Reviews

Wilson by Daniel Clowes

jmcook's review

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funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

nolansmock's review

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3.0

It's a good thing Wilson never got around to making a Twitter account! A ridiculous spin on the Sunday edition comic strips, focusing on the latter half of its curmudgeonly protaganist's life, full of jokes, peppered with existentialism. A fun read, although I'm not sure if I want to see the movie after, even if I think Woody Harrelson is probably a perfect casting for the role. That last strip really f*cked me up though. What do you see, Wilson?

geoffwood's review

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5.0

Head canon this is grown-up Charlie Brown

rocketbebop's review

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funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

lisawhelpley's review

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5.0

I loved this.

johnnymacaroni's review

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3.0

Wilson is an unlikable guy but also poignant. I found myself chuckling quite a bit and also shaking my head. I like how the artwork changes for different vignettes.

thisisstephenbetts's review

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2.0

I'm not biggest Clowes fan anyway, but this seemed particularly pointlessly misanthropic. Each page is a single chapter, paced as a longer gag strip -something between a traditional US Sunday strip à la Peanuts or Calvin & Hobbes, and a one-page UK kids comic strip (a form with no tradition?). But, inevitably, each punchline is a gob of misanthropic bile, not a bon mot. The art style changes on each page, mostly rotating between a few standard styles - I wasn't quite sure why he did this.

There's definitely some good work here, it's just that I didn't find it enjoyable. And I say that as someone who generally gravitates toward downbeat and miserabilist art. I guess I want a bit more empathy with the character. As it is, it kinda feels like Clowes wants to create a dislikable character purely so that people can dislike him.

ericfheiman's review

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4.0

While Cranbrook's Graphic Design program chair, Elliott Earls, may blame Daniel Clowes for all the problems with today's youth (whatever, dude), I see Clowes' latest opus as a cautionary tale for all of us cultural snobs who might be turning us into cynical curmudgeons. The character of Wilson is repellent, yet Clowes renders him with enough humanity and realism that a small part of me sympathized with him, too, if only because we all—with a few wrong turns and lack of self-awareness—could turn into Wilson ourselves.

richbarrett's review

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4.0

Another great book my one of my favorite cartoonists. It didn't seem that would be the case as I was reading the first 10 or so pages which was page after page of the most unlikable character to ever appear in comics griping about life in a repetitive gag strip format. But as you go on, you begin to see that all of it is going somewhere and it all works brilliantly together.

kaymarieplz's review

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4.0

Dang that was A downer but I also laughed at times because he's a terrible person. Two things that struck a chord- owning a dog and how precious they are to you, and the regret of not having a child..i fear very much I will regret not having a child but struggle that shouldn't be my reason to have a kid. I get you wilson.