An intentionally sophomoric send-up of the New York art scene, satirizing both the establishment of internationally revered figures and the lowly newcomers clambering to replace them ... Thurber's approach to narrative is the equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting ... lampoons the art world by wallowing in its shallowest waters.
Thurber favors a minimalist cartooning style for most of the book. But certain spreads showcase his artistic skill, particularly those that break the multi-panel form in favor of two-page spreads ... Thurber doesn’t leave us with a clean moral, or tidy ending to his series of comic jabs. Art Comic closes with the lines, 'THE CREATIVE ACT SHALL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER THE DEATH CULTURE OF CAPITAL.' The book itself doesn’t seem to substantiate this claim, as character after character struggles to be creative against mitigating forces ... reveal[s] deep sincerity beneath the ridicule.
Those who inhabit the world of fine art would do well to steer clear of this latest effort by Thurber, as they’ll quickly realize what a magnificent job it does of skewering their milieu ... Thurber’s colorful, cartoonish creations are pitch perfect for the subject, their exaggerated mannerisms underscoring the frivolous and mercurial field ... hurber’s stories mercilessly take on art-world hypocrisy.
