- Unknown Binding
- Publisher: Image Comics (1998)
- ISBN-10: 1582400822
- ISBN-13: 978-1582400822
- Product Dimensions: 26.2 x 17 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,845,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With a title taken from the a Public Enemy song, it shouldn't be too hard to guess that this is a book all about apathy, complacence, and fighting the powers that be. Another in a long line of dystopian graphic novels, Wood's is notable for both its impressive and innovative page layouts and its proactive message.
In the near future, America has jettisoned many civil liberties in favor of the "Clean Act", which effectively places all media in government hands and enforces the notion of America as a Christian country. Enter Jennie 2.5, a revolutionary countercultural culture jammer who uses a network of supporters to beam antigovernment and anti-apathy messages over the TV. The recurrent message is "Your Mind Is A Weapon. Use It!", and to reinforce this, Wood has included little photocopiable flyers for readers to bomb the streets with.
Another central message is that "the media" (all media, or just broadcast or mass media? it's not clear) is inherently corrupt and powerful. Corrupt because it always has an agenda of some sort, and powerful because modern society has wholly surrendered itself to its influences. Of course, you might as well say that all humanity is corrupt, because every living person has an agenda of some sort. And there's more than a little self-righteous elitism in the book's assumption that people are sheep and a revolutionary vanguard must lead the way to freedom. Still, the idea that people should think about where their information comes from, and who's behind it is always worth repeating. In any event, it is a wonderful piece of graphic art that can be enjoyed without reading a word.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
24 reviews
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Brian Wood's Been Watching
7 Nov 2000
Format:Paperback
CHANNEL ZERO is what happens when people pay attention.
When Brian Wood eyes the world around him he recognizes something is wrong, and rather than sit back on his arse and watch the rear-inclined, Orwellian propaganda machine gallop and trample the forgotten soul of America he calls us on it. He flips off the holier than thou Right Wingers, and gives a much needed elixir to those inflicted with the fastest growing disease in America: Complacence.
Brian Wood's Channel Zero combines a gripping speculative flair with a hard edged present-day social commentary that acts as a mirror for the rotting, backward contemporary culture. And rather than stop there, he dares us to move forward and embrace a different kind of America.
It isn't pretty, it isn't flashy, and it most certainly is not sugar coated, feel-good fare; there's too much of that already littering bookshelves everywhere - and CZ is the scolding for it! But if you're looking for a literate, smart, unapologetic graphic novel, look no further, because CHANNEL ZERO is a phenomenal work by the most important comics writer to come along in quite some time. Brian Wood is a pill for the conscience.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Great At Date of Publication, Prophetic in Retrospective
28 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
Channel Zero is the tale of a New York art student living in the midst of change for the worse in America. New laws and fears have brought about change in society and leave our bill of rights in bloody tatters on the ground. While many sit down and revel in their safety, protagonist Jennie 2.5 decides to do something about it. Through truly groundbreaking design/comic art, author/artist Brian Wood dumps us off with Jennie as she puts her propaganda plan to wake up the masses into full throttle, only to find out that she's probably in over her head and not necessarily as free of America's faults as she thinks she is.
In addition to Jennie, cameos of other people from other angles are shown throughout the book. Whether in one page bios introducing characters that would be used in future B. Wood comics, or in mini stories, such as that of the activist-assassinating "cleaner" that is only doing her job, Brian weaves a whole world for us to look into that, while primitive at times, is still real enough to scare the hell out of us.
The greatest part of Channel Zero, though, is not it's art, or even it's story. It is it's fallout. Published in comic form back in the 1990s, and in graphic novel for the first time in 2000, this book is a pre-9/11 look into the post-9/11 world. With an oppressive "Clean Act" that is terribly remniscent of the USA PATRIOT Act of the real world, it was as if Brian was trying to warn us of the coming socio-political onslaught.
It's never too late to start listening.
