Book-It 'o12! Book #34
The Fifty Books Challenge, year three! (Years one, two, and three just in case you're curious.) This was a library request.
Title: X'ed Out by Charles Burns
Details: Copyright 2010, Pantheon Books
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Doug is in bad shape. All the drugs in the world won't shut out the images that haunt his fevered dreams... fetal pigs, razor blades, black cats, open wounds... and eggs. Let's not forget the eggs.
From the creator of Black Hole comes the first volume of an epic masterpiece of graphic fiction in brilliant color."
Why I Wanted to Read It: This was reviewed favorably by The AV Club Comics Panel.
How I Liked It: While it's extremely difficult to review a book when you know there's more coming and it's going to be sprawling, the author appears to realize that this book has to ensnare the reader into waiting and completing the series.
The book's jumble of storylines is relatively easy to follow and they bleed into one another appealingly. The style of art strikes a cross between Tintin and Daniel Clowes (fortunately for my own tastes, it veers more into the former than the latter) with sharp colors and bold lines.
As for how this book plays out, nothing in particular stands as a provocation to eagerly await the next installment, but it's clear it's not a soap opera series. The wandering surrealism leaves more interestingly unanswered questions than edge-of-your-seat page-turning.
The final review can't really be in until the series is finished, but the author has set an interesting stage (stages?) and it looks like the play (plays?) we await will be worthwhile.
Notable: Something that stood out to me was the seeming product placement that follows throughout the novel. Pop-Tarts? It's a relatively one-brand snack so it's understandable. But Cap'n Crunch, Folger's coffee, and Viceroy cigarettes all make what seem like overly conspicuous appearances. It's subtle enough that it doesn't appear to be a plot device of any kind, but it does give one pause, particularly since so many other artists of a similar style/medium opt for a play on words of the name brand or an out-and-out imaginary company.
Title: X'ed Out by Charles Burns
Details: Copyright 2010, Pantheon Books
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Doug is in bad shape. All the drugs in the world won't shut out the images that haunt his fevered dreams... fetal pigs, razor blades, black cats, open wounds... and eggs. Let's not forget the eggs.
From the creator of Black Hole comes the first volume of an epic masterpiece of graphic fiction in brilliant color."
Why I Wanted to Read It: This was reviewed favorably by The AV Club Comics Panel.
How I Liked It: While it's extremely difficult to review a book when you know there's more coming and it's going to be sprawling, the author appears to realize that this book has to ensnare the reader into waiting and completing the series.
The book's jumble of storylines is relatively easy to follow and they bleed into one another appealingly. The style of art strikes a cross between Tintin and Daniel Clowes (fortunately for my own tastes, it veers more into the former than the latter) with sharp colors and bold lines.
As for how this book plays out, nothing in particular stands as a provocation to eagerly await the next installment, but it's clear it's not a soap opera series. The wandering surrealism leaves more interestingly unanswered questions than edge-of-your-seat page-turning.
The final review can't really be in until the series is finished, but the author has set an interesting stage (stages?) and it looks like the play (plays?) we await will be worthwhile.
Notable: Something that stood out to me was the seeming product placement that follows throughout the novel. Pop-Tarts? It's a relatively one-brand snack so it's understandable. But Cap'n Crunch, Folger's coffee, and Viceroy cigarettes all make what seem like overly conspicuous appearances. It's subtle enough that it doesn't appear to be a plot device of any kind, but it does give one pause, particularly since so many other artists of a similar style/medium opt for a play on words of the name brand or an out-and-out imaginary company.