THE COMPANION GRAPHIC NOVEL TO WIMBLEDON GREEN
Whenever you’re in Dominion, on Milverton Street you will stumble across an arresting array of handsome old buildings. The one with the pink stone façade and the familiar Canadian cartoon characters over the doorway is the Dominion branch of the Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists, erected in 1935 and the last standing building of the once prestigious members-only organization. For years, this building, filled with art deco lamps, simple handcrafted wood furniture, and halls and halls of black-and-white portraits of Canada’s best cartoonists, was where the professionals of the Great White North’s active comics community met—so active that there were outposts in Montreal and Winnipeg, with headquarters in Toronto. Everyone from all branches of the industry—newspaper strips, gag cartoons, nickel-backs, comic books, political art, accordion books, graphic novels—gathered in their dark green blazers to drink cocktails, eat, dance, and discuss all things cartooning.
Seth opens up his sketchbook to an unseen world of Canadian comics, sometimes fictional and sometimes not, sometimes humorous and sometimes bittersweet, but always fascinating in its creative exploration of Canadian comics history. Whereas Wimbledon Green celebrated the comics collectors, The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists celebrates the cartoonists the comic collectors love.
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A sort-of companion piece to Wimbledon Green (2005), in which he limned a fictional history of comic-book collectors, Seth’s latest effort postulates an alternate universe set in a Canada where lionized cartoonists were viewed as important cultural figures, with membership in a prestigious guild, the G. N. B. Double C. of the book’s title. A largely unseen narrator leads a tour of the league’s expansive headquarters, now in disrepair but once the scene of clubby meetings of the nation’s cartoonists—a few genuine, but most contrived entirely by Seth, who details their careers with loving care, presenting lengthy samples of such colorful creations as Kao-Kuk the Inuit astronaut and patriotic superhero Canada Jack. The work’s deceptive modesty—Seth’s drawings are uncharacteristically casual, and he limits himself to an unvarying grid of nine uniformly sized panels—belies its impressive accomplishment, creating a fully realized world in which cartoonists receive the respect they’re denied in ours. Seth treats his profession with the same mix of affection and inventiveness that marked Guy Maddin’s wry mockumentary film about his Canadian hometown, My Winnipeg. --Gordon Flagg
About the Author
SETH is the cartoonist of Clyde Fans; It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken; Wimbledon Green; George Sprott; Bannock, Beans, and Black Tea; and Vernacular Drawings; the designer of the New York Times bestselling Peanuts collections; and a New Yorker illustrator. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Nobody can be serious all of the time; not even a Canadian. The cartoonist known only as "Seth" -- his real name is Gregory Gallant, and I'd have a pen-name, too -- is best-known for the deep, serious stories, mostly serialized in his irregular comic "Palookaville." Although, since serious, detailed comics take quite a while to create, that means that his major '90s story was collected as the book It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken, and that his major '00s work is the not-yet finished serial "Clyde Fans."
But, as a break from "Clyde Fans," Seth quickly made the light graphic novel Wimbledon Green in 2005, about the world's greatest comic-book collector, in a simpler, quicker style he called sketchbook. And -- possibly partly because of the strong response to that book, and possibly partly because "Clyde Fans" has been taking so long to be finished -- he came back six years later with another light-hearted sketchbook story with an inside-comics slant.
The G.N.B. Double C, as its cover calls it, is more diffuse and less successful than WIMBLEDON, which focused on a single character and his adventures. This new book instead is a leisurely guided tour of the headquarters of the title organization in Seth's fictional Ontario city of Dominion, and, along the way, of a mostly alternate history of 20th century Canadian cartooning. Seth does include some real comics, like Doug Wright's Nipper, but most of the details here are invented -- though, clearly, Seth intends them to parallel and comment on the real history of Canadian cartooning.
And that's part of the problem, for most readers, of GREAT NORTHERN BROTHERHOOD -- it's a book that was written as a love letter to something we're probably not all that familiar with. The ideal reader for this book -- the one who will get the most enjoyment out of it -- is Seth himself, and probably only a few dozen other Canadians will come close. (Those of us from other nations have even less chance of catching all of his references.)
That said, though, GREAT NORTHERN BROTHERHOOD is a fun little book, engrossing the way a collection of almost true stories always are, and Seth's "sketchbook" art is evocative and energetic, with a grey wash adding strongly to the elegiac feel. It might not be the romp that WIMBLEDON GREEN was, but it's a quirky, sweet plea on behalf of the importance of both the art of cartooning and the nation of Canada, from a creator who clearly closely identifies with both.
But, as a break from "Clyde Fans," Seth quickly made the light graphic novel Wimbledon Green in 2005, about the world's greatest comic-book collector, in a simpler, quicker style he called sketchbook. And -- possibly partly because of the strong response to that book, and possibly partly because "Clyde Fans" has been taking so long to be finished -- he came back six years later with another light-hearted sketchbook story with an inside-comics slant.
The G.N.B. Double C, as its cover calls it, is more diffuse and less successful than WIMBLEDON, which focused on a single character and his adventures. This new book instead is a leisurely guided tour of the headquarters of the title organization in Seth's fictional Ontario city of Dominion, and, along the way, of a mostly alternate history of 20th century Canadian cartooning. Seth does include some real comics, like Doug Wright's Nipper, but most of the details here are invented -- though, clearly, Seth intends them to parallel and comment on the real history of Canadian cartooning.
And that's part of the problem, for most readers, of GREAT NORTHERN BROTHERHOOD -- it's a book that was written as a love letter to something we're probably not all that familiar with. The ideal reader for this book -- the one who will get the most enjoyment out of it -- is Seth himself, and probably only a few dozen other Canadians will come close. (Those of us from other nations have even less chance of catching all of his references.)
