Creature Tech (New Edition)

Doug TenNapel. It's not fair. Even his name is whimsical. Have you heard of him? Among other things, he's an awesome graphic novelist. The guy's flights of fancy are off the chain and kick other folks' flights of fancy to the curb. If I were to point out some work of his to start you off, I wouldn't be sure where exactly to start. Earthboy Jacobus? Power Up? Iron West? Ghostopolis? Tommysaurus Rex? But, probably, I'll start you off with Creature Tech. It might be my favorite of all the things he's done.Creature Tech is a grand mishmash - a crazy blend of mad science, foulest demonology, giant space eels, alien symbiotes, genius rednecks, regular rednecks, ghosts, and the Christian faith. It's a virtuoso juggling act of potentially clashing genres and tonal divergences that TenNapel handles with inclusive grace. One of the things I love best about the man's graphic novels is his matter-of-fact treatment of the outrageous elements he introduces. In Creature Tech, the inhabitants of Turlock, CA are exposed to outlandish stuff that they just shrug off like it's old hat. A government-trained security mantid? Why not? The friggin' Shroud of Turin? Sure. An MIB-type research facility in their small-town midst. Meh. Cats morphing into marauding demons? Old hat.Boiled down, it's about a would-be-pastor-turned-scientist-rebel (he'd lost his faith) who goes up against a resurrected mad scientist who intends to rain terror on the town of Turlock with giant eels and demon cats. Man, am I fond of nutty big bads, and Dr. Jameson is as certifiable as they come. He tends to go into these awesome rhetorics: "My peers claimed that the giant space eel did not exist! They said I was crazy! Now that I have spent my fortune on a laboratory in the wilderness, swapped hands with a demon, and called a giant space eel to Earth, PERHAPS they won’t think I am so crazy after all!!!" Heh.What makes Creature Tech so ridiculously entertaining is not just that TenNapel is consistently a wellspring of creativity, or that he presents this macabre sense of humor, or that he's an artist with distinct flair. What puts a bow on his little masterpieces is his knack for making you feel there's a depth and a richness to his characters. You cannot dismiss his ink-brushed visuals as mere cartoony images because he marries in years of well-honed craftsmanship and deft storytelling that tap into your emotional core. TenNapel tells a story that is bold in imagination yet profoundly sweet. Even the most hard of hardcases may melt just a wee bit at Dr. Ong's gentle courtship of Katie, the girl with the atrophied hand and the amblyopic left eye that he bullied when they were kids, or you may pause to savor a rejected mantis' startling discovery of his place in the world.TenNapel doesn't shy away from bits of theological discussions. A subplot concerns Dr. Ong's estrangement from his father stemming from his championing science over faith. But maybe TenNapel's most effective theological flourish takes up the span of six pages as he treats us to a vision of a celestial hereafter for arthropods. It's a sequence with scarcely any dialogue but it is so incredibly moving. And maybe what I appreciate the most is that TenNapel's take on faith comes off sincere and not preachy or smug.He even finds space for an uncommon side excursion that chronicles the sweet and fleeting life of a meat creature brought to supernatural life in a butcher shop. It's a memorable two-paged sequence that didn't have to be in the book, but I was so glad it was there.763 crates packed with unexplained phenomena that Dr. Ong and his staff must crack open and study and catalogue in his Turlock branch of the R.T.I. (Research Technical institute) - or as the locals call the R.T.I. - Creature Tech. Too bad TenNaple tends to not revisit his published works. I would've loved further examination of this corner of the man's very strange and wonderful and fecund imagination. It's not fair.

The title--CREATURE TECH--refers to the nickname given by a small town to the specialty scientific research underground facility (Research Technical Institute) that's located in their midst.If you remember the ending to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, with that notion of this bureaucratic warehouse for assorted, mysterious objects (like the ark), that applies to CREATURE TECH. This facility studies these crated up objects or creatures or apparati that no one knows what they are exactly, but they're something weird.So, the graphic novel starts with this really wacky science guy way back when with an eel fetish, who has made a deal with a demon (who assists him in the lab/observatory) as he's luring a very odd thing to earth: some kind of giant space eel. It's quite funny. It doesn't end well for mad scientist dude and his demon hand.Long time later (think a century plus) and our genius scientist atheist hero, who's dad is a preacher, is sent to work at CREATURE TECH, which is located in his old hometown. He doesn't wanna go back there, to that lab, since it's where his dad worked before going on to his ministerial duties.AND NOW, the wacky, weird fun gets going.You meet the odd, but oddly endearing, townfolk, who don't like the standoffish protagonist much. There's the handicapped girl who tugs at the hero's heart. His father the preacher, who loves his son and wants him to know Jesus. The kindly rednecks unfazed by the giant mutant bug they end up adopting. And the dead mad scientist, who comes back with the help of the Shroud of Turin (an object in one of the crates at CTI.)Our hero has to battle near death, a symbiote who isn't as simplistic as one might first think, an effete English vampire dude, hellcats--and in the process learn about his dad, love, neighborliness, and God.This is a seriously cool graphic novel. It's got a solid Christian heart and an off-kilter sense of humor. (If you don't laugh snot out of your nose at what happens to the butcher's meat when the Shroud comes into play, well...your humor meter need calibrating.)I've since acquired a couple more TenNapel works. The guy is whack, in a very good way.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Doug Tenaple is the best comic-ist and this is proof. Mainstream comics are oversaturated with faith-hating SJW's who care more about pushing their agenda than making an actual coherent story. This, on the other hand, is a breathe of fresh air and it was released over 15 years ago!

