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List Price: $20.00 | | Publisher: Riverhead Trade
Salesrank: 456083
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| Our Price: $12.96 |
| Used Price: $11.21 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
The graphic novel meets the salacious rock and roll celebrity tell-all.
Gorillaz-bass-player mastermind Murdoc Niccals, hip hop hardman drummer Russel Hobbs, Japanese girl-guitarist Noodle and spiky blue-haired singer 2D-have lived the rock & roll life that other stars can only dream of-rife with demonic possessions, underworld dealings, amnesia, prison terms, and jaw-dropping stupidity.
Conceived by musician Damon Albarn and comic book creator Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz have reconfigured the musical landscape, uniquely encapsulating the creative spirit of the digital age. In Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre the Gorillaz put mouth to paper, revealing the complete story of this groundbreaking band from inception to fame-and all the depraved misadventures along the way.
Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre Reviews:
Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre... Lengthy, Fun, and it Looks Great 
2009-11-29 - A funny and very interesting biography of my favorite band, Gorillaz. Reads like a huge interview and is full of masterful art pieces. Though it, of course, doesn't offer the mellow feeling of the band's music, the book is great and you will likely hope to finish it. It is something to pass the time with as you wait for the completion of their next studio album. No issues with shipping as far as I could see.
Don't hope (as I did) for too many believable song/video meanings or any full lyrics inside (possibly best if you don't understand the meanings anyway); but expect plenty of information about the characters, their fake lives before their fame and during each hiatus, and their singles. Looks professional enough to keep(arguably nicer without the book cover) and it was a fun and long read; easily earns my 5 stars. Hell, it even has a surprise ending..
Obnoxious 
2009-09-24 - I bought this book hoping for abundant examples of Jamie Hewlett's artwork, and I suppose I got that. But the faux biographical nature of the book dictates the layout and organization of the art, which severely detracts from my ability to appreciate the visuals. The abundant text often necessitates smaller pictures, and the digital collages and photography are irrelevant and uninteresting to me.
I would have loved a true "art book" that was arranged and annotated in such a way as to maximize our understanding and admiration of Hewlett's visual concept. I would have loved consistent pages devoted to the artwork, not interrupted by masses of text. And I knew that wasn't what I'd be getting. But the idea of a humorous Gorillaz bio did sound appealing. Unfortunately, forty-four pages in, I can barely stomach the thought of reading any further. Presented interview-style, the characters are obnoxious and not funny, as is their fictional backstory. I have just reached the track-by-track commentary on their discography, and it at least provides a few interesting insights, but this is also hampered by the artificiality and B.S. inherent in the writers' approach.
I suppose this is the best visual reference available for Gorillaz (unless my shopping research was woefully incomplete) but it is a great disappointment.
gorillaz - rise of the ogre
2009-07-13 - this is a great biography of my favorite band, gorillaz. at first i was skeptical as to how a biography of a virtual could possibly be good. but it turns out that this is a great biography that i have read cover to cover.
good
2009-05-14 - the book is cool and answers alot of my Qs for the gorillaz! it has kickass pictures and that tell alot about the band!
Art, Music, Culture.. This book rocks!!
2009-03-30 - I have already read through this book twice. The artwork in it is absolutely amazing! I'm definitely planning on reading through it again soon, and possibly using several pieces from the book as inspiration for my next project.
