By John Malloy
Publisher: NBM
Publishing (September 1, 2001)
Softcover, 64
pages
A journalist has a
meeting with a pop artist, which then plunges into a hallucinatory exploration
of their pasts, possible futures, alternate lives, and dead ends. The artist is
somehow able to slip between the cracks of reality during his sleep and take
residence in the body of his other selves in alternate worlds. The pair
discovers their pasts are actually what can set them free, and that the line
between memories and dreams is finer than they could ever imagine.
The
narrative begins fine with excellent art and a rambling exploration of the
first narrator’s life, leading by synchronicity to the point outside of the
interview. But it takes a wrong turn, style wise, with part two, which begins
to incorporate real-life photography with the art. I understand that this is to
demonstrate the various shades of reality that the characters are tumbling
through, so much so that no one is quite sure what is real, but the use of
actual photos was a poor choice. They didn't translate well with the 2001
technology (when the book was published). The photos are grainy and, worst of
all, boring to look at. Perhaps if he had stuck to one or two of them, but at
least a quarter of the book is done in photos.
It
is a pity because the book had potential, with an interesting take on the
nature of reality, or an adaptation of reality. However, it ultimately took a
wrong turn. Some criticism states that the art is a rip-off of McKean’s style,
and it is similar. However, if you can draw as well as him, I say more power to
you.
For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.
No comments:
Post a Comment