Reviews

Cousin Joseph by Jules Feiffer

ezraez's review

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

2.0

Expressive art style with an ironed on noir, crooked detective plot.

floodfish's review

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3.0

Sigh. Like a beautiful movie with a terrible script.

Nobody draws expressive body language better than Feiffer, and the way he does baggy suits is just to die for. I really like the not-quite-monochromatic coloring. The book is very well produced/printed.

Feiffer seems to be having fun, and I'm glad he’s doing what he wants to. But ...

The storytelling is so clumsy. There are some good scenes. They’re outweighed by cringeworthy exposition scenes. The message-y stuff isn’t stirring enough as propaganda. The cornball didacticism is arguably well-placed, as it’s not unlike some 1930s movies ... but that’s not justification enough for me. Also, for storytelling this pat, We deserve a more satisfactory ending.

In many ways this book reminds me of Will Eisner’s at social realism stories, but those were ~30 years ago (and they maybe weren’t that great even then?).

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