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the_coollibrarian's review
3.0
This is quite the interesting concept and I think the author did a great job getting that "E! True Hollywood Story" vibe throughout. This really dives into and provides some societal commentary on the struggles that many child stars experience after getting chewed up and spit out by the industry. The documentary style made it a fast read and allowed for many characters to add context and details to the story. Overall, this wasn't my favorite graphic novel ever but I think it's worth the read; especially if you're a fan of some celebrity drama.
I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review - Thanks NetGalley & FirstSecond!
I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review - Thanks NetGalley & FirstSecond!
jonh's review
5.0
The only problem with Child Star is waiting for Box Brown's next book to come out. This is his best work yet!
tinkeringlibrarian's review
2.0
Thank you to first second for this advance reader copy. All opinions below are my own. Child Star depicts the absent childhood and inevitable decline of an ur-child actor who can never evolve beyond his starring sitcom role. Eugene, who stands in for all child actors who look too young/small to play as adults or those whose real appeal was cuteness and a catch-phrase, wants both to be treated as an adult and also fixates on the freedom and play of a childhood he never experienced. His parents are self-absorbed enablers who are more than happy to spend all of his money. The art style reminds me of newspaper strips like Peanuts and Kathy, fitting well with the 70s family sitcom vibe.
Where this falls short for me is that it feels like a graphic novel version of any tabloid-y memoir or biography. We never get to explore Eugene's need to feel normal, resistance to having sex, or lack of acknowledgement from the inside. To the end, he feels played off as a joke, and the comic comes across as shallow. Perhaps the author intended the comic to provide the same bland commentary on D-list celebrities as we get from entertainment news. However, I don't really feel like that is something we lack, or that it stands out as a hyper-aware, subtle criticism of entertainment consumer culture.
Where this falls short for me is that it feels like a graphic novel version of any tabloid-y memoir or biography. We never get to explore Eugene's need to feel normal, resistance to having sex, or lack of acknowledgement from the inside. To the end, he feels played off as a joke, and the comic comes across as shallow. Perhaps the author intended the comic to provide the same bland commentary on D-list celebrities as we get from entertainment news. However, I don't really feel like that is something we lack, or that it stands out as a hyper-aware, subtle criticism of entertainment consumer culture.
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