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Title: Blankets: An Illustrated Novel by Craig Thompson ISBN: 1-891830-43-0 Publisher: Top Shelf Productions Pub. Date: July, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.68 (38 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The graphic novel at its finest
Comment: When you first come into physical contact with this book, taking this brick-sized 600 page monster into your hands and cracking open the covers - the heft alone should tell you that this is no ordinary graphic-novel/comic-book. A few pages into this book and you'll immediately be hooked. Your fingers will flip through page after page and before you know it you'll already have consumed several hundred pages of what will surely go down as a monument to the medium of the graphic novel the way Art Spiegelman's, 'Maus,' did in the 80's and Neil Gaiman's, 'Sandman' series offered throughout the 90's.
'Blankets,' at its core is a simple, timeless story (coming of age, first-love, alienation, anxiety, pursuit of spiritual identity, teen-angst) told thousands of times over the millenia (books, poems, songs, movies, television) but perfectly captured, perhaps for the first time, in comic-strip form. This book is exquisitely plotted, paced, written and drawn and by the end of it all one can't help but be left dazed at the sheer artistic excellence demonstrated by Thompson, from start to finish, through thousands of panels. Visually, the black and white artwork is a stunner but perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of all is Thompson's gift for prose with not a wasted word to be found in his minimalistic narrative that still manages to be filled with layer after layer of subtext.
This truly is a title not to be missed by anyone with an appreciation for the written word, not to mention the graphical novel format. The stylish cover design and paper quality also lends itself very well as a gift-giving item.
Rating: 5
Summary: Brilliant "Blankets" A Must-Read
Comment: At long last, Craig Thompson returns and it was worth the wait. After wowing the comics world with his "Goodbye Chunky Rice" Thompson left us all wanting more. 'Rice' was a beautiful tale, a poignant little love story and one you could read over and over again and always find something new. It was cute and grotesque, charming and bittersweet, layered and fullfilling. A tough act to follow it would seem. But after devouring his latest (and prolific) illustrated novel "Blankets", we see that 'Rice' was just the tip of the iceburg.
For "Blankets" is everything it should be and then some. Thompson's storytelling skills have skyrocketed to amazing new heights. His drawing skills, brilliant from the begining, continue to amaze and fascinate. Facial expressions, body gestures and scenery are beautifully crafted into each meticulously designed page. The narrative and dialogue are naturalistic and without the usual hint of drama that comes along with these types of stories. From all these somewhat technical aspects of the book, Thompson is no doubt in top form and at the top of his game. There is little to criticize here. He has, no doubt, transcended the genre while at the same time lifting it up to new heights.
But what is most impressive here is the heart of this tale. Thompson isn't telling us a brand new story. On a very basic level, this is an angst teen romance. But how he tells it is key. He wraps his love story in memories of his childhood, his religious beliefs, his family. This, we come to see, is a love story about love. It is about first love. It is about brotherly love. It is about spiritual love. It is about all the complexities and nuances that come with all the different ways in which we love. Thompson avoids using his tale as a soap box to eloquently voice his hatred of the "popular kids". Nor does he candy-coat his childhood memories. Like so much of Thompsons work, it is a mix of joy and darkness. He never overstates to make a point. Such restraint is what sets his work miles apart from any other comic artist/storyteller out there. In one memorable scene, the two young brothers see static electricity in the blankets of the bed they share. These three pages (250-252) sum up the brilliance of this book and capture it's heart so perfectly. These are the passages that make you stop and think. To read over them too quickly would be cheating yourself of the full impact of this book. Like 'Rice' before it, "Blankets" demands to be read more than once. But I'll be happy if everyone read it at least once.
Rating: 2
Summary: Big let down
Comment: Blankets had it's moments. But the ending was pretty limp IMHO. You'd figure that after all Craig went through he would lead you to some conclusion, but at the end he was even more confused and depressed.
So what's the point after all 600 pages? A big disappointment that's what.
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Title: Good-Bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson ISBN: 1891830090 Publisher: Top Shelf Productions Pub. Date: January, 2004 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson ISBN: 1891830198 Publisher: Top Shelf Production Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Persepolis : The Story of a Childhood by MARJANE SATRAPI ISBN: 0375422307 Publisher: Pantheon Books Pub. Date: 29 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Quimby the Mouse (ACME Novelty Library) by Chris Ware ISBN: 1560974850 Publisher: Fantagraphics Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: BOP! by Alex Robinson ISBN: 1891830465 Publisher: Top Shelf Productions Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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