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octoberrust1108's review against another edition
4.0
I'd give this five stars but the last two short stories really tripped me out and I had a hard time following them. Perhaps just lack of context?
Aside from that, this book was awesome. I found myself chuckling at a gradually increasing volume in the library, and story by story I was choking back stifled laughter like two schoolboys in the back of the classroom.
"The Gunslinger" was my favorite. It's only two pages long and it had me in quiet, breathless tears.
This is one of the few library reads I've picked up that I would go out of my way to buy.
Aside from that, this book was awesome. I found myself chuckling at a gradually increasing volume in the library, and story by story I was choking back stifled laughter like two schoolboys in the back of the classroom.
"The Gunslinger" was my favorite. It's only two pages long and it had me in quiet, breathless tears.
This is one of the few library reads I've picked up that I would go out of my way to buy.
sizrobe's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. Not great. It's a collection of short comics that are supposed to be funny, but just fall flat. The art was okay, but nothing to write home about. At least it's pretty short, so a quick read. I wouldn't recommend.
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
3.0
My favorite story in this collection validates my long believed theory that artists (not just visual artists, but writers, and performance artists) are terrible drivers. I have a writer friend who almost ran over [a:Saul Williams|4388|Saul Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1218238825p2/4388.jpg], and another who was inches away from running over [a:Junot Díaz|55215|Junot Díaz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487667538p2/55215.jpg]. In this story, the narrator first accidentally runs over Daniel Clowes, then Adrian Tomine, and then presumably others are run over off-panel. Clowes and Tomine see each other in the afterlife, and "God" decides to return them to Earth to enact their vengeance.
It's the least weird story in the book.
The other two longer pieces in the collection lost my interest part way through. The art is fantastic, but I'm not usually a fan of comics that are more about philosophy than plot. The shorter, more humorous portions were more my speed.
I recommend this for people who enjoy the kind of comics that end up in [b:The Best American Comics 2016|28114503|The Best American Comics 2016|Roz Chast|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455172109s/28114503.jpg|48123816], fans of Canadian or European slice of life comics (this book is none of those things, but I think people who enjoy those things would also enjoy this), environmental philosophy enthusiasts, and those who wish to see Adrian Tomine and Daniel Clowes "get what they deserve".
It's the least weird story in the book.
The other two longer pieces in the collection lost my interest part way through. The art is fantastic, but I'm not usually a fan of comics that are more about philosophy than plot. The shorter, more humorous portions were more my speed.
I recommend this for people who enjoy the kind of comics that end up in [b:The Best American Comics 2016|28114503|The Best American Comics 2016|Roz Chast|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455172109s/28114503.jpg|48123816], fans of Canadian or European slice of life comics (this book is none of those things, but I think people who enjoy those things would also enjoy this), environmental philosophy enthusiasts, and those who wish to see Adrian Tomine and Daniel Clowes "get what they deserve".
berrit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
robertrivasplata's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Collection of mostly surrealist comic stories by Eric Haven from the early 2000s. These comics remind me of Daniel Clowes’s comics, only more surreal. I mean surreal in the sense that they follow dream logic, or maybe were inspired by dreams. The Accuser especially has the creepy late-night radio vibes of Joe Frank. I could really feel myself being sucked into 15 page comic I wonder if the Gregory character is supposed to be Klaus Kinski.
1goodkaren's review against another edition
3.0
As a middle-aged lesbian, I'm not the target audience for this.
otterno11's review
3.0
Another bizarre and utterly weird collection of comics, Compulsive Comics was full of offbeat, gruesome, and strangely compelling fun. One can never tell just what’s going to happen in these comedic pulp comic parodies, from a murderous anteater to reptoid fighting superheroes on top of active volcanoes. Not quite as strong as Haven’s earlier collection, UR, the highlights here include the self-deprecating I Killed Dan Clowes, though the comic adaptation of a chapter of G.K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday (which I haven’t read) seemed a little arcane. Perhaps if I’d read it would have been more interesting.
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