Scan barcode
timgrubbs's review against another edition
5.0
A unique look at the youth of a future serial killer
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf is an insightful graphic novel looking at the early life of a monster…before he was a monster…or at least less of a monster…
First, the title is somewhat misleading. I don’t feel the author was a true friend to Dahmer (and reading it you’ll likely agree), but he was one of the closest things to a “friend” to him…being one of the few kids that would actually associated with the trouble young man.
In addition, you must take some of the scenes with some sense of skepticism. While we can trust various scenes where the writer was present and a witness, there are others that rely on speculation and Dahmer’s own words rather than a factual account.
Despite this, it’s a decent story…and indicative about how there are those among us who have the potential for great evil…be it due to personality issues, social treatment, or simply some other unknown factor…and how showing some slight it if sympathy or kindness might have avoided such an unfortunate outcome…
But maybe I’m just being optimistic…
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf is an insightful graphic novel looking at the early life of a monster…before he was a monster…or at least less of a monster…
First, the title is somewhat misleading. I don’t feel the author was a true friend to Dahmer (and reading it you’ll likely agree), but he was one of the closest things to a “friend” to him…being one of the few kids that would actually associated with the trouble young man.
In addition, you must take some of the scenes with some sense of skepticism. While we can trust various scenes where the writer was present and a witness, there are others that rely on speculation and Dahmer’s own words rather than a factual account.
Despite this, it’s a decent story…and indicative about how there are those among us who have the potential for great evil…be it due to personality issues, social treatment, or simply some other unknown factor…and how showing some slight it if sympathy or kindness might have avoided such an unfortunate outcome…
But maybe I’m just being optimistic…
gabriellebelisle's review against another edition
5.0
My 2nd read-through. It's creepy because there are always a few of those truly weird kids you look back on from middle or high school and wonder about from time to time.
closetdiscoqueen's review against another edition
3.0
It's very interesting that Derf went to school and hung out with Dahmer. Although I gobbled this up during my lunch break, I still enjoy Backderf's other works better. It was a chilling read, but just barely scratches the surface of the dark and disturbing life and crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer. I guess I expected his childhood or high school life to explain why he committed so many murders...but a lot of kids are bullied and have parents that fight and abuse drugs...and they still don't turn out to be serial killers.
harlando's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy. Very good, but creepy.
Dahmer was a really strange guy.
His home life seems to have been terrible. I think all really horrible people are a combination of genes and environment. There was something in Dahmer's DNA. Another person could live his awful childhood and not become a killer. That experience was important. If his parents had been loving and involved, or just vigilant, he might have got some help.
Dahmer's high school staff was shockingly oblivious. He came to school drunk every day for years, drank at school, and was only caught once. If someone there had paid attention, he might have had some help and gone down a different path.
The book didn't make me sympathetic to Dahmer. he was a monster, but he was a kid once and no one seems to have done a thing for him.
Dahmer was a really strange guy.
His home life seems to have been terrible. I think all really horrible people are a combination of genes and environment. There was something in Dahmer's DNA. Another person could live his awful childhood and not become a killer. That experience was important. If his parents had been loving and involved, or just vigilant, he might have got some help.
Dahmer's high school staff was shockingly oblivious. He came to school drunk every day for years, drank at school, and was only caught once. If someone there had paid attention, he might have had some help and gone down a different path.
The book didn't make me sympathetic to Dahmer. he was a monster, but he was a kid once and no one seems to have done a thing for him.
boucherkatelyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Story was more about the authors life and how Dahmer fell into that narrative.