These Henry and Glenn comics are hilarious for sure. They’re also pretty irreverent toward two of punk rock’s greatest living legends. Oh well (shrugs shoulders), they sure are fun to read.
Henry & Glenn Comics Reviews
Henry & Glenn Forever
Comic by Igloo Tornado [Cantankerous Titles]
Reviewed by Chris Butler
“Henry from Black Flag!” yelled Danzig before “We Are 138” on the Misfits Evilive EP. Like a clarion call proclaiming their love… er, uh, maybe not. Anyway, this book of mostly single-panel comics is based on the comedic potential of an imagined relationship between these two classic punk frontmen.
So, regarding this book, you know, I asked myself, do these guys deserve this? I mean, they both started out in awesome bands (and yeah, I know Henry was in S.O.A., also great, before Black Flag, but I’m referring to Black Flag here) and in the interest of full disclosure (and just to brag!) I saw them both in 1983. And I saw the five-piece Black Flag, with Dez on second guitar, which Joe Carducci considers the best lineup.
Diminishing Returns
So, anyway, I have to admit, I was/am a big fan of these guys and their bands. However, as many musicians do, Henry and Glenn seemed to embark on a Sting-like career trajectory in which each new record they put out (Rollins Band, some Danzig stuff) had a diminished quality from the previous one. Eventually, their classic material is almost eclipsed by their terrible new stuff.
Also, Glenn probably lost the last shred of his sense of humor sometime during Samhain. So, maybe Glenn deserves some ribbing. Henry sort of laid off the music in favor of his punk rock stand-up (uh . . . I mean ‘spoken word’) which I found to be funny about 50% of the time. Plus there was his talk show, his acting career, etc.
So, maybe his actions don’t automatically make him eligible for ridicule, but judging by his blurb on the cover of this book, I think he can take it.
So, I’m going to say maybe they both deserve a little bit of abuse, despite the fact that there are plenty of actually gay punk people who, you know, might take some offense here.
But Is It Funny?
But, you’re probably wondering about the content of the book, and yeah, I guess I laughed at some of the gags. Mostly when they referenced Misfits or Black Flag lyrics. And I assumed this would be more narrative, but it’s a loosely tied together series of panels concerning the cohabiting Glenn and Henry and their neighbors Hall and Oates (these guys did not need to be in here) with some non sequitur stuff thrown in. I don’t know, I think it could have worked better as a story.
READ: An interview with Igloo Tornado member Tom Neely.
Henry & Glen Forever and Ever: Completely Ridiculous Edition
Reviewed by Chris Auman
For those hip to one of the bigger inside jokes in underground comics and music (do inside jokes even exist anymore with the Internet?), it’s time for the “Completely Ridiculous” edition of the Henry and Glenn saga. For the uninitiated, the Henry and Glenn Forever and Ever series of comics is based on the ridiculous premise that Henry Rollins—he of Black Flag/punk punditry fame, and Glenn Danzig, of Misfits/Danzig/Samhain renown—are lovers wedded in domestic bliss, as well as neighbors to the satan-worshipping Hall and Oates.
The Igloo Tornado Collective
This preposterous concept was conceived in 2005 by Tom Neely and his friends Gin Stevens, Scott Nobles and Levon Jihanian, in what would become the Igloo Tornado collective. The spark of the idea came in a bar where all truly brilliant ideas come from, and it has snowballed albeit slowly ever since. The result has been dozens of comic panels and gags created by a cadre of talented artists. The resulting work is clever at times, funny in most places and absurd always.
Given the concept, one may wonder, is it homophobic to pair these two outwardly macho icons in a homosexual relationship just to elicit laughter? Or does the humor lie solely (or mostly) in the unlikeliness of the premise? Well, it could certainly be argued that the concept is juvenile, but maybe the question to ask is, would it be more or less funny if it was Courtney Love and Glenn doing the coupling? Or Joan Jett and Henry? Each has the potential to succeed or fail on its own merit. For me, it’s more about making fun of the hyper masculinity of these two weightlifting aggro performers and their coveted place in in the lore of the 80/90s underground music scene, than any attempt at juvenile humor, but there definitely is that too. Others may arrive at a different conclusion and are certainly welcome to write a click-baitable about it.
