Free for All - by Patrick Horvath (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A biting, visually arresting critique of greed and excess that will resonate with readers drawn to speculative fiction, political allegory, or horror-tinged social commentary." --Library Journal

From Eisner Award-nominated writer/artist Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees) comes a brutal new vision of capitalism by combat . . .

In the future, the World Finance League exists to benefit all, randomly choosing those from among the billionaires and trillionaires of the world and presenting them with a choice: Either donate half of their assets to the common good--or defend them in ritual combat.

Reigning champion and real estate magnate Ted Brooks has 22 victories under his belt--defending the wealth he schemed and stabbed to get--when he is forced to face his ex-wife, Luella Dominguez, in a fight to the death. Luella has been training, waiting for this moment. But will she have what it takes to defeat the man who would do anything--absolutely anything--to keep his fortune? It's every shareholder for themselves when death and bankruptcy collide!

Review Quotes

"Fans of dystopian satire will recognize echoes of The Hunger Games, though the execution is distinctly Horvath's--relentless, grotesque, and grimly funny [...] A biting, visually arresting critique of greed and excess that will resonate with readers drawn to speculative fiction, political allegory, or horror-tinged social commentary."-- "Library Journal"

"[A] kooky and blood-soaked satire."-- "IGN"

"A must read... The thrilling [story] not only entertains but also challenges and provokes deep thought... Each panel bursts with details that breathe life into this brutal new world order he has worked up. Horvath captures the battles, emotion and society with ease."-- "Capes and Tights"

"Horvath does a great job of conceptualizing a modern gladiatorial arena and his fight scenes are very cinematic and fluid (and plenty of fluids are released and spilled)."-- "Pop Culture Podium"

"I cheered by the conclusion of this story... From the colors, expressions, tech, costuming and combat, this story delivers... Catharsis is great, this story is great (I can't recommend it enough) and there's work to be done outside to realize a better world."-- "Comics Beat"

"I found myself becoming more and more immersed thanks to clever angles, crafty color work, and some psychedelic imagery. The neons and bright colors of this world contrasted heavily with the darker, earthy tones of the arena... I enjoy books that stay with me after I put them away. Free for All is definitely one of those books. The art will stay in my mind for a long time... Patrick Horvath balances the story threads from top to bottom and ends up with a solid, well thought out plot. I highly recommend this title to everyone and would encourage you to really think about it."-- "Nerd Initiative"

"In 'Free For All, ' Patrick Horvath Offers A Modest Proposal: Billionaire Death Matches [...] It's easy to see why the story is a good fit for the iconoclastic Oni Press, which also publishes the resurrected EC horror and science fiction comics." -- "Forbes"

"Incredibly relevant, poignant... This is the greatest one-shot comic book you'll read all year. Score: 10/10."-- "My Kind of Weird"

"Mortal Kombat for universal healthcare. Horvath conjures an idea that's fun to dream about and puts it in a strip that's fun to read."-- "Doom Rocket"

"This new comic book satire flips Squid Game on its head... The reason that stories like "Squid Game" and "The Hunger Games" usually feature the lower classes fighting death matches is because they're the lower classes. In the world we're all living through, it doesn't make sense for the people who control the world to submit themselves to its rules. That they would is a compelling fantasy that Horvath draws with relish."-- "/FILM"

About the Author

Patrick Horvath is a cartoonist and filmmaker based out of Los Angeles, California. He is the creator of the Eisner nominated Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and has written and directed on several films including ENTRANCE and Southbound.