168 reviews for:

Rusty Brown

Chris Ware

4.25 AVERAGE

dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My immediate takeaway upon finishing this behemoth of a graphic novel was that I must be missing something. Certainly this disparate lumping of stories featuring mostly average cishet white boys/men in midwest US circa 1980s wasn't the same book that was supposed to be a "coalescence of one half of all existence [...] expertly arranged to present the most convincingly ineffable and empathetic illusion of experience"(goodreads synopsis). Certainly this reductive and repetitive cartoon block art style wasn't by the same artist who's considered "among the best currently working in the medium"(author's wiki page).

After doing some digging, I came to the conclusion: I must be missing something. Since this is a bind-up, perhaps some more evocative "filler" panels or issues were cut. I can see how breaking this down into a monthly or weekly release would add more gravitas to certain arcs, or perhaps pad them out. While I found the art style childish at the best of times and repulsive at the worst, I can maybe see how its experimental nature could be lauded when first published in the early 00s. But on its own as a cohesive graphic novel published in 2019? It's woefully behind the times.

Teeeny tiny panels with a depressing look at the day in the lives of 6 midwesterners.

My eyes are now wicked tired. :p
challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thought this was Very Good Chris Ware not Great Genius Chris Ware, and then I hit the Jordan Lint section and - Jesus Christ, Chris. Jesus Christ.

Formally a marvel and never lacking in creative flourishes but storytelling-wise it leans on the rather tired Gen-X Sad American trope a little too much. I grew up on the stuff, especially in movies, so I'm not totally averse, but the massive middle section being about a horrible side character's entire life, one that brushes off an introductory character with a sexual assault as a nagging regret, kind of is a canary in the coal mine for Chris Ware's 'character development'. Still, a very big mood I couldn't shake and knowing there's a second part coming eases my complaints a little, although who knows when that will happen? 2040? I'll read it though, whenever that is.
dark emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
reflective sad slow-paced
dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

With exceptional artistry and storytelling, Rusty Brown tells the life story of several people at a religious Omaha school. Although deeply depressing (and a bit too graphic), I found myself being eager to continually pick it back up. I'd be hesitant to recommend it due to its dark themes, but I was incredibly impressed. 
dark reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Chris Ware's art is so distinctive and original. It tells the story int moments that are tiny and large. Wonderful book.