Morrison and Murphy have created a wonderful book. After 3 readings I know that there's a final 20% of deeper thematic value that will require at least one future browsing to decipher. I'm pretty sure there is a Frank Zappa theme present, but I may just be digging too deep. Joe's Garage is the name of one of Frank Zappa's best-known albums. The term 'Mother of Invention' is used many times throughout the series, which is also the name of Zappa's band. He even has a song that references a barbarian. Add to that Zappa's surrealistic, non-conformist stylings, perhaps Morrison feels a kinship with the underground cult musician. Regardless, I will be purchasing the collected Hardcover when it's released in September of this year. Joe The Barbarian #8 earns 5 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review
If you've already bought the first seven issues, Joe the Barbarian #8 is probably in your subscription bin anyway. If, however, you were sitting on the fence, wondering if the series was worth picking up, I'd offer you a resounding "yes! Do it!" Read Full Review
Has Joe the Barbarian been a perfect ride all the way through? Of course not. Is it possible that Morrison doesnt actually know what hes doing and just scrambled on the ending? You could read it that way, but if you do then youre just causing yourself to lose out on one of the best works in Morrisons canon. Read Full Review
Quite often, the conclusion of a series can make or break the work as a whole, and there is no question in my mind that Joe the Barbarian #8 has done the former. With an indispensable dose of help from Murphy, Morrison has crafted another keeper--one to recommend and reread for many years to come. Read Full Review
I don't want to sound too down on Joe the Barbarian, because it's been a fun ride, and one that I definitely intend to experience again by buying the collected edition once it's released. I have no doubt that, when read contiguously, much of my vague disappointment with this final chapter will be tempered by the positive qualities of the rest of the story, and I'll enjoy it as a whole. It's just an unfortunate combination of a long shipping delay and a more-conventional-than-expected denouement that has left this final issue feeling somewhat flat. Read Full Review
Like most of Morrison's work, I'm hoping that once Joe the Barbarian is collected it will read much smoother and provide the emotional resonance that Morrison was aiming for. But if you've been following along through floppies, Joe the Barbarian #8 just does not provide the closure required to satisfy after such a long hiatus. Read Full Review
Great art. Seriously. Joe the Barbarian has some of the best comic art I've seen in the last year. Unfortunately, the story wasn't quite as powerful as the art and lost what power it did have due to the delayed release schedule. It is very hard to grade comics when there is such dichotomy in quality between the art and the story. Read Full Review
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