re: "Jimmy Corrigan."
I've been following the career of Chris Ware for about fifteen years, since his undergraduate days in the art department at UT (where I am ...sigh... STILL an undergrad in the art department.) Chris is simply one of the greatest comics writers and artists in the history of the medium, and I'm not just saying that out of Longhorn Pride. "Jimmy Corrigan" has been in the works for literally years - probably close to a decade, or even more - and is one of the very few true graphics novels yet published. I italicize novel because the depth of feeling, precise characterization, and insight into the human condition demonstrated by this work truly makes it a masterpiece on the level of the very greatest in world fiction. The artwork, which is equally deep, precise, and insightful is also simple, elegant, and gorgeous. Most of the material in "Jimmy Corrigan" originated in Ware's irregular (in schedule, but also in size shape and format) comic book "The Acme Novelty Library" published by Fantagraphics Books. "Jimmy Corrigan" is a little more traditional in style and format than some of Ware's earlier, wildly experimental stuff, but it still rewards close reading and an intimate understanding of the medium. In fact, it so smartly straddles the line between artsy and down-to-earth that it would also function as a fine educational tool for showing the incredible potential of the sequential art form.
If memory serves, the softcover of "Jimmy Corrigan" is about $35. It's a bargain at twice the price. If you just can't get enough of the guy, he also does freelance work as a graphic designer (you'll see the g.d. influence in his comics.) One recent project of his is the reprints of "The Complete Krazy Kat Sunday Strips" which are also published by Fantagraphics, and you should buy those because Krazy Kat is effing brilliant. George Herriman is one of those few comics artists that I would place on the same plane as Chris Ware.
To sum up...no joke, man, them books is the bomb diggy.
And if you think I'm frontin' about being an ol' skool Chris Ware head, just check my earlier posts on this thread. I mention "Acme Novelty Library" in my first post, and Chris Ware a few days later.
Last edited by Chang Style Novice; 02-08-2003 at 07:14 PM.
All my fight strategy is based on deliberately injuring my opponents. -
Crippled Avenger
"It is the same in all wars; the soldiers do the fighting, the journalists do the shouting, and no true patriot ever get near a front-line trench, except on the briefest of propoganda visits...Perhaps when the next great war comes we may see that sight unprecendented in all history, a jingo with a bullet-hole in him."
First you get good, then you get fast, then you get good and fast.