oh no

oh yes

Being human – self-aware, cognizant of your own mortality, sentient, capable of feeling pain, sorrow, and embarrassment (etc.) – can really suck sometimes. (Most times.) Luckily there are little moments of joy, like Alex Norris’s webcomic Webcomic Name, featuring the delightfully non-gendered little pink blob of oh nos. Pinky wields the catchphrase “oh no” (and self-referential panels about the running gag) like a … sword? Baseball bat? Pillow over the face? Blanket fort with which to deflect the outside world? I’m not exactly sure, but the result is at once comically entertaining and morbidly depressing.

Norris tackles disappointments both small (stepping on a friend’s shoe; making accidental eye contact on the bus; cooking fails) and large (poor self-esteem; environmental degradation; the powerlessness on the individual in the face of megacorporations; death), all met with the same refrain: oh no. It’s absurd, it’s portentous, it’s relevant and relatable AF – for better or worse. Mostly worse.

Bonus points for the anti-zoo strip. Truer panels have never been scribbled.

I had the pleasure of attending a talk that Alex did at my university, which I was immensely thrilled about because I had been a fan of his works for years, always finding the quippy repetitive jokes hilarious and constantly saying “oh no” in everyday life. I find his work to be hysterical, yet inspiring at the same time. He briefly talked about creating a book and I was absolutely stunned to get an ARC of it. Getting to see someone’s work is thoroughly brilliant. He discussed how even though his comics are “simple”, a lot of heart and soul goes into them and you can see just by the way he talks that he is incredibly passionate about what he creates and that is thoroughly reflected in this book. You can tell he cares and the things he creates comes from not only his inner monologue but mainstream media too; he is incredibly relatable, but in such a natural way. It doesn’t feel forced or overdone, it feels pure and natural.

This book contains a series of comics by Alex, some are new and some are less so. The content chosen for this book is extremely witty, funny, and often wise. I laughed hysterically at numerous points throughout the book and bookmarked a plethora of pages. I will be going back to this book just because of how joyous it made me feel and just how much raw amusement I got from it. I actually had to take a few minutes away because I was laughing so hard. Perhaps it’s the satirical voice added to the hysterical illustrations that really ticked all my boxes.

This book is absolutely charming with straight to the point punchlines and pure hilarious jokes. Yet jokes that feel inherently true at the same time. This was just a blast to read. On more than one occasion the art actually made the joke even funnier — in particular his drawings of animals! It was just all round fabulous.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone to be honest whether you like the sound of the book or style of the art. This really is a hilarious masterpiece and something that you can refer back to at times when you need a good giggle.

I’ve seen a few of these “oh no” comics floating around Facebook and Instagram, but I never really knew anything about them. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I had to read it right away. (In fact, I read it, in its entirety, approximately an hour after downloading it.)


I had so much fun! This pink blobby person is me, okay.


Me.


I’m not sure I’ve ever read a comic that was more me.


Do I think this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever read in my life? No. But was it a really fun way to spend a few minutes? Yes. Did it make me irrationally happy? You bet.


I don’t think you can really go wrong with oh no.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!
Love, love, love this book! These comics are simple, but so relatable. If you read this in just one sitting, like I did, it may get a bit repetitive and predictable. But still, it's all just so funny and true that it's impossible not to enjoy it. I had a great time reading it and I'm looking forward to see more from Alex's work.

This comic is one that I like stumbling across while on the internet because it’s so simple yet so relatable. Blob faces disappointments and meets awkward situations that many face every day but Blob’s reactions are funny. This is a nice collection with a wide range of situations and funny moments.

Alex Norris's "webomic name" is unrepentant about being based upon a single running gag - as it should be. Its weird yet straightforward humor, simple but charming blob art, and blunt relatability continue to be a perfect combination worthy of a hefty following. And this first collection delivers on everything its fans (this reviewer included) could want - a collection of the greatest hits and hilarious new strips all bound up in a book that one can easily reach for and open up whenever a laugh is needed.

Even if the name Alex Norris doesn't ring a bell, if you have any sort of access to the internet, you've probably read some of his comics in the last few years. Since 2016, he has been the creator and illustrator of the now famous "oh no" comics, all of which have the same sad, disillusioned and disappointed catchphrase - and yes, people love to read them.

Now, the London-based comic artist is publishing a book made of 110 independent comics from his Webcomic Name series, featuring an easy-to-identify-with pink blob moving through life, one disappointment after another. The design of the comics is pretty simple, and the repetitive catchphrase could get old very quickly, but thanks to a good amount of self-awareness, it doesn't, and manages to stay hilarious from start to finish.