My 10 yr old son loves TenNapel and really like this one but it fell apart in his hands on the very first reading. First one page, then another, then a bunch. The binding is atrocious.

If you are like any child in the new generation, chances are, you are not interested in 'reading'. I got this book for my nephews, with the hopes that at the most, they will implement the idea of either reading or writing or artistic interpretation in their own life, and at the least, that they would read it and get a few more words in while holding some interest. Doug seems to be able to capture his audience and hold them well through unique story lines and stylized artistry. Thanks Mr. Tennapel.

This is a great graphic novel. Doug did a fantastic job on this. Fun story that is entertaining for kids and adults and has a fun energy with the art. Highly recommend this one for a nice light hearted fun read.

This is a fantastic tale. Aliens, technology, great graphics, and extraordinary twists and turns take the reader to (very!) unexpected places. Really original character with great development on each. The most unique adventure I've experienced.

I got this as a Christmas gift for my 9 year old (high reading level), and at first he wasn't sure. By the end he's demanding that his older brothers need to read it. He loved it!

Doug TenNapel publie aux USA des "graphic novels" depuis la fin du siècle dernier mais reste largement inconnu en France, où un seul de ces "romans graphiques" a été traduit, 'Ghostpolis', en 2012.Né en 1966, le géant Douglas Richard "Doug" TenNapel (il mesure 2,03 m) est un créateur de dessins animés et de jeux, un musicien et aussi, donc qu'un "romancier graphique" à l'imagination plutôt débridée mais toujours humoristique et optimiste.'Creature Tech' est le 3è roman de TenNapel, paru initialement en 2002. Dans cette version publiée par Image Comics en 2010, il s'agit ici de sa quatrième réédition.D'un format juste un petit peu plus grand qu'un trade paperback traditionnel, ce récit noir et blanc d'environ 200 pages narre l'opposition dans un bled de Californie entre le Dr. Jameson, un savant fou et diabolique du XIXè siècle et le très actuel jeune Dr. Michael Ong, qui est membre de Creature Tech, un institut scientifique officiel mais secret, qui s'occupe de créatures paranormales ou extraterrestres. Le fantôme de Jameson hante les installations secrètes de Creature Tech, pour y dérober... le suaire de Turin et, découvert, libère une limace géante pour couvrir sa fuite. Du combat contre cette limace géante, Ong "récupère" son symbiote qui s'accroche désormais irrévocablement à luien détruisant son coeur. Ce symbiote très costaud ressemble à la fois au bébé Alien tout frais sorti de l'oeuf et au module robotisé offert par Tony Stark à Spidey pour que ce dernier puisse disposer de quatre bras supplémentaires. Avec le suaire, le fantôme resuscite le Dr. Jameson et ce dernier n'a de cesse de recommencer une terrible expérience foirée près de 150 ans plutôt lorsqu'il attira sur Terre une anguille de l'espace géante. Le Dr. Jameson sème des monstres méchants dans tout le village et tandis que ces derniers s'en prennent à la population, il poursuit ses sinistres visées. Michael Ong est quant à lui aidé dans sa lutte par son employé Jim, par un agent spécial mutique en forme de mante religieuse géante du nom de Blue, par son père qui est pasteur, par Katie à la main atrophiée et son papa qui tient un cabinet des curiosités fantastique, par un duo de "good ol' boys" locaux...On nage bien entendu dans un complet délire qui joue à nous faire peur et, comme à l'habitude avec TenNapel, l'histoire, les personnages, le découpage, les dialogues, les coups du sort etc. forment une farandole particulièrement distrayante autant que prenante. Il était question que cette histoire fasse l'objet d'une adaptation sous forme de film. Le projet en a été abandonné mais, dans une large mesure, le story-board est déjà prêt !Pour cette édition, sont proposés en "extras" une intéressante post-face de Doug TenNapel, des esquisses et des designs, ainsi que quelques dessins de collègues en guise d'hommage à ce roman.****+

Arrived on time and in good condition. Really like the art and story here. Would recommend!!!

No complaints