That said, though, GREAT NORTHERN BROTHERHOOD is a fun little book, engrossing the way a collection of almost true stories always are, and Seth's "sketchbook" art is evocative and energetic, with a grey wash adding strongly to the elegiac feel. It might not be the romp that WIMBLEDON GREEN was, but it's a quirky, sweet plea on behalf of the importance of both the art of cartooning and the nation of Canada, from a creator who clearly closely identifies with both.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another slight effort from Seth. Man, I want to love this guy, but NOTHING he has done approaches GEORGE SPROTT. (Well, IT'S A GOOD LIFE... comes closer than the sketchbook stuff...) Was that the influence of an editor at the NYTIMES that first oversaw SPROTT'S publication? That book is much more disciplined; The story is tighter and packs more emotion, and the art and layouts look like they were actually labored over, as opposed to the sketchy, dashed-off feel of GNBCC (and WIMBLEDON GREEN too).
This could have been quite good, if developed properly and not just printed right out of the sketchbook. Imagine if there was an attempt made to make the various "cartoonists'" art that is shown look different from each other. Instead, every "sample" looks just like a Seth sketch. There is no real emotional depth, none of the haunting, poignant quality found in GEORGE SPROTT. There's nothing that makes me think I will want to pick this book up again sometime in the future and read it again.
Maybe I shouldn't expect a fully-developed masterpiece from something that is obviously a first (or early) draft, pulled right out of a sketchbook, with very little attempt to develop a great story from these initial jottings. But at $25 list price I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more.
This could have been quite good, if developed properly and not just printed right out of the sketchbook. Imagine if there was an attempt made to make the various "cartoonists'" art that is shown look different from each other. Instead, every "sample" looks just like a Seth sketch. There is no real emotional depth, none of the haunting, poignant quality found in GEORGE SPROTT. There's nothing that makes me think I will want to pick this book up again sometime in the future and read it again.
Maybe I shouldn't expect a fully-developed masterpiece from something that is obviously a first (or early) draft, pulled right out of a sketchbook, with very little attempt to develop a great story from these initial jottings. But at $25 list price I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all I'm somewhat prejudice when it comes to the oeuvre of work done by Seth, and this latest creation seems to be his best work yet! In the preface Seth describes how he created this work and actually gave up on it when his perception of creativity seemed to waver. In fact he gave up on this work and went on to create his successful graphic novel titled "Wimbledon Green." Laying down his pen to go onto another endeavor shows one that Seth sets very high standards for his work. Eventually he comes back to finish "The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists."
In creating this magnificent work Seth goes to his own imaginary model town of Dominion where there stands a building erected in 1935 bearing the initials of G.N.B.C.C. The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists has their own local chapter where cartoonists have their own watering hole and local traditions and social get togethers.
It is in this creative setting that Seth sets out to explain the history of cartooning such as it is and was in Canada. As always Seth spends most of his time explaining the exploits and genres of all the important and influential artists in Canada. He tells the stories in short prose and wonderful depictions of drawings which in of itself shows of a nostalgic time of past pursuits in which shows a simpler and at times happier and at times somewhat sad displays. He also shows the artwork done by another artist, which of course is drawn by Seth. Seth shows the different styles of cartooning and goes on to explain the genre and actions of each individual artist.
In doing this work Seth goes from one artist to another in a rather seamless prose while exploring the rooms of the ancient G.N.B.C.C. In telling his stories of the artists, he is also giving us a short history of this rather unusual institution. This work is what I would consider his best effort yet, and that's saying a lot. All my reviews of his work have rated 5 stars. This work is no different. If they gave me more stars to work with, I would give it more! Bravo and I hope Seth can continue to go down the same road of nostalgia and entertain his audience.
In creating this magnificent work Seth goes to his own imaginary model town of Dominion where there stands a building erected in 1935 bearing the initials of G.N.B.C.C. The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists has their own local chapter where cartoonists have their own watering hole and local traditions and social get togethers.
It is in this creative setting that Seth sets out to explain the history of cartooning such as it is and was in Canada. As always Seth spends most of his time explaining the exploits and genres of all the important and influential artists in Canada. He tells the stories in short prose and wonderful depictions of drawings which in of itself shows of a nostalgic time of past pursuits in which shows a simpler and at times happier and at times somewhat sad displays. He also shows the artwork done by another artist, which of course is drawn by Seth. Seth shows the different styles of cartooning and goes on to explain the genre and actions of each individual artist.
In doing this work Seth goes from one artist to another in a rather seamless prose while exploring the rooms of the ancient G.N.B.C.C. In telling his stories of the artists, he is also giving us a short history of this rather unusual institution. This work is what I would consider his best effort yet, and that's saying a lot. All my reviews of his work have rated 5 stars. This work is no different. If they gave me more stars to work with, I would give it more! Bravo and I hope Seth can continue to go down the same road of nostalgia and entertain his audience.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dull -- why bother?
A fictional history of cartoonists and cartooning could certainly be interesting -- the general idea reminds me of the novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, in which the... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Raghuveer Parthasarathy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genius
I'll be honest: I had no idea who Seth was when I bought this book. I bought it because I thought it would provide inspiration for my own sketchbooks. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Moe Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Canuck Cartoonists
This is the book Seth was working on before inspiration struck and he abandoned the book unfinished to set off and create "Wimbledon Green" in its entirety. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Noel
5.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome addition to the incredible library of works that Seth has...
Before beginning Wimbledon Green, bestselling and highly revered artist and writer Seth began crafting The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists. Read more
Published 18 months ago by GraphicNovelReporter.com
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