Customer Reviews

Fair Weather

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Something about the graphic novel really works well for coming of age stories, and FAIR WEATHER is one of the funniest I've read. The author gets every nuance of pre-teen life just right: the self-absorbtion, the pettiness, the fear, the desires. Particularly strong here is the friendship between Joe and Dave, who spend their days riding bikes and spying girls through peepholes. I love one frame, in particular, when Joe finally finds his collection of comic books, which his mother hid in the attic. He yells out the window, wide-mouthed, deliriously happy, "I found them! And if you ever touch them again I'll burn the house down!"

4B-DILLON C.

All in all I really liked this book a lot. As a comic book it has a lot to offer to someone like me. I never read really I just scan over stuff ,but this book really struck my fancy. It's really interesting I have a lot in common with some of the characters. So if your a unique individual like myself I really suggest theat you read this book. It truthfully comes from a teenage point of view.So have some fun in class and read this book.