Fair Weather [Paperback]

Joe Matt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

For over ten years Joe Matt has been notorious in cult circles for the embarrassing frankness with which he reveals his distressing habits and predilections. Utterly shameless and completely self-absorbed, Joe Matt writes with an exhibitionist’s enthusiasm for his favorite subject, himself.

In his new graphic novel, Fair Weather, Joe examines his 1970s suburban childhood. In a surprisingly tasteful and thoughtful memoir young Joe Matt is a selfish child who steals from stores, takes advantage of his friends, threatens to burn his mother’s house down, teases those weaker than himself, and reveals himself to be a fairly normal child. Completely unsentimental and strangely kind of endearing, Fair Weather continues the American tradition of hilarious self-exhibitionism.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Matt is renowned--some would say notorious--for autobiographical comics portraying himself as a penny-pinching, misanthropic pornophile. In this account of a weekend from his 1970s suburban childhood, he takes a different tack. His backward glance is no nostalgia-tinged recollection, however. Himself when young enjoys hanging out with best friend Dave, digging an underground fort, and watching horror movies on TV, but he spends most of his time avoiding chores, cheating his friends, and hiding from bullies. Matt's depiction of his younger self is as harsh as that of himself grown. Boy Joe is greedy, a shoplifter, and a bed wetter. In response to the traumatic discovery that Mom has thrown out his comic-book collection, he threatens to burn the house down. In short, here, in nascency, are the traits that define the mature--well, older--Joe. The child is father to the malcontent. As cowardly as his comics persona is, Matt the artist is utterly fearless when it comes to unflinchingly exposing his pathetic life for all the world to see. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

In 1987, tired of coloring dopey superhero comics for a living, Joe Matt started writing and drawing a "diary", a funny, pathetic, page-by-page account of his daily life. These single-page comics were later published in various magazines, including Drawn & Quarterly, and by 1992 Matt had his own comic book series, Peepshow, devoted to his peculiar form of autobiographical angst. Matt was born in 1963 in Philadelphia where, evidently, he never learned the meaning of shame. Peepshow is a strangely callow depiction of his failures. Matt's unflattering, although not inaccurate self-portrayal, has provoked one of the liveliest letter columns in comix. Witness a typical sentiment from readers: "No wonder you're all alone - you're just a pathetic fucking loser!". --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly; First Edition edition (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1896597742
• ISBN-13: 978-1896597744
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another home run from Joe matt, July 4, 2011

By 

Sibelius (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair Weather (Paperback)

When it comes to unflinching, autobiographic snapshots on the depravity contained in one man's day to day mini dramas - no one does it better than Joe Matt. So when said artist captures a weekend during his adolescence that captures all the hopes, fears and desires that defines your typical suburban teen during the 70's you know you're in for a treat.

4.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of the Artist as a Greedy Young Man, September 14, 2010

By 

Sam Quixote - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair Weather (Paperback)

Joe Matt's autobiographical comics have never flinched from portraying himself as anything other than a flawed human being and "Fair Weather" is no different. The story takes place over a weekend when he's a pre-pubescent boy who is obsessed with comics. Over the course of the book he has an argument with his mother about mowing the lawn, leading to her throwing his comic book collection out, tries to finagle an "Action Comics #1" from an unknowing older boy, and tries to dodge an unhappy acquaintance who was swindled by Matt and wants revenge.

The Americana flavour is strong throughout. Balmy Saturday afternoons spent watching horror films and wrestling, going out for slurpees, digging hideouts in the yard, it's all chronicled throughout.

Matt himself is portrayed as spoilt, manipulative, greedy, unpleasant, and deceitful, and like in his other books, never makes him seem a nice person, all to the good as it makes for a more funny read.

I like Matt's drawing style and while it's not as polished as it was in "Spent" it is excellent in this book. His exaggerated facial expressions add to the pettiness of Matt's own obsessions such as collecting comic book slurpee cups.

A fantastic read and an excellent comic book from an artist who produces far too few books for a man of such talents. If you're interested in indie comics then Joe Matt is your man.

4.0 out of 5 stars nice read, August 30, 2008

By 

thijs (eindhoven, holland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair Weather (Paperback)

This is a very easy read. No big story, just two lazy summer days through the eyes of some kids. The nicest thing about this book is that author Joe Matt depicts himself as a total jerk and is not afraid at all to show his bad side (as a kid, that is). Just a nice, easy book to read, nothing more, nothing less.