In addition to Jennie, cameos of other people from other angles are shown throughout the book. Whether in one page bios introducing characters that would be used in future B. Wood comics, or in mini stories, such as that of the activist-assassinating "cleaner" that is only doing her job, Brian weaves a whole world for us to look into that, while primitive at times, is still real enough to scare the hell out of us.
The greatest part of Channel Zero, though, is not it's art, or even it's story. It is it's fallout. Published in comic form back in the 1990s, and in graphic novel for the first time in 2000, this book is a pre-9/11 look into the post-9/11 world. With an oppressive "Clean Act" that is terribly remniscent of the USA PATRIOT Act of the real world, it was as if Brian was trying to warn us of the coming socio-political onslaught.
It's never too late to start listening.
Channel Zero
7 Jun 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Channel Zero. Just the sound of it implies a stark, near-futuristic theme, much like the themes in V for Vendetta. It also has an implication of media. This is certainly true as the premise of Brian's first ever graphic novel is about how media can be an extremely powerful tool for propaganda. Often times, the information given forth by media can and will affect how whole communities think. Also, it touches upon censorship and the subject of free speech in America.
Any of these things sound deep and complex? It is. It is deep and complex. It has so many political and social references to our current and future times that at the end of it all you will feel overwhelmed. The amount of information in this one is huge and you will find yourself having alot to digest along the way. Is this good or bad? To be honest, I have no idea. It touches on so many things that I'm not entirely sure what Brian was going for. Is it about censorship? Yes. Is it about consumerism? Yes. It is so many things and it feels pulled in too many directions, idea wise.
It all revolves around The Clean Act, which supposedly has killed freedom of expression and has caused America to become a sort of pseudo-communist country in which the government certainly knows best. So, no free speech and the things which were deemed 'unholy' by the higher powers are outlawed.
But as you know, the moment the government tries to stamp down on the people, the people start to fight back. In a sense, Jennie 2.5, a self styled media activist, was the one Brian has 'chosen' to represent them. The one who decided to do something, the radical.
The conflict establishes itself. The basic, age old idea of the people VS the government.
Take those ideas, make it as 'techy' and sophisticated as possible, that's what Channel Zero is. Brian has this very cool (sometimes too cool for its own good) style which lulls you into a semi-hypnotic techno geek journey down whatever spiral he spins out of his twisted mind. That's who Brian is, apparently.
If for nothing else other than being thrown head first into an array of political rants, read this book. I bet you will find yourself learning more about the society around you, even though, sometimes, the plot may leave you scratching your head.
Any of these things sound deep and complex? It is. It is deep and complex. It has so many political and social references to our current and future times that at the end of it all you will feel overwhelmed. The amount of information in this one is huge and you will find yourself having alot to digest along the way. Is this good or bad? To be honest, I have no idea. It touches on so many things that I'm not entirely sure what Brian was going for. Is it about censorship? Yes. Is it about consumerism? Yes. It is so many things and it feels pulled in too many directions, idea wise.
It all revolves around The Clean Act, which supposedly has killed freedom of expression and has caused America to become a sort of pseudo-communist country in which the government certainly knows best. So, no free speech and the things which were deemed 'unholy' by the higher powers are outlawed.
But as you know, the moment the government tries to stamp down on the people, the people start to fight back. In a sense, Jennie 2.5, a self styled media activist, was the one Brian has 'chosen' to represent them. The one who decided to do something, the radical.
The conflict establishes itself. The basic, age old idea of the people VS the government.
Take those ideas, make it as 'techy' and sophisticated as possible, that's what Channel Zero is. Brian has this very cool (sometimes too cool for its own good) style which lulls you into a semi-hypnotic techno geek journey down whatever spiral he spins out of his twisted mind. That's who Brian is, apparently.
If for nothing else other than being thrown head first into an array of political rants, read this book. I bet you will find yourself learning more about the society around you, even though, sometimes, the plot may leave you scratching your head.
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