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A review by thisisstephenbetts
Wilson by Daniel Clowes
2.0
I'm not biggest Clowes fan anyway, but this seemed particularly pointlessly misanthropic. Each page is a single chapter, paced as a longer gag strip -something between a traditional US Sunday strip à la Peanuts or Calvin & Hobbes, and a one-page UK kids comic strip (a form with no tradition?). But, inevitably, each punchline is a gob of misanthropic bile, not a bon mot. The art style changes on each page, mostly rotating between a few standard styles - I wasn't quite sure why he did this.
There's definitely some good work here, it's just that I didn't find it enjoyable. And I say that as someone who generally gravitates toward downbeat and miserabilist art. I guess I want a bit more empathy with the character. As it is, it kinda feels like Clowes wants to create a dislikable character purely so that people can dislike him.
There's definitely some good work here, it's just that I didn't find it enjoyable. And I say that as someone who generally gravitates toward downbeat and miserabilist art. I guess I want a bit more empathy with the character. As it is, it kinda feels like Clowes wants to create a dislikable character purely so that people can dislike him.