and there is some additional content as well as an all-star cast: Paul Giamatti as Screw-on Head, David Hyde-Pierce as Emperor Zombie, Patton Oswalt (who is in EVERYTHING now) as Groin and Gung the Magnificent, Molly Shannon as Patience.
Some part of me hoped this new collection might include more Screw-on Head content, but while MM expressed affection for Screw-on Head (and admitted he envisioned it as a toy, but was not a toymaker so he made a comic instead) he makes it clear he's not taking it any further.
Alas for me.
The rest of the book is full of curiosities, just as the title says. "Filler," in less fabulous terms. There's a short he wrote with his then seven-year-old daughter (which, along with Screw-on Head, won an Eisner in 2003), an older story redrawn about Gung (who is referenced in Screw-on Head, but was written years earlier), another about Mr. Snap on Mars (another character who makes an appearance in Screw-on Head), a short about two homunculi and a deal with the devil, and an incomplete story Mignola says plainly he has no intention of completing.
It's all good stuff, all entertaining, all very Mignola, but a lot seems like padding. Maybe not so much to Mike, who expresses over and over again he just likes drawing certain things, and those things are included here. The whole book is largely an artistic expression, something enjoyable one has to get out of the way in order to get back to work, a fun little side chore he decided to share with us. Clutter in his head space.
Curiosities.
Filler.
But "Other Curious Objects" is a much better title.
I am obliged to point out that if you can find the single-episode animation based on this comic, it's well worth your time (about 20 minutes), and there is some additional content as well as an all-star cast: Paul Giamatti as Screw-on Head, David Hyde-Pierce as Emperor Zombie, Patton Oswalt (who is in EVERYTHING now) as Groin and Gung the Magnificent, Molly Shannon as Patience.
Some part of me hoped this new collection might include more Screw-on Head content, but while MM expressed affection for Screw-on Head (and admitted he envisioned it as a toy, but was not a toymaker so he made a comic instead) he makes it clear he's not taking it any further.
Alas for me.
The rest of the book is full of curiosities, just as the title says. "Filler," in less fabulous terms. There's a short he wrote with his then seven-year-old daughter (which, along with Screw-on Head, won an Eisner in 2003), an older story redrawn about Gung (who is referenced in Screw-on Head, but was written years earlier), another about Mr. Snap on Mars (another character who makes an appearance in Screw-on Head), a short about two homunculi and a deal with the devil, and an incomplete story Mignola says plainly he has no intention of completing.
It's all good stuff, all entertaining, all very Mignola, but a lot seems like padding. Maybe not so much to Mike, who expresses over and over again he just likes drawing certain things, and those things are included here. The whole book is largely an artistic expression, something enjoyable one has to get out of the way in order to get back to work, a fun little side chore he decided to share with us. Clutter in his head space.
Curiosities.
Filler.
But "Other Curious Objects" is a much better title.
edcorcoran's review against another edition
5.0
The Amazing Screw On Head is a strong contender for greatest single issue comic of all time and is a perfect distillation of the superhero genre.
cornerofmadness's review against another edition
2.0
Again I feel like I'm seeing The Emperor's New Clothes. Don't get me wrong. I like Mignola's work. Love Hellboy but this isn't that great and I'm stupefied that it won Eisner awards. The titular story wasn't awful. It has that steampunk feel I like. There is surrealistic sort of fun watching Abraham Lincoln calling out Screw-On Head.
Mr. Head is just that a head that can be screwed into various robot bodies that suit his needs (and is also capable of hopping on his screw on bits) Mr. Groin (I am not making this up) is his valet and partner in fighting crime. Lincoln needs them to stop the Zombie Emperor before he gets some ancient artifact that will let him take over the world.
Honestly if this was the whole of the graphic novel I'd have rated it higher. Screw On Head did amuse me (not to Eisner levels mind you) but the rest of the anthology is just a let's round up all of Mignola's scribbles and tiny one offs and jam them into an anthology without a theme or anything cohesive about it. You get a glimpse of a name or artistic Easter egg to tie it together but it's not enough nor are the other stories memorable. Like at all. Like I read this last night and have forgotten it already.
The muted color palette fits the Victorian theme (okay it really doesn't. Victorians had color but steampunk has embraced brown) but this art is so muddy and sketchy. I didn't like it at all. I'm disappointed all around.
Mr. Head is just that a head that can be screwed into various robot bodies that suit his needs (and is also capable of hopping on his screw on bits) Mr. Groin (I am not making this up) is his valet and partner in fighting crime. Lincoln needs them to stop the Zombie Emperor before he gets some ancient artifact that will let him take over the world.
Honestly if this was the whole of the graphic novel I'd have rated it higher. Screw On Head did amuse me (not to Eisner levels mind you) but the rest of the anthology is just a let's round up all of Mignola's scribbles and tiny one offs and jam them into an anthology without a theme or anything cohesive about it. You get a glimpse of a name or artistic Easter egg to tie it together but it's not enough nor are the other stories memorable. Like at all. Like I read this last night and have forgotten it already.
The muted color palette fits the Victorian theme (okay it really doesn't. Victorians had color but steampunk has embraced brown) but this art is so muddy and sketchy. I didn't like it at all. I'm disappointed all around.
foolish_shane's review against another edition
5.0
I wouldn't say I'm a HUGE Mignola fan, but I do tend to like his stuff and I probably liked this more than anything else I've read from him. It's basically 5 short graphic stories, all very imaginative, some sad, some fun and very cool looking. [b:Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel|12344422|Joe Golem and the Drowning City An Illustrated Novel|Mike Mignola|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1324360380s/12344422.jpg|17323760] is next, and after reading this I have high hopes for it.