American Elf Volume 2: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries Of James Kochalka (v. 2) [Paperback]

James Kochalka (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Series: American Elf | Publication Date: March 27, 2007

Kochalka invented the daily diary comic strip, spawning a grass roots comix movement that has swept across the globe. Every day Kochalka draws a little comic strip about something that happened to him that day. As simple as that concept might seem, in Kochalka's hands it becomes something astounding and surprising; wickedly funny at times and deeply moving at others. This volume prints all the strips from 2004 and 2005 in gorgeous full-color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rock star and indie comics savant Kochalka (Monkey vs. Robot) is back with his second collection of "sketchbook diary entries" from his popular Web comic. Some strips depict a working cartoonist's life: signings at comic book stores, teaching at the Center for Cartooning and cleaning up eraser dust before company comes over. But most are sharply observed vignettes that magically, day after day, grow into an offbeat but affecting story of family life in Burlington, Vt. Kochalka is at his best chronicling the various coughs, cold sores and warm, throbbing ear fevers he and his child contract, wondering where the cat has thrown up this time and coping with the consequences of a vow he makes never to be unhappy again. (It wasn't his fault—he got carried away while shoveling extra-fluffy snow.) Kolchaka's art takes advantage of the fact that these strips are supposed to be entries in a "sketchbook diary." It's rough and kinetic, using vivid colors and surreal figures (his best friend is a dog; an acquaintance may turn out to be a cyclops). The result is surprisingly realistic, but also versatile, able to handle poop jokes and late-night worries with equal weight. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

Unlike autobiographical comics creators who string together passages of their lives to form a narrative, Kochalka works in miniature. For nearly 10 years, he has been drawing no more than four panels about his life that day and posting it online. The incidents he documents range from the mundane--he scares his cat, or finds that the blood on his knuckles is actually blueberry pie filling--to the, well, somewhat less mundane, such as visits with his parents, performances with his rock band, and navel-gazing about drawing the strip. Most installments involve exchanges with his wife or friends, and since his birth three years ago, his son, Eli, has come to dominate the proceedings, as kids are wont to do in real life, even a cartoonist's. Kochalka offsets feyness--he depicts himself as a pointy-eared elf--with an inordinate number of strips devoted to bodily functions, sex, and illness (Eli's cold sores are a recurring theme). His briskly simple cartooning and limited palette are ideal for his low-key, minimalist content. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions (March 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891830856
• ISBN-13: 978-1891830853
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,262,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Celebration Of Life, March 14, 2007

By 

Brendan Collins (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Elf Volume 2: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries Of James Kochalka (v. 2) (Paperback)

James Kochalka draws his comics in a minimalist fashion. At the same time, it could be argued that his American Elf strip is therefore closer to the artistry of the form - each pen stroke is closer to the original eye-to-hand portrayal than the most refined comic strip panel ever could be. Or at least, that's the overwhelming impression upon the reader (who frequently feels as if the same task could easily be replicated by him/her, yet so rarely is able to capture any such essence present in a single Kochalka panel).

To those unfamiliar with American Elf, it is best described as a daily comic strip diary of James Kochalka's life as lived through his surrogate character, "Magic Boy." Magic Boy is an elf whose life parallels that of Mr. Kochalka, from shared homestead, occupation, family, and even name. Though fully aware of the strip's presence in their daily lives, the characters in American Elf live "outside" the realm of the strip. From day to day, the predictability of the strip's format never denigrates into predictability of content - a one-liner from Kochalka's wife is given the same treatment as a close friend's wedding, an acknowledgment that even the most special days in a life are comprised of exactly the same units of time, though that day's events and emotions aren't subject to the same rules.

In short, American Elf is a celebration of life - and not just the happy, memorable bits. Rather than a self-absorbed look into his own daily accomplishments and observations, Mr. Kochalka presents some of the less-than-glamorous moments as well; a chat over the coffeepot, or a trip to the toilet, or a stroll along Lake Champlain, or a display of temper.

American Elf Book 2 varies from the epic Book 1 in two ways: it is vastly thinner than the original, and it is in full colour on glossy paper stock. That is not to say that Book 2 is inferior in any way. The colour artwork featured in this second book highlights the emotions captured in each strip, subtly stimulating a kind of visual euphoria. Though the book is comprised primarily of previously-released material (on the author's website), in many ways American Elf Book 2 is the superior format. The primary reason is that the paper format directly involves the reader, drawing him/her much closer to the source material, and thereby the artist's original sketchbook, providing a small feeling of exhilaration not otherwise present in electronic form.

Familiarity with James Kochalka's prior work is not necessary for a full, satisfying read (though it does enhance the experience). A beautiful book all on its own, American Elf Book 2 does not provide an intricate story line, nor a resolution with the final panel on the final page. On finishing the book, the reader is simply concluding the last strip (drawn on December 31st, 2005). But that's the essence of a human life after all, isn't it?

Based on its merits and creativity alone, this is one of the most important comic books ever presented in the independent realm. As for the element of human spirit celebrated herein - there simply is no method by which to measure. And the gratification bestowed upon the reader is unlike that of any other comics experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cartoons, December 15, 2007

By 

Marc "Marc" (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Elf Volume 2: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries Of James Kochalka (v. 2) (Paperback)

I had no appreciation for this comic book artist before an instructor "forced" us to read it. Boy am I glad he did! This is the bomb... flowing, magical little stories. Gifted in drawing expressions!