cantordustbunnies's review against another edition
5.0
With hardly any dialogue and relying almost entirely on images, these cartoons are fascinating and enigmatic pieces of art. They are highly open to interpretation which is part of what makes them so special. To me, the characters within represent metaphorical versions of archetypes that exist within the human mind (perhaps nature more generally) and express themselves both in wider human society and in the deep recesses of the psyche. The short stories have far reaching, albeit mysterious, implications and have numerous applications including but not limited to philosophy and spirituality. This is literature in the form of a comic book. The art style itself is deliciously psychedelic. The juxtaposition between the generic and the profound within the Frank comics evokes the banality of every day reality in stark contrast to an intensive drug trip or religious experience.
sizrobe's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeously illustrated, almost entirely wordless, and deeply, deeply bizarre. Most of the stories in this book feature the titular frank, his pet named Pupshaw, a disgusting thing called Manhog, and a devilish creature named Whim. I only know their names because of a page in the appendix listing them. This world they populate is a hallucinatory dreamscape, especially the colored pages. Bizarre doesn't cut it. Since there is zero dialogue and almost no words, it's a quick read. I want to say I finished the 350 pages in around 45 minutes.
sisteray's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the greatest pieces of nightmare fuel ever created. Gorgeously rendered visions of otherworldly Persian palaces, and barren landscapes bedazzled by mouths and eyeballs sucking and watching. It is simultaneously endearing, engaging, perplexing, and unsettling. This is a masterpiece.
kinbote4zembla's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Part of me thinks I should reserve my rating of this book until I've read it again. I loved it but I cannot honestly say I fully understood it.
Almost completely wordless, this is a collection of comics Jim Woodring made about an anthropomorphic animal of ambiguous species. The art is absolutely beautiful but it really shines in the assortment of full-colour comics included in this collection.
I've seen these comics described as parables and I wouldn't necessarily disagree - though "fable" may be more apt. And Woodring has said that he will not speak to the meaning of his works, allowing them to operate in the mind of the reader as usually happens with literature and fine art.
But the level of ambiguity on display in these comics is both maddening and exhilarating. In a story where things bear very little resemblance to anything real, the level of abstraction increases beyond that inherent in the comics medium.
These are dreamy, surreal comics, illustrated in a seemingly storybook style, about very dark subjects. It would be easy to suggest some kind of Freudian reading of these works - vaginas, penises and anuses can definitely be seen in some design elements of the creatures and environments - but that seems much too simple for what's going on here.
I really did love this. But I'm going to reserve a five-star rating until I've read it again so that I can better unpack some of its symbolism.
4 Gentlemanhogs out of 5
Almost completely wordless, this is a collection of comics Jim Woodring made about an anthropomorphic animal of ambiguous species. The art is absolutely beautiful but it really shines in the assortment of full-colour comics included in this collection.
I've seen these comics described as parables and I wouldn't necessarily disagree - though "fable" may be more apt. And Woodring has said that he will not speak to the meaning of his works, allowing them to operate in the mind of the reader as usually happens with literature and fine art.
But the level of ambiguity on display in these comics is both maddening and exhilarating. In a story where things bear very little resemblance to anything real, the level of abstraction increases beyond that inherent in the comics medium.
These are dreamy, surreal comics, illustrated in a seemingly storybook style, about very dark subjects. It would be easy to suggest some kind of Freudian reading of these works - vaginas, penises and anuses can definitely be seen in some design elements of the creatures and environments - but that seems much too simple for what's going on here.
I really did love this. But I'm going to reserve a five-star rating until I've read it again so that I can better unpack some of its symbolism.
4 Gentlemanhogs out of 5
redeyedandhungry's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best art books in existence. Jim Woodring is a genius - one who proves himself time and time again in this work of sequential art, one which ventures directly into the unexplainable in the most devilishly 'readable' style possible. It is genuinely disturbing, genuinely scary, and (in general) quite humorous, a bizarre mix of psychidelic imagery and body horror and humanity that culminates in a tone and genre that is unlike anything else out there. It is one of the most original works of art I've born witness to, on par with the greats of film and literature while standing out as a collection of stories that can only work in this medium. In that sense, I believe that this, more than any of Eisner's works, is the best proof of comic books as a distinct artistic medium, and I think it has quickly become one of my favorite books of all time, and perhaps my favorite 'graphic novel'.