Some of those panels are just plain fun (like someone's complete failure at following a fancy recipe), and some are serious, tackling topics like the absence of motivation to do a task you really want to do, but... just can't, or when you just want to be polite by asking "how are you" and the person you're talking to actually answers seriously to that question - and if you've been in this situation, you know how much you wished you could simply say "oh no" out loud !

This is definitely a book I would recommend as a gift for the millennial you love the most in your life (or any millennial you know, really), and your friends, and yourself. It's a short and funny read, that will leave you to contemplate the meaning of life, work, art, and where you should put a cat's eyes and mouth when you draw them.

If you want to have some more fun, there is also a random oh no comic generator online !

"oh no" is charming and gorgeous, endlessly hilarious and horribly relatable. Made me say "oh no" out loud so many times in sympathy!

Although I'm a long-time fan and follower, I wasn't sure how these three-panel comics would look in a book, but Alex Norris' humour transcends any medium - I laughed out loud.

Oh No is a collection of comics about being a disappointment or being disappointed. Every panel ends in the character saying "Oh no" after something happens - or doesn't happen, as it were. It made me laugh many times, and the illustrations are just perfect for the subject matter I think. And I could relate to a lot of the comics as well.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated. This book will be released April 2 from Andrew McMeel Publishing.

A collection of comics from the webcomic, Webcomic Name. The whole setup is a pink blob whose catchphrase (and typically the last frame of the comic) is “oh no!” Still, it manages to be funny, taking on popular topics of contemporary life and even mocking its own format at times.

Alex Norris’s little pink blob has continued to bring me joy on the internet for the last three years. It is so easy to relate to the little pink blob’s struggles, confusions, and efforts and realize, “Yep, that’s me,” and it’s all the more comforting to know that we’re not alone in this thing. oh no is a collection of very self-aware comics that cover an array of life’s topics like shopping, relationships, sadness, and more! The last panel of each comic, generally, depicts the little pink blob disappointedly uttering “oh no” but disappointed is the last thing you’ll be when reading this book.

I have also posted my review to Goodreads. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I have seen these comics and when I saw that there was a whole book, I had to read it. I love the illustrations, so simple and so poignantly wry - in a very good way. Brilliant in such a few words and 3 simple panels/pictures. Some of these made me laugh out loud. I re-read the book and found it just as funny. Definitely on my to-buy list for gifts for a few family members.

I'm unfamiliar with Alex Norris, and after reading this I'm surprised I've never seen their work before! Extremely relatable and funny, I read this quick, flipping the pages and thinking to myself 'yep. Been there.'

Unique and creative artistic design and well done comics overall. Highly enjoyed! :)

A very funny collection of Oh No comics. Quite funny and have you saying oh no alongside the characters :)

I absolutely love these web comics, so I was happy to see a whole collection was being published! They're so cute and relatable, especially to a cynic like me. I loved the book!

Free copy provided by NetGalley
"oh no" is a fun and relatable comic about life, disappointments and laughing at ourselves. I didn't expected to feel so close to the comic in so many levels. The art style is simple, but matches the book's premise.
A very quick read, fun and simple (as life should be, sometimes)

Considering the amount of webcomics I seem to come across, I’m surprised I haven’t seen this one before!

I’ve seen reviews that have called this repetitive, but that’s the joke! It works, and there’s nothing wrong with that, in fact I found myself relating to the little guy through most of the pages. I think for anyone who needs a pick me up (I’ll admit I hadn’t had a very good day when I read this one), this is definitely worth a read - it’s short, it’s quick with the jokes, & it made me laugh a lot, which is always a good sign.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Alex Norris's collection from the widely loved Webcomic Name is full of some of the best comics to date and several that have never been seen before. oh no (named for the comic's running gag) is a unique take on "relatable" webcomics, framing daily disappointments in a truly hilarious way. Norris's occasionally absurd art compliments this off-kilter collection perfectly.

oh no it's just a masterpiece in form of comics. I've been following it for a while now, in it's facebook page and all around the internet. Been saying 'oh no' to anything that slightly inconvenience me because of this comics. So seeing that it was turning into a book I can have in my hands and in my shelf for when I want to just wind up sitting somewhere to read and enjoy some fun comics? Amazing!

It's a collection of very amazing comics that has you laughing, chuckling or just simply smiling at the humor whenever you are. I read it all in the bus coming home to work, and all you could see was me smiling at the screen of my phone as I read it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the chance of reading this ARC in exchange of a honest review!

Oh man.  These comics will never stop being hilarious.  Many I'd seen before, but many I hadn't.  With his cartoon-esque art style, his comic strips get right down the the point, and boy, is the point a little too real sometimes.  He makes fun of his own strips, uses his comics to bring up relevant point in today's society, and even goes so far so as to critique common phenomena around us and how we interact with it.  Overall, it's a funny, light-hearted collection that brings to light many important personal revelations.

