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ericfheiman's review against another edition
4.0
A self-proclaimed "Great American Mythological Drama" collection of stories, "Abandoned Cars' could be described as Robert Johnson blues in graphic novel form, except littered with working class Midwestern folks just trying to stay afloat in the wild seas of life. The art is reminiscent of Charles Burns, but the resemblance ends there as the stories are more along the lines of an Edward Hopper painting, or the road-obsessed literature of John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac. While the stories resemble other hermetic first person narratives of the alternative comic genre, they are refreshingly free of irony. Because the characters are not the overexposed disillusioned of privilege, the struggles feel much more genuine and cut deep.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
This is a collection of short stories in graphic format riffing on the amerikan dream (my spelling).
I admire this as a graphic novel. It's gorgeous to look at - I love Lane's art. And the stories are deep and make you think. I particularily liked the ruminations of the educated young man fulfilling his fantasies by grabbing an illegal ride on a train. Personally, when I was growing up, I often imagined having to live without a home. So as we sped along the freeway, I'd check out the underpasses and bushes, wondering if each location would be a good place that would give shelter from the elements. So I get the romantic ideal.
However, it's pretty much a downer (and yes, I feel incredibly shallow for saying it). I felt no hope, and each story killed the amerikan dream in a different (and yes, impressive) way. So it was difficult to read, and I didn't particularly enjoy it. But again, impressed.
I admire this as a graphic novel. It's gorgeous to look at - I love Lane's art. And the stories are deep and make you think. I particularily liked the ruminations of the educated young man fulfilling his fantasies by grabbing an illegal ride on a train. Personally, when I was growing up, I often imagined having to live without a home. So as we sped along the freeway, I'd check out the underpasses and bushes, wondering if each location would be a good place that would give shelter from the elements. So I get the romantic ideal.
However, it's pretty much a downer (and yes, I feel incredibly shallow for saying it). I felt no hope, and each story killed the amerikan dream in a different (and yes, impressive) way. So it was difficult to read, and I didn't particularly enjoy it. But again, impressed.
tomhill's review against another edition
3.0
I love the artwork. It's very much my kind of comic style. Wasn't as drawn in by many of the actual plots of the stories.
ponycanyon's review against another edition
5.0
Tim Lane's "Abandoned Cars" splits the difference between Charles Burns' stark, precise B&W and early Daniel Clowes (think Like a velvet glove cast in iron). The collection has a decidedly noir bent, but it's much more Jim Thompson than [b:Raymond Chandler|2052|The Big Sleep|Raymond Chandler|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AGA624Z5L._SL75_.jpg|1222673] - it's sad, introspective situational noir. This pushes all of the right buttons for me, so I might be unfairly rating it five-star, but it's a great first effort and immediately makes me want more.
kirstiecat's review against another edition
5.0
I rarely give a perfect score to anything but this graphic novel had me in a trance from the very first page. Tim Lane is fantastic illustrator and storyteller both and these glimpses of film noir kinds of lives were nothing short of fascinating. He sets a perfect cinematic mood..sort of an eerie in the middle of the night kind of feeling and there were times I felt my hair stand on edge quite literally. Lane's vivid imagination can really leave an impact...I can't wait to find more novels by this author. I felt this awful emptiness but somehow I just wanted more.
As a comparison point, some of Daniel Clowes work will have to do-Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron for example. Black Hole by Charles Burns gives off a similar mood at times, too though more Clowes.
As a comparison point, some of Daniel Clowes work will have to do-Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron for example. Black Hole by Charles Burns gives off a similar mood at times, too though more Clowes.
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