A review by saidtheraina
The Acme Novelty Library, Number 20 by Chris Ware

3.0

I really gotta stop doing this.

I gotta get used to the fact that Chris Ware just isn't my thing.

But his stuff is SO PRETTY!

I love the high concept SO MUCH!


His brain is so interesting. The geometry of how he creates his pages and panels, the color concepts, the overall sweep of a life in a comic book. There is so much I like about what he does.



Yep, there's a big ole But.

Everytime I read Ware's stuff, I leave feeling disconnected and nonplussed. While I admire the scope and design of everything he does, I just don't come out liking the characters or stories he tells.

This is no exception. It's basically the lifestory of an asshole, as far as I could tell. A life I could never admire.

And I get that there's virtue in giving background to someone who might be judged harshly by the world at large. Heck, I was an actor, I have practice at trying to see from the Other's perspective.

But this just made me sad.

I gotta quit you, Chris. I'm sorry.


**Extra star for the artistry. Can't blame the artist for my taste.**