Crisis Zone

Simon Hanselmann

Book cover for Crisis Zone
Book cover for Crisis Zone

Crisis Zone

Crisis Zone

Simon Hanselmann

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Description

As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to escalate far beyond any reasonable expectations, Crisis Zone escalated right alongside, in real time, with daily posts on Instagram. Crisis Zone's battle mission was to amuse the masses: no matter how horrible and bleak everything seemed, at least Werewolf Jones wasn't in your house! Over the course of 2020, Crisis Zone has amassed unprecedented amounts of new fans to the Megg and Mogg universe and is presented here, unabridged and uncensored, with a slew of added pages and scenes deleted from the webcomic, as well as an extensive "Director's Commentary" from Hanselmann himself.

Watch Megg attempt to bury herself in a digital world of escapism! See Mogg fall down the rabbit hole of paranoia and conspiracy theories! Experience Owl's metamorphosis from timid and uptight worrywort to a no-holds-barred, asskicking leader and back again! Witness Werewolf Jones's journey from reluctant erotic performer, to viral TikTok stardom, to Netflix sensation! Bouncing rapidly between comedy, horror, action, and relational soap-operatics, Crisis Zone refuses to take the pedal off the gas as we all hurtle towards unknown destinations.

Critical Reviews

Hanselmann is one of the most gifted cartoonists alive.-- "The A.V. Club"

This unhinged Instagram comic perfectly captures the horrors of 2020.-- "Input Magazine"

Hanselmann proves the perfect author to capture American life in late 2020. His new volume escalates the depravity at a relentless pace and delivers both laugh-out-loud gags and genuine pathos.-- "Library Journal (Starred Review)"

In the deluxe and beautifully designed Fantagraphics edition, Crisis Zone ends up looking like a children's book produced in an institution for the criminally insane. ... Assuming we have a future ahead of us, Crisis Zone will be the keepsake to remind us what we became in [2020].-- "Forbes"

Hanselmann's deranged approach to comedy maintains its edge.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Hanselmann walks a razor-thin line of misery and hilarity in Crisis Zone. ... this is arguably his biggest, strangest, and best work so far.-- "Forces of Geek"

With equal parts twisted whimsy, reluctant introspection and emotionally-resonant tragicomedy, Crisis Zone at its core provides a stirring example of what a modern-day humorist can achieve when allowed total control of their own work with only one goal in mind: to entertain. A riveting if not offbeat (and somewhat grotesque) tale of woe, Hanselmann's sardonic, take-no-prisoners commentary on modern isolation represents a new milestone in the comics medium for the totality of its bold approach.-- "Screen Rant"

From characters trying to escape the anxiety and pressures of pandemic life through the wonders of cyberspace, to becoming unexpected viral celebrities online, Crisis Zone blends comedy with biting satire.-- "CBR"

A delightfully bonkers read. If you're ever interested in revisiting that atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and lockdown ennui with the benefit of hindsight, it's captured perfectly in Crisis Zone.-- "Entertainment Weekly"

Born of generosity and desperation, Crisis Zone is the first great work of pandemic fiction.--Ed Park "The New York Times Book Review"

Ultimately, Crisis Zone is a sensitive, sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing account of last year: a story about what it's like to have terrible friends during a pandemic, and a reflection on how economic and political hopelessness collided to make that situation even worse.-- "Los Angeles Review of Books"

Crisis Zone weaves in elements of action, comedy, horror, and soap-operatics in this tale that goes full speed ahead straight from the beginning.-- "Seattle Review of Books"

Publishing Information

Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Pub date: 2021-08-17
Length: 292 pages

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