Gareth Brookes

Another wonderful book by Brookes (who is a friend of mine — full disclosure fans). He is an avant-garde Raymond Briggs, which may actually be the highest praise I am capable of conceiving of. The main characters of this comic are Myriam and Fred, a couple getting into their senior years, living in suburbia much as they always have. But Myriam has started vivid hallucinations, so that that when she does see something truly strange she cannot be sure what is real and not, much less convince anyone else. The plot is solid, but where Brookes really excels is in his mordent, well-observed dialogue — the characters this conjures — and, naturally, his art. As can now be expected, he has used a novel technique here, creating coloured pages conventionally, then entirely covering it in black crayon only to scrape the crayon off. This gives texture and interest to his pages, and also, of course, alludes to Myriam's own occluded vision, placing the reader in a position akin to hers. In this way, Brookes continually disconcerts the reader, making the cosy suburban setting uncomfortable and slightly off, much as it must be for poor old Myriam.… (meer)

Good

Richard is socially awkward and he has no real friends. He makes a succession of girlfriends out of household objects of increasing complexity and anatomical verisimilitude. His grandfather’s workshop, his mother’s clothes, pornographic magazines found in the woods are all used to further his obsession. The art is beautiful and idiosyncratic, made from lino cut and embroidery. Brookes brings you into Richard’s world and makes it seem normal and makes Richard a very sympathetic protagonist. The tale is set in an unspecified time, but one that is instantly recognisable as before computers, riding around on rubbish bicycles with crappy handlebar gears, penny for the guy, wanting your own private space but your mum still comes into your bedroom whenever she wants. This is an endearing and odd tale and highly recommended.

Overall – What could be a very dark and sordid tale is told with humour and is all the more human for that.… (meer)

Endearingly creepy graphic novel.

Made of embroidery and lino cut marks this beautiful graphic novel stands out as something odd and intriguing. The story could make you run for hills but don’t. Stop. It may be about a socially awkward, lonely kid whose desire for a friend.. a girlfriend .. leads him to make girls out of households objects but Brooke's genius makes that kid, Richard, likeable and understandable. The aching loneliness and frustration, the banality of suburbia, the harsh cruelties of other kids and well meaning parents. It’s also quite funny. And whilst it may be over the top, misguided adolescence is probably something that strikes a chord.

Understated, weird and very human this book took 4 years to make and you can see why. Once you have read it you will also see why it won the First Graphic Novel Competition (judged by luminaries Ian Rankin, Bryan Talbot & Hannah Berry)

Recommended… (meer)