The Cat with a Really Big Head, and One Other Story that Isn't as Good

by Roman Dirge

Attention Lenore fans: Roman Dirge is back with an all-new storybook-format tale. This time, it's the tragic story of a cat named Cat, and his misfortunes in life due to his enormously oversized head. This digest-size tale (5.5 x 8.5?) comes with a glossy card-stock cover with color art on the inside covers as well as outside, and includes an all-new back up story by Dirge, which he says is not as good. You be the judge.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Cats, Humor, Childrens, Comedy

Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Roman Dirge (born on April 29, 1972) is an artist and magician, and the creator of the Lenore comic-book series; he currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Told by his art teachers that he would never make it as an artist due to his crude style, he quit art and became a full-time magician. After a few years, his passion for art overtook him and he created the comic about Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl for Xenophobe magazine. The comic strips were later seen by Dan Vado, president of Slave Labor

Reviews

[❀angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOL. I really did laugh out loud, because this is book is funny!! Morbid, yes, but funny. The illustrations are just as hilarious--and very well-done. I'm definitely keeping my gorgeous hardback copy, which I won through goodreads. It came in this box with two layers of bubble wrap, and I was like, "it's such a thin book, why are they treating it like it's fragile? I get so many books thrown into an envelope and they make it to my house just fine!" But then I saw the shiny illustrations and smooth cover and I thought, "thank goodness saw fit to carefully ship my lovely new book!" Also, Mr. Dirge, if you ever read this, I'm so glad you're over your ex-girlfriend-turned-baby-maker. She wasn't worth it!! You're very talented and I am now you're fan, who will support your upcoming works!

[Raki Oddbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about the cat with the really big head? It's sad. It's really really sad, but it's also a little (or very) funny. You love the cat and you want to care for it and love it, but at the same time you're disgusted by it. It's a roller coaster this one.

[Kelly Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, sad, pitiful cat.
The cat with the really big head had an awful life, poor thing. I think I would have loved it if the kids loved the weird cat. Or if they were all weird? Like the school oddities? But the ending with the fur ball? Hilarious.

[Punkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Arrrr! It tickled me funny bone!!! (note: there are no pirates, or a nautical theme in this book, I just felt like talking like a pirate, 'cause...... pirates.)

[Aida · Rating 1 out of 5]

What did I just read?

[☺Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morbidly bizarre tales wonderfully illustrated . . . Unique, to say the least.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roman Dirge has the best morbid weird funny stories. The artwork is awesome, very morbid and cute.

In this we meet Cat, who has a really big head and maybe he has a big brain then too, or perhaps not. Cat does not have a happy life.

And then there was a story about an autopsy, yup.

Macabre and funny. Totes adorbs.

Great illustrations and good stories.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the artwork, the stories are a delightful in a silly and a bit gross way. It's sort of a kid's book for grown-ups, I think, though I'm sure some older kids would love it to bits too. Review copy provided by publisher.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars Honestly, I wasn’t all that into the cat story in The Cat with the Really Big Head. It was toooo quirky for my tastes. The art, though, was super unique though The limerick part in the middle was the best bit – more straight forward. The emotional bloodbath thingy poem was clever, but also pretty strange. Still, as always with Ronan, the art always saves it.

[Adrian · Rating 2 out of 5]

What would you get if you crossed heartbreak with Tim Burton and Dr Seuss, and throw in elephantitis affecting a cat; well you get a cat with a really big head! Dark and funny, although a little short. This could have been so much more!

[Peter M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird but kinda funny

I thought the occassional asides were pointless; but overall I liked it. My favorite was The Monsters in my Tummy and how the monsters which represent emotions killed each other

[Rashida Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute and dark

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a quirky book about a cat....with a really Big head! I think I felt like it ended too soon....like there was more to the story. It was fun, but not quite enough. 2.5 Stars

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything my Wednesday Addams heart adores!
TW for morbid comments, death, death of animals, dark themes

[Frida · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quirky and morbid, but all in all, it fell a bit short.

[Iskra Profil nije aktivan u ovo vreme. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,3 🌟

[kangeiko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite of his works.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sick. Twisted. Delightful.

Roman Dirge. You either relate or you find him repulsive... or maybe you just relate to the creepiness.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic tells the tale of an unfortunate feline who suffers a lifetime of abuse, large hats and Russian radio signals due to his enormous head.

We might like to think that kitty's head is so big due to the size of his brain but alas, no. Unfortunately kitty's problem is due to some horrific genetic defect. It is possible that his father, Humongor Head played a part.

Max and Molly soon grow tired of the poor kitty and move on to other creatures to shower with affection.

Poor kitty becomes depressed. He can't stalk his pray, he can't play outside and he can't eat unaided.

But today, for one day, kitty will eat with dignity and be like every other feline. He will be normal. It doesn't end well.

And now for the other story, that isn't as good (but is as good):

The big Question

Little Alisa McGee was a wonderful little girl with her whole life ahead of her, until she ended up dead. Of course the only person who is available to answer her question is the autopsy man. The only logical solution is for her to stalk him until she finds her answer.

The illustrations throughout both tales are wonderful and well matched with Dirge's dark humour.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roman Dirge has been called a gothic Michelangelo for his macabre stories and dark and disturbedly melancholy illustrations and with this book he deservedly earns that title.

Dirge is absolutely correct. There is one other story included here that isn't as good - "The Monsters in My Tummy". This is offset by the short story of the little girl who follows the medical examiner home following her autopsy. It's weirdly funny. All-in-all, a very entertaining and rewarding read.

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautifully illustrated and written book! I especially loved the title story The Cat With A Really Big Head though I did love the other works included. A really lovely presented book and I definitely recommend picking it up. I've posted a full review on my blog here.

[Ainhoa Prieto · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐2.5⭐
Esta es una lectura que solo recomiendo si estas muy muy aburrido y realmente no tienes nada mejor que hacer... alguna historias (por llamarlas de alguna manera), pueden tener su gracia, pero en general es una lectura totalmente prescindible... no se quedará conmigo más allá de terminar de escribir esta reseña.

[Astri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book...perhaps a bit too much. Roman Dirge's stories have always filled me with glee, and this doesn't disappoint...save for the other story which really isn't that great. Huzzah for honesty!

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, the other story isn't as good. I didn't really like the whole emotions-killing-off-other-emotions thing. Oh, well.

The cat story is pretty decent, and ended the way I expected, with the cat dying by eating normally.

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I'll agree that the other story isn't as good. I didn't really like the whole emotions-killing-off-other-emotions thing. Oh, well.

The cat story is pretty decent, and ended the way I expected, with the cat dying by eating normally.

[Musayespiritu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estas historias, como dice el título, no son muy buenas. Me esperaba mucho más ya que Lenore me encantó (muy recomendable cualquiera de los tres volúmenes). El estilo recuerda a Tim Burton. De todas formas, no está mal para pasar un rato en el que no quieras pensar.

[Adrianne Mathiowetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Roman Dirge. When can I make you my corpse bride?

Simultaneously adorable, tragic, disgusting, hilarious. Everything. Read it all.

[Kati Giblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this is just funny.

[Lisa :-) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just so fun and silly.

[Narnies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome.