I’m back from the comic shop this week and I got 2 new comic, a trade paperback collection, plus a hard cover collection:
And now for a review of something I’ve read this week.
I once read a thought by the cartoonist Seth (just one name) in regards to his book “It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken”. He said, and I’m paraphrasing, “It’s about the feeling not the plot”. I found this interesting because I was a story guy who was all about the structure. Plot is where it all started with me and I never before thought about a story where the feeling it created came first. It opened my eyes a little. “It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken” is a favorite of mine. It feels a lot.
“The Three Paradoxes” is another story that is all about feeling. It’s the tale of a twenty something man who is home to visit his parents. He takes a walk with his father. Sometimes talking to him and sometimes letting his mind wander. This leads into thoughts about his childhood, the comic story he is working on, the tale of a man and his scar, and a story about a philosopher that takes on a life of its own as an old comic book. But this book is not about the plot it’s about the feeling.
Hornschemeier’s work is tinged with longing, regret, introspection, and people trying to make connections with the world. There is no large drama going on just the interaction of people why are trying to figure out the world in their own small way.Or maybe I’m wrong there. Maybe everybody’s drama is big or small in its own way. You’ll have to decide that for yourself.
Hornschemeier also switches, quite adeptly, between a few different styes of color and drawing as he interweaves each story. The comic that the main character is working on is in blue pencil, the flashbacks to his childhood in dots of orange and red, the scar and philosophy stories as old comics, and the main tale of the walk is done in somber earth tones and drawn more “realistically”. Each suits the mood of the story quite well and helps each part have its own individual feel.
This is a good book. I liked it a lot. Give it a read and remember: it’s all about the feeling.
I’ll be posting my Goon review this Thursday. I liked it (in case you can’t wait to hear).
I’ve read the Criminal story, and it’s excellent. Definitely worth your time.
🙂
I think you’ll dig that Romita Jr. Wolverine book. It’s pretty action packed, nice story not tied down to weird X-Stuff. Plus he fights a shark in in, so you can’t beat that. And kick ass lettering.
Let me know what you thought of that Goon Chinatown book.