Alex Norris creates a completely relatable comic. With minimalist details and blobs as people, who would think "that's totally me!" every time a new one pops up. This viral comic is completely adorable and I will continue to follow Norris' work!

This is a strange but funny little book. It is full of funny scenarios that end with oh no. This is perfect if you want a quick wee read to cheer yourself up.

Now, to be completely honest, I’ve been following Alex Norris’ comic page for a while now, and I enjoy his comics a lot. This book includes some comics that have already been put on his page, and some new ones.

The “oh no” is a running gag, and he often makes fun of this running gag. His comics talk about ordinary, every day things in a funny and relatable way. I like his art style–it’s simple but effective, and the colors are bright but not too jarring.

To be fair, I already knew I would like his book because I liked his comics, but for some of you who may not read comics, I thought I would share my thoughts. I really enjoyed this book, it brightened my day, and I think everyone should check it out.

This little collection is so funny and entertaining despite the simple designs. I enjoyed the fact that the gender of "pink blob" is never confirmed and it plays with various gender stereotypes. An overall light and fast but nonetheless good read.

Oh no might be simple in the visual field (still better than any my attempts to draw something resembling a human being). But it somehow connects well with the content. The fatality and pathos. It fits way better than some elaborated and detailed drawing. And I always call myself pink blob on a bad day, easy to relate.

Sometimes you as the reader dread to turn the page because you fear what you will see there. It is a window into our own lives. We all are guilty of more than one thing included in this comic.

It started with me thinking "yes, I know this so well" and going to the fact that I started to think if something is wrong with my life?
It was a nice short, funny comic.

And I have to say that my favourite was Mirror mirror on the wall, I did not see this coming at all.

I really enjoy seeing these comics when they pop up online. However, reading a whole book of them wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I would recommend this book for existing fans of the comic to dip into from time to time rather than read cover to cover. The comics are just as good as I remembered, just a bit much to read all in one go.

I’ve seen many of these disappointing blob comics floating around the internet and they’re so… depressing - it’s hilarious!

Every single comic ends with the punch line “oh no” which somehow just gets funnier with each new comic. They’re also incredibly clever and relatable which just makes it so much better! Also, the childish and sort-of-ugly blobs is kind of growing on me.

I’ve seen this around social media, so I am familiar with it and I remember liking most of the comic strips I have read before. The style on the surface is plain and charming, but the simple artwork reveals maturity underneath. Skilled techniques are hidden by the simplistic approach. The use of the paneling, coloring and speech balloons is superb and adds to the meaning and experience. No space is wasted or unplanned here.

This collection is all about adulting. It tackled themes of parenting, career, gender roles, socialization (or lack of social skills), self image, mortality, morality and many more. We are treated to satirical, self deprecating and meta humor. It is extremely relatable—from birth to growing up and falling in love, and eventually dying—we can all agree that life is sometimes just a big “oh no.” We might as well get a laugh out of it.

Extremely fun and quick read, perfect for when you are feeling down and want something relatable that you can finish in one sitting!

When I decided to read this book, I was not expect that this book will be like it is. It's funny and I enjoy it a lot.
It's so relatable and I feel like I am seeing myself in one of those comics. I just like how simple is the illustration yet it delivered all the message right through.
I highly recommend you to pick it up :)

I thought this book was really great. It was a nice collection of some of the best comics, and I found the jokes and points to be spot on. The book is short and can be easily consumed in one sitting, but I found it fun to go through. The art style is quirky but very relatable, and I found myself nodding along with a lot of the comics.

Some of these are funny.

Some of these are sad.

Some of these elicit no response. <i>Oh no.</i>

But this collection is <b>mostly</b> funny.

Some of it is funny because it is funny.

But some of it is funny because it is relatable. <i>Oh no.</i>

Some of these comics are pretty self-aware.

Some of these comics hold deep truths.

Some of these comics are unintelligible. <i>Oh no.</i>

I think you should read it.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

This was very cute and relatable. It would make a funny gift for someone who spends a little too much time worrying. Very quick read.

This book, oh no, is a compilation of the webcomics of that name. I have a very difficult time writing a book title like that without capital letters, oh no! Each comic has that punch line – oh no! The main character in the comics is a blob figure, not quite human. I rather like this in a comic, as it enables you to stand apart from your human-centric experience, and examine the subject matter impartially, seeing the humour in what we as a species do. In this way, this comic reminds me of the Strange Planet comics by Nathan Pyle. If you are a fan of either of these comics, you will enjoy the other! Even though these are comics, some of the topics are a little more adult, so I wouldn’t buy this book for a child. But I would get this book as a coffee table book, for a visitor to browse through and have a chuckle. Or, if you are a fan of the webcomics, and would like a physical copy to reread, then this book is for you. Another book for me to buy – oh no!

