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jason_pym's review
5.0
A cutting satire of the entertainment industry, visually stunning (it is so hard to draw in a way that is so easy on the eye and just flows like that), razor-sharp writing and laugh-out-loud funny.
"You see, before C.W. there was something of a stigma connected with being fat, loud and stupid. I think we're doing something very important here."
"You see, before C.W. there was something of a stigma connected with being fat, loud and stupid. I think we're doing something very important here."
mschlat's review
5.0
One of my all-time favorite graphic novels. This was a grail novel for me back in the day --- I had heard of it (mainly through quotes seen on rec.arts.comics on Usenet), but didn't see a copy for years. I finally picked up a used copy and was underwhelmed for the first read. Later reads, however, just cemented for me the comic genius of the work. The last of the four acts in particular melds great comic timing, horrible jokes, and just enough pathos to add some emotional impact. One of my favorite things to read when I can't get to sleep.
manwithanagenda's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Check this book out ladies and gentlemen. Holy cow. I haven't had this much fun with a graphic novel since, I don't know, 'Bone'? A coworker dropped this on my desk the other day saying it should fit my sense of humor. And it did. And I must give him a lot more credit as a judge of taste. 'The Cowboy Wally Show' isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it should be.
Cowboy Wally is an actor, television celebrity, media mogul and producer of films, and the 'Cowboy Wally Show' is the documentary of how his star rose and of his continued, perplexing success. He doesn't satirize any particular person, but he represents a legion of clueless assholes who bribe and bluff their way into show business and get away with every offense to taste. The documentary starts as an interview at Cowboy Wally's ironically modest country home and moves into chapters based on his accidentally avant-garde films "Sands of Blood", "Hamlet" and an episode of his short lived late-night celebrity round-up talk show.
"Sands of Blood" is a self-awarely self-absorbed male bonding film about a band of foreign legionaries (all enlisted to get over a girl) fighting scheduled battles and attempting to pick up women at the bar later. Masculinity under a microscope. "Hamlet" due to budget and time constraints is filmed in a prison cell with paper cutouts, inmate actors and unaware jail wardens reading monologues. The talk show keeps piling praise on top of Cowboy Wally's projects, lack of viewership and sponsorship be damned, with the house of cards falling apart at the end only to be put back together against overwhelming odds.
'The Cowboy Wally Show' was bitter, sarcastic, refused to provide any kind of resolution or achievement to any of its characters and I loved every page. Baker's writing and art complement each other and easily accommodates the late-80s sheen of Hollywood production styles and the hopelessly clueless and offensive actions of Cowboy Wally and those stuck with him.
Cowboy Wally is an actor, television celebrity, media mogul and producer of films, and the 'Cowboy Wally Show' is the documentary of how his star rose and of his continued, perplexing success. He doesn't satirize any particular person, but he represents a legion of clueless assholes who bribe and bluff their way into show business and get away with every offense to taste. The documentary starts as an interview at Cowboy Wally's ironically modest country home and moves into chapters based on his accidentally avant-garde films "Sands of Blood", "Hamlet" and an episode of his short lived late-night celebrity round-up talk show.
"Sands of Blood" is a self-awarely self-absorbed male bonding film about a band of foreign legionaries (all enlisted to get over a girl) fighting scheduled battles and attempting to pick up women at the bar later. Masculinity under a microscope. "Hamlet" due to budget and time constraints is filmed in a prison cell with paper cutouts, inmate actors and unaware jail wardens reading monologues. The talk show keeps piling praise on top of Cowboy Wally's projects, lack of viewership and sponsorship be damned, with the house of cards falling apart at the end only to be put back together against overwhelming odds.
'The Cowboy Wally Show' was bitter, sarcastic, refused to provide any kind of resolution or achievement to any of its characters and I loved every page. Baker's writing and art complement each other and easily accommodates the late-80s sheen of Hollywood production styles and the hopelessly clueless and offensive actions of Cowboy Wally and those stuck with him.
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