narcon_27's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best art books in existence. Jim Woodring is a genius - one who proves himself time and time again in this work of sequential art, one which ventures directly into the unexplainable in the most devilishly 'readable' style possible. It is genuinely disturbing, genuinely scary, and (in general) quite humorous, a bizarre mix of psychidelic imagery and body horror and humanity that culminates in a tone and genre that is unlike anything else out there. It is one of the most original works of art I've born witness to, on par with the greats of film and literature while standing out as a collection of stories that can only work in this medium. In that sense, I believe that this, more than any of Eisner's works, is the best proof of comic books as a distinct artistic medium, and I think it has quickly become one of my favorite books of all time, and perhaps my favorite 'graphic novel'.
dani_jean_17's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bdesmond's review against another edition
5.0
Well that was weird. I don't really even want to rate this it was so out there. I don't want it at zero stars though, more like a 'not rated' type of deal. Putting a label of enjoyment on this one just seems.. wrong.
Anyway, I don't know what to say about this book. Firstly I'll note that I found it (like many, many other worthwhile things) because of Duncan Trussell's podcast (which, by the way, anyone who hasn't yet should check out). He has Jim Woodring on as a guest and the conversation intrigued me, and Duncan's praise of the Frank Book did as well.
The Frank Book is a trip of sorts. Within which you will visit The Unifactor, the world in which Frank and his many acquaintances (Manhog, Whim, Pupshaw and Pushpaw, etc) reside. And what a world it is. Or isn't. In Woodring's own words, within the Unifactor 'there is no pattern, no law; only the incessant conversational cross-currents of nature and abstraction'. I couldn't have said it better myself. There is no dialogue in the Frank comics. You could refer to it as a 'silent comic' I guess, much like a silent movie. Though the term 'silent comic' seems a little redundant. In any case, no dialogue is needed for the story to play out. Now, that's not to say you'll understand it. The Frank Book almost feels like a book of little parables, completely open to interpretation by the reader. I did have a few favorites, I'll list those below because I like the names. But mostly I was struck by the pure feeling of the bizarre, and Woodring's art matches that feeling spectacularly. Check it out.
Frank in the river
Frank in the house of the dead
Frank's real pa
Frank in the wilderness
Frank and the truth about plentitude
Authorized Only*
Pushpaw
Ask the Sea
Frank and the toy without pity
Gentlemanhog
Frank obeys the rule of five*
Frank and the mystery of the instrument*
His father was a great machine
Anyway, I don't know what to say about this book. Firstly I'll note that I found it (like many, many other worthwhile things) because of Duncan Trussell's podcast (which, by the way, anyone who hasn't yet should check out). He has Jim Woodring on as a guest and the conversation intrigued me, and Duncan's praise of the Frank Book did as well.
The Frank Book is a trip of sorts. Within which you will visit The Unifactor, the world in which Frank and his many acquaintances (Manhog, Whim, Pupshaw and Pushpaw, etc) reside. And what a world it is. Or isn't. In Woodring's own words, within the Unifactor 'there is no pattern, no law; only the incessant conversational cross-currents of nature and abstraction'. I couldn't have said it better myself. There is no dialogue in the Frank comics. You could refer to it as a 'silent comic' I guess, much like a silent movie. Though the term 'silent comic' seems a little redundant. In any case, no dialogue is needed for the story to play out. Now, that's not to say you'll understand it. The Frank Book almost feels like a book of little parables, completely open to interpretation by the reader. I did have a few favorites, I'll list those below because I like the names. But mostly I was struck by the pure feeling of the bizarre, and Woodring's art matches that feeling spectacularly. Check it out.
Frank in the river
Frank in the house of the dead
Frank's real pa
Frank in the wilderness
Frank and the truth about plentitude
Authorized Only*
Pushpaw
Ask the Sea
Frank and the toy without pity
Gentlemanhog
Frank obeys the rule of five*
Frank and the mystery of the instrument*
His father was a great machine
puddingtaco's review against another edition
4.0
I read Congress of Animals before this one and the contrast was interesting. These stories have some words to them, not really dialog, but signs and notes that spell things out for the read a bit more. The color pages take away from the texture that the black and white drawings have, but add a grotesqueness in return. Certainly the amount of blood in bright scarlet is a change! There is a series of "cards" in the back of the book that has character names and bios to help you understand the stories a bit more. Glad I read Congress of Animals first, to let it be pure and strange on it's own, but happy to know a bit more about the backstory. Great books!
superunison's review against another edition
5.0
Really spectacular. Not sure what else to say. There isn't anyone else quite like Jim Woodring working today.