Do They Get the Joke?
One also wonders if the real life Henry and Glenn appreciate this elaborate joke? Henry, yes, Glenn not so much. So far. (Are we surprised?)
This edition features four of the previously published serialized comics plus sixteen pages of new work bound in hardcover and presented by Microcosm Publishing. The foreword, written by Judas Priest frontman (and H&G fan) Rob Halford, is quite appropriately awesome and shows that at least someone in the hard rock/tough guy/bondage gear business has a sense of humor.
So, if you’ve missed out on the several books, comics and pot holders and fridge magnets (not sure if they exist yet) just start right here with the ridiculous edition and you’ll get everything so far. Many different artists contributed to help create this alternate universe and I can only hope that one day this will be developed into an online television series to further our enjoyment and guilty pleasure.
We love these guys together or apart, but let’s hope they stay together?
Henry and Glen Forever and Ever #2
Comic by Various Artists
[I Will Destroy You/Microcosm Publishing]
Reviewed by Chris Auman
For the uninitiated, Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever is the further adventures in a comics compilation depicting Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band) and Glenn Danzig (Misfits, Samhain, Danzig) as gay lovers. Before you roll your eyes (which you are certainly justified in doing), it should be noted that these comics take the joke outside and beyond the juvenile level of dirty pictures drawn in notebooks during 12th grade history class. In fact, the joke is getting funnier.
It seems as though the saga of Henry and Glenn has sparked somewhat of an indie cottage industry. There are Henry and Glenn t-shirts, stickers and posters commemorating the comics union of these two punk rock icons. The series has even inspired imitators like gross out pro, Johnny Ryan, who threw his whip into the ring with a comic in Vice titled “Mark and Gary Forever” staring Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh and the synth fiend Gary Numan as a not-so-ambiguously gay duo.
Screw ‘Em If They Can’t Take a Joke
Can Hank Rollins take a joke? He’s getting better at it. Can Glenn Danzig? Nah. In a 2011 interview with Nardwaur the Human Serviette, Rollins warned us of such. Henry says he believes in the 1st Amendment but, while he admits to autographing copies for fans, he’s never read one. He surmises that Glenn is not a fan. Does that make this all the more guilty of a pleasure? Yes, yes it does.
In this second issue of the series, curated by Tom Neely and Igloo Tornado, Neely starts us off with “Children of the Grave” which depicts Glenn as a satanic superhero who must battle his demonic mother in monster form. Neely also apes the Sunday funnies style of Nancy and Sluggo in chapter two of a story line which again has Danzig dealing with mommy issues. Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) makes an appearance as a Sluggo-type bully and Glenn’s mom looks like she could count Archie and Jughead among her progeny. Other recurring characters are Hall & Oates as neighborly satanists. Why? Why not is the obvious answer here.
Will the Joke Stay Fresh?
Next, Mark Rudolph gives us “How the Chores Kill” which features mostly Glenn performing Herculean labors at the request of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison. (Glenn seems to be the focus of the comics a little more than Henry.) Josh Bayer turns in “Same Time Next Year” which follows the budding friendship of the pair starting in 1982 with a stop in 2013 and a glimpse into the wasteland that is sure to be 2038. Andy Belanger, Katie Skelly and Tom Scioli provide pinups of our heroes at the tail end of the book.
When will the joke get stale? Who knows? These characters seem to have taken on lives of their own. They never really were based on reality in the first place, so the fact that they’re based on real life cultural icons is incidental at this point. It’s just an entertaining comics series and Henry and Glenn aren’t powerful enough to stop the antics of their comics counterparts anyway. A third installment is already in the works so: That’s not all folks!