The Violence: How much is too much?
Many justifications for the violence in JtHM are made in the homicide section,
but there's still more.
You've probably heard arguments against the censorship of violent
entertainment based on the distinction between entertainment and reality.
Consider the following two panels, taken from issue #1:
Right there! That was clear, deliberate fourth-wall breaking. (Fourth-wall breaking is a way of self-consciously talking directly to the audience, often used to make an important point, or just a joke.) That speech bubble is one of the first few things Johnny C says as a character, and it helps shape our initial impression of him. He is telling us, quite plainly, that the violence in this book is fictional and should stay that way. Need further evidence? Look at this detail from issue #4:
Like it or not, when the main character is a homicidal maniac, violence is sometimes necessary to the plot. It's been stated and restated that violence is NOT something to be brought into reality. The first words ever put in a JtHM comic book were in a blurb by the author on the inside jacket. They were: "I don't kill people." That sets the scene for the nature of the acts committed within. Yes, there is violence, but it's fictional violence which doesn't hurt anyone, and, contrary to popular belief, does not cause real violence.
What's more, there is SO much more to the comic than violence. It's funny. It's philosophical. The characters are lovable. The plotline is unique and more than occasionally surreal. The artwork is beautiful. The dialogue is phenomenal. The killing is only a small part of the elegant tapestry that is JtHM. In fact, the few people that read it for the violence are a common joke among most JtHM fans. Most of us can't believe anyone could be so narrow-minded as to only see that aspect of it.
Once you can get past it's harsh exterior, I think you'll find JtHM is one of a kind.
