Comments on: Comics You Should Own - Hard Time

By: Dru Tan

Dru Tan — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:36:56 +0000

Nice write-up, as usual. I read Hard Time faithfully as it came out monthly, but I haven't read the whole thing in one sitting. I liked your insight on how the series is a satire of high school life, and I think if more people had understood that, they'd have liked the comic. (If they'd bothered to pick it up.)

The last issue felt rushed but I also thought it was a satisfying conclusion. Of course it would have been nice if he could have ended it on his own terms, but as an epilogue it worked pretty well.

By: will_butler

will_butler — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:18:20 +0000

Make no mistake, I think that had the series been allowed a full run, Gerber could have come up with an even better final issue, but considering how suddenly the book was axed, I think its quality was miraculous. Just compare it to the last issues of series like American Virgin or Outlaw Nation, and it only gets better. Not that I'm knocking those series, as I loved them both, but those last issues were kind of awful.

By: Greg Burgas

Greg Burgas — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:02:03 +0000

I don't mind the last issue, under the circumstances, but it was just so out of nowhere, as I guess it had to be. Gerber did the best he could, I know, but it was just an odd way to end.

It gets much better, stealthwise. Trust me!

By: stealthwise

stealthwise — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:13:33 +0000

I never really "got" this title, especially after the ridiculousness that you point out in the first issue, but I'm going to have to re-read the first trade and look for the focus on high school that you point out here.

As far as Focus line books go though, I don't think that Kinetic gets near enough recognition.

By: will_butler

will_butler — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:06:06 +0000

Good call on spotlighting Hard Time. It's second only to Howard the Duck as far as Gerber's works go, as far as I'm concerned. I actually thought so highly of it that I had all 19 issues bound into a hardcover book. It's one of my favorites. I do have to disagree slightly about the last issue. I thought it was one of the best final issues of any series I've ever read. It stands as a testament to Gerber's talent that even under those conditions, he was able to tell a human, bittersweet story that still touched on many of the plot points raised in the run, and even had a little mystery (who was in the car?). I don't throw the word "shame" around lightly, but the people at DC responsible for canning his run should legitimately be ashamed.

By: Dan Felty

Dan Felty — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:19:07 +0000

I happened to have Hard Time #1 with me on a trip to the lake with some friends of mine. My buddy read it; his exact quote was, "I never liked a comic book before, but that was really good!"

By: comb & razor

comb & razor — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:18:14 +0000

i'm still missing a couple of issues from Season One, but this was definitely one of my favorite comics of the past decade... it hurt when the plug was abruptly pulled on it!

By: bird

bird — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:02:53 +0000

thanks for this post. i really enjoyed this book and was pissed at it's abrupt ending as well. As far as finding back issues it's pretty easy to find them in quarter bins and very cheap in online stores, that's how i found the complete run without any trouble.

By: Stephane Savoie

Stephane Savoie — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:46:32 +0000

Hard Time was the book which brought me around on Gerber. While his previous works were quirky and interesting (but dates to me eyes), Hard Time was just plain good comics.

By: Corey F.

Corey F. — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:51:01 +0000

I would like to recommend to readers to try out the new "The Uniques" comic book. First issue was released last month. You can check them out at http://www.uniquescomic.com.

Thanks and enjoy!

By: Comics Should Be Good! » Comics You Should Own Archive

Comics Should Be Good! » Comics You Should Own Archive — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:44:18 +0000

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