RavePopMatters... self-aware, funny, and ultimately a poignant account of the realities of Tomine\'s chosen profession ... darkly comic ... moments in his professional life, are relatable because of Tomine\'s willingness to be honest about his mistakes and shortcomings. But they also work because they\'re often suffused with humor ... the insularity and titular loneliness of the story has a greater resonance during this time of social distancing and isolation ... It\'s Tomine\'s gift to be able to convey so much in his black ink line drawings on white graph paper. He\'s always been able to transcend the everyday and the mundane into moments of connection and emotional resonance ... one of Tomine\'s best works, and that\'s saying something.
Chris Ware
RavePop MattersWare\'s vision of storytelling is display. His gift for jumping between narratives and through time while still maintaining a coherent overall story is not easy to achieve, yet he does so with inventive panels and thoughtful shifts in artistic style ... Ware\'s talent as a cartoon storyteller is never in question, regardless of subject matter, but Rusty Brown still stands out as among his most affecting stories. Though much of the book\'s content had previously been published, the larger Joanne story is new. Regardless, it\'s the compilation of stories into one larger narrative that makes Rusty Brown yet another unmissable Chris Ware release.
Craig Thompson
RavePopMattersThompson makes it clear that this diary is composed of quick snapshots and sketches, without the use of photographs, and the looseness of the drawings comes through beautifully. Thompson is a gifted cartoonist, with an ability to tell long, complex stories while never sacrificing intricate details or the fluidity of his drawings. Here, his sketches still manage to convey those same skills, while retaining an on-the-fly quality that works especially well for the genre ... It\'s Thompson\'s candor in conveying what he feels in the moment, while still acknowledging his sometimes ill-tempered interactions and prejudices, that make Carnet de Voyage so engaging ... Carnet de Voyage captures many of the highs and lows that accompany traveling for an extended period, and Thompson\'s willingness to be present and honest make it a perfect bridge between his two larger narrative accomplishments, Blankets and Habibi.
