Sunday, February 6, 2011

Funny Misshapen Body by Jeffrey Brown


In this collection of stories from his childhood through to his college years, Jeffrey Brown charms with his honesty and his ability to laugh at himself. His scratchy black ink artwork pairs well with his clear-eyed appraisal of the foibles of his younger self. Brown writes about his experience with Crohn's disease, working in a wooden shoe factory, bingeing on alcohol and drugs, and awkward interactions with the female sex. He vaguely wants to make art his life's work, but it takes years before that desire coalesces into the form of autobiographical comics like this one.

Graphic novel readalikes about men coming of age: Perfect Example by John Porcellino; Paul Has a Summer Job by Michel Rabagliati; Stitches by David Small.

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