floodfish's review
4.0
Yes, one more 20-something slice-of-life autobio comic, but very unlike any other I've encountered. The drawings/paintings are a joy throughout, the jokes (when they occur, which isn't all that frequently), are funny, and the plot/emotions are never self-pitying or solipsistic.
My two big complaints:
The book's production values seem low. Like cheap print-on-demand or something. The paper stock is glossy and floppy in a really unappealing way. And the color seems overly washed out.
The chronology is really confusing. It doesn't "ruin the story" or anything, but trying to make sense of what's current, what's a flashback, is really hard. I was often left wondering, is that the date the events took place or the date the page was drawn?
My two big complaints:
The book's production values seem low. Like cheap print-on-demand or something. The paper stock is glossy and floppy in a really unappealing way. And the color seems overly washed out.
The chronology is really confusing. It doesn't "ruin the story" or anything, but trying to make sense of what's current, what's a flashback, is really hard. I was often left wondering, is that the date the events took place or the date the page was drawn?
kellyp's review
4.0
These are autobio comics about twenty-somethings in the Boston area. Stevens portrays himself as quite a layabout but you know he must work his ass off because his drawings are CRAZY GOOD and each panel has like a week's worth of crosshatching. It looks so labor-intensive but he must have it down since he churns out comics for The Phoenix like clockwork.
More...