Comments on: The Comic Book Alphabet of Cool – W

By: DanCJ

DanCJ — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:01:35 +0000

I wouldn’t say calling his work depressing is a criticism, but it is a valid reason why someone might not want to read his work. It was similar to me to films like Leaving Las Vegas and Nil By Mouth. A real ordeal to get through and had quite a big effect on me. At the same time though I’m not looking to repeat the experience.

By: Richard J. Marcej

Richard J. Marcej — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:44:45 +0000

Chris Ware says more on one page (like that New Yorker cover) then most modern cartoonist/artists say in a TPB collection! He’s an incredible talent.

As for writing depressing stories?

Honestly now, are Ware’s stories centering on an individual’s life any more depressing then some large overblown crossover series churned out by DC or Marvel?

By: Jeff Ryan

Jeff Ryan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:50:28 +0000

Who’s with me for claiming for Chris Ware to draw a monthly Qausar comic? Huh, huh?

(crickets)

Okay, onto plan b: Art Spiegelman.

By: Julian

Julian — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:07:02 +0000

I still need to get those Thanksgiving prints. That story about his brother is in my top five comic strips ever. He does write depressing stories, but he tells them so gracefully. His approach to narrative is like that of a cartographer, mapping out all the randomness and details of these people’s lives. Building Stories was especially depressing (though the sequences in the flower shop were beautiful) but the rest of his work Jimmy Corrigan was a therapeutic experience for me and I thought the ending was actually pretty uplifting. I think Rusty Brown is really shaping up to be his best work though. The sequence where he’s smoking up with his students or that dance that he does are hilarious.

By: Apodaca

Apodaca — Sun, 31 May 2009 06:10:00 +0000

I’ll never understand how “depressing” is a criticism. Art is supposed to have an emotional effect on you. Duh.

By: Evan Waters

Evan Waters — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:54:23 +0000

I think “often quite depressing” may be understating it. I read through one of the ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY collections and it was just the same emotional beats of alienation and loneliness over and over. There was no part of it that was not depressing. I think I’ve heard songs written by Morrissey that were more upbeat.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:30:13 +0000

eh. Not a Ware fan.

By: def

def — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:19:32 +0000

Another things about Ware is he’s an incredibly nice guy. I met him years back at a dinner party, and he thanked me for reading his comics, like I was doing him a favor. Later, he played ragtime piano for everyone. I’m jealous of him all the time.

By: benday-dot

benday-dot — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:30:58 +0000

Chris Ware and Jack Kirby have insane fights in my mind over who is the best comic book creator ever. And you know they both do these crazy things with shape and structure, geometry and clear line. Awesome.

And Joe Rice is right… Ware is funny as hell. Read the Big Book of Jokes or any of the Rusty Brown stuff. Dark, scathing, hilarious and supremely poignant.

By: sgt rawk

sgt rawk — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:24:21 +0000

Again, and I’m in the minority here and maybe I just plain don’t get it but I DON’T LIKE CHRIS WARE.

Un-fucking-readable, in my opinion. Superb draughtsmanship, poignant storytelling, absolutely ruined by stylistic ‘tricks.’ It’s like reading manga upside down underwater while somebody hits you with a boom-pole. Where do I look next? Does it matter? Why am I reading this?

*sigh* … never mind me. I’m still pissed off P wasn’t for Steve Purcell, creator of Sam and Max. Or isn’t that cool enough? Cool enough for ME, brother!

IdisagreewithyourpoinionbutIlikeyourreviews.

By: Dan Felty

Dan Felty — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:43:30 +0000

Hooray for Chris Ware!

By: Bill Reed

Bill Reed — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:19:54 +0000

His artwork’s magnificent, yes, and unlike anything out there. I’ll give you that.

I read Jimmy Corrigan and found it to be the most depressing thing in the entire world. And the fact that my eyesight is so bad and the lettering is so small that I need to squint the whole time to read it just left me more exhausted and further depressed from the whole thing.

I dunno, I feel like a hater for no reason. I don’t really hate on Ware. I just don’t want his babies.

By: Apodaca

Apodaca — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:51:03 +0000

Chris Ware makes quantum comics. He is very awesome.

By: Joe Rice

Joe Rice — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:44:26 +0000

I often think the “depressing” theme is overplayed by Ware critics. This is one of the aspects of Wolk’s book I really took issue with; I find Ware’s stories to be chock full of dark, dark humor. There’s not a Ware book I can read without laughing out loud more than some supposedly “hilarious” books ever could inspire.

Anyway, when I look at Ware work, I just love comics so goddam much. Such beauty.

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:17:17 +0000

Wow. That is amazing stuff.

By: def

def — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:10:12 +0000

Love all his stuff, especially the oversized novelty books. They have some depressing content, but they’re wrapped up in such fun packaging. He’s fantastic. Good (and challenging) choice.

By: sgt rawk

sgt rawk — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:15:02 +0000

Enh. Chris Ware is only ‘cool’ in a McLuhanesque sense.

By: chroom

chroom — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:12:25 +0000

I can appreciate his design sense, but other than that I’ve just never been able to see the appeal. Maybe I’m just a hopped-up action-junkie Philistine, but Ware — and a great many of his ilk — just don’t do it for me. Maybe it’s just that I don’t need comics to tell me the world sucks.

By: DanLarkin

DanLarkin — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:42:00 +0000

Good choice. Ware’s ability to design a page is unaparalled in comics, and he’s one of the best writers the medium’s got as well. As depressing as his subject matter tends to be, I generally don’t find the work itself to be depressing, if that makes any sense.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:31:38 +0000

Chris Ware? Over Wizard? Over Wetworks?