Note: I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

If you enjoy Webcomic Name by Alex Norris or humorous comics that tackle life's many disappointments, I highly recommend this book! A good book for most folks, but Gen Z and Millennials will likely especially enjoy it.

This book contains a series of short comic strips, each of which ends with the phrase "Oh No." Who knew that there were so many things that one could say "Oh No" to. Some strips are about the personal while others poke at corporations. A few examples (minus the illustrations)

They say to write from real experience. (Picture of diary with days saying "Did nothing.") Oh no.

Parent:

I have made an offspring. I will do my best to raise them well.

Later: You messed me up (from child) Oh no.

If wry humor appeals to you, give this collection a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own.

oh no is cut,simple and very. relatable. I enjoy that is meta and sees the comic is a running gag and teases itself. Some perfectly capture what it is like to be a human while some are stale and fall flat. Overall, i enjoyed the simplicity of the art and the truth that life is full of "oh no"s.

This was such a fun, quirky collection. While the joke 'oh no' probably does get old halfway through the book, the comics are still without a doubt very relatable. It is very quick and easy to read, making it perfect for any age.

Oh No is a funny comics that talks about our encountered (and to be) disappointments in life. The drawings are simple but the context is superb. It might be short but they are really on point.

Thank you for the free e-copy provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and the author itself, Alex Norris via NetGalley.

I’ve followed the Oh No series on Twitter for awhile, and love the simplicity and thoughtfulness of this comic. Having a book of them gathered shows the creativity this simple idea carries.

For the uninitiated, the series follows (usually) a simple premise: the first panel sets the scene, the second shows a twist, and the third shows a character regretting the twist, with a quotable “oh no”. This simple idea should be too repetitive to be funny, yet the comic consistently makes me giggle or stop and think for awhile.

A quick read, surprisingly thoughtful, and hilarious… mostly. Some strips I can’t relate to or just don’t find funny, but that’s bound to happen. Overall, I enjoyed it.

**I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've loved these comics ever since I found them on Tumblr, so when I found this book on NetGalley I had to read it. Somehow this pink blob is so relatable and I frequently use 'oh no' as an expression whenever something doesn't go right.

I've enjoyed the webcomic and the book does not disappoint! There's something so intensely relatable about that simple "oh no".

A solid version of the comics I'm familiar with thanks to their online presence. It seems like a great addition to a coffee table for a conversation starter.

I remember first seeing these comics around the internet years ago, always enjoying them despite them being short, so when I saw this as an arc to request, I immediately had to do it.

And I'm happy to say it doesn't disappoint. Although you can say it's repetitive, it's still enjoyable and relatable. I had fun going through the different comics and saying, "Oh wow, that's me." That little blob became someone I could relate to and laugh with, even if some of the laughs were more self-deprecating (in a good way.)

Simple, but impactful. I had fun reading this comic and I giggled quite a lot. And yes, the content was relatable. Oh no.

This is a dream come true for me! I am a huge fan of Alex Norris and this book & his new comics were so much fun :) But I if you are already acquainted with his style and catchphrase 'oh no', you would enjoy it more. So my recommendation would be to check is Instagram to decide if this book is for you or not.

This was fun. The author makes it clear early on that there is only one joke in the book. Armed with that information, the reader can then flip through the book and explore all the ways that the joke can play out. This book was a nice little sorbet of a read, giving me exactly the break and light humor that I wanted.

This was a lot of fun. It is so simplistic but manages to say and get its point across every time. It makes fun of the world and it’s self. And it’s concept that every strip ends in “Oh No” works well. Normally I wouldn’t have picked up something like this, but I am glad I did. There were some strips by book friends are going to love.

It's so silly that it's funny.
As yeah I ultimately laughed reading it , I'll definitely recommend it.

Most of these comics are hilariously relatable – but I think I've also seen the funnier ones on the Facebook / Instagram page. But I appreciate the simple but nuanced art style that kinda packs a lot of depth into seemingly one-dimensional comics.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing on Netgalley for the e-arc of this comic book!

After seeing a handful of the single comics floating around the internet, I found myself wanting to read more. After seeing this collection pop up on NetGalley, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. A very simple, very repetitive, and VERY funny comic strip. The simplicity, and repetitiveness make this book a perfect addition to your coffee table collection. I can certainly see this being a great gift for numerous occasions. I will definitely be recommending this collection!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!

A cute running gag comic. I think people who enjoy comic strips would like this one most. Very clever and cute.