At risk of alienating you from your grandma, do you hate newspaper comic strips? The ones that never die? So did Chas Brown. Then his father died and he inherited a newspaper comic strip. The really cute kind. The kind Grandma likes. Welcome to the hell that is the syndicated gag-a-day. But Chas Brown, an indie comic book artist with dreams and a reputation of his own, has a way to get out of it. He' s going to get Simple Pleasures, America' s most beloved comic strip, canceled. Will Grandma stand for it? If you've ever felt like sabotaging one of those sweet and innocent comics with double entendres and spectral grandparents in hell, Chas Brown is your guy.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Popular syndicated strips frequently outlive their creators. McGinn and Neitzke’s hilarious satire of family comics and, in a pseudo-documentary coda, comic-strip history fleshes out a worst-case strip-that-would-not-die scenario. As a child, Chas Brown loved the idea of taking over Dad’s Simple Pleasures, featuring lovable nine-year-old Dougie, who says the darndest, though absolutely never the most outrageous, things. But when Milt Brown’s sudden death plops the strip in Chas’ lap, the thirtyish self-publishing graphic novelist has long loathed it. Yielding to fate and implacable Mom, however, he assumes the mantle but determines to sabotage his legacy with double entendres and black humor (e.g., Dougie wandering in on his parents in B & D foreplay). But can Chas really throw away the reliable revenue stream Simple Pleasures affords? McGinn’s parodic wit never fails, producing one belly laugh after another, not least because he has comics historiography and conventions down cold. Neitzke complements the script to a tee with a drawing style that suggests now Hi and Lois, now For Better or Worse, now Dennis the Menace, now Calvin and Hobbes. --Ray Olson
Review
The basic premise of The Legacy is deceptively simple: Chas Brown, a struggling graphic novelist, is the heir apparent to Simple Pleasures, the single most popular comic strip in the world. There s only one small problem. Chas hates what comic strips have become, and has no intention of following in his father s footsteps. Then, after putting off revealing the terrible truth for years, Chas is prompted by his dad s sudden passing to make a spur-of-the- moment vow to continue the strip in accordance with his father s wishes. This soon leads to a major crisis for the fledgling cartoonist after he discovers that he s wholly unwilling to create wholesome and whimsical work for the entertainment of the masses. Finding himself backed into a corner, Chas decides to do the only logical thing, and do his best to get the strip cancelled. And that s when things get really interesting...and very, very funny. Andrew McGinn s script is a finely tuned machine, fueled by equal parts broad humor and sharptoothed social commentary. Peppered throughout with realistic adult language and situations, every scene of The Legacy reveals a deeply considered understanding of the dynamics underlying familial, generational, and professional relationships, as well as a keen and steady grasp of how easily conflicts can arise between, and within, individuals. David Neitzke s line work is the perfect complement to McGinn s wordplay. Supple, lanky, and yet wholly controlled, his cartoony rendering, choice of shots, and use of negative space is spoton in every panel. Neitzke also proves to be a master at imbuing his characters with a wideranging emotional life, a skill that becomes increasingly important as the consequences of his impetuous decisions become increasingly apparent to Chas later in the script. Driven by his growing awareness that even the smallest of our actions can have far-ranging and unforeseen consequences, Chas Brown finally makes a decision that irrevocably alters his life s course even as it propels The Legacy towards an ending that is as satisfying as it is inevitable. More importantly, it s also the moment that marks this character and his story as something worthy of real attention. As with the best books, The Legacy offers casual readers an enjoyable opportunity to escape into another world. But it also offers those wanting something more from their entertainments a glimpse of that rarest of moments the instant when a callow youth chooses to become a man. (May 2010) Bill Baker --ForeWord Magazine --Mike San Giacomo author of TALES OF THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN and PHANTOM JACK: The Nowhere Man Agenda, has been writing a comics review column for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland since 1993. He also teaches a course on comics books.
The basic premise of The Legacy is deceptively simple: Chas Brown, a struggling graphic novelist, is the heir apparent to Simple Pleasures, the single most popular comic strip in the world. There s only one small problem. Chas hates what comic strips have become, and has no intention of following in his father s footsteps. Then, after putting off revealing the terrible truth for years, Chas is prompted by his dad s sudden passing to make a spur-of-the- moment vow to continue the strip in accordance with his father s wishes. This soon leads to a major crisis for the fledgling cartoonist after he discovers that he s wholly unwilling to create wholesome and whimsical work for the entertainment of the masses. Finding himself backed into a corner, Chas decides to do the only logical thing, and do his best to get the strip cancelled. And that s when things get really interesting...and very, very funny. Andrew McGinn s script is a finely tuned machine, fueled by equal parts broad humor and sharptoothed social commentary. Peppered throughout with realistic adult language and situations, every scene of The Legacy reveals a deeply considered understanding of the dynamics underlying familial, generational, and professional relationships, as well as a keen and steady grasp of how easily conflicts can arise between, and within, individuals. David Neitzke s line work is the perfect complement to McGinn s wordplay. Supple, lanky, and yet wholly controlled, his cartoony rendering, choice of shots, and use of negative space is spoton in every panel. Neitzke also proves to be a master at imbuing his characters with a wideranging emotional life, a skill that becomes increasingly important as the consequences of his impetuous decisions become increasingly apparent to Chas later in the script. Driven by his growing awareness that even the smallest of our actions can have far-ranging and unforeseen consequences, Chas Brown finally makes a decision that irrevocably alters his life s course even as it propels The Legacy towards an ending that is as satisfying as it is inevitable. More importantly, it s also the moment that marks this character and his story as something worthy of real attention. As with the best books, The Legacy offers casual readers an enjoyable opportunity to escape into another world. But it also offers those wanting something more from their entertainments a glimpse of that rarest of moments the instant when a callow youth chooses to become a man. (May 2010) Bill Baker --ForeWord Magazine
Let me be honest, I get a lot of books from people who think they are comic writers or graphic novelists. Many of them are just awful. I try to encourage them, but sometimes I wonder if that's doing them any favors. I didn't know what to expect from "Legacy," but it is brilliant! That's not something I say often. The book is funny, poignant and perfectly drawn. I'm insanely jealous that something that looks so simple can be so complex. --Mike San Giacomo author of TALES OF THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN and PHANTOM JACK: The Nowhere Man Agenda, has been writing a comics review column for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland since 1993. He also teaches a course on comics books.
The basic premise of The Legacy is deceptively simple: Chas Brown, a struggling graphic novelist, is the heir apparent to Simple Pleasures, the single most popular comic strip in the world. There s only one small problem. Chas hates what comic strips have become, and has no intention of following in his father s footsteps. Then, after putting off revealing the terrible truth for years, Chas is prompted by his dad s sudden passing to make a spur-of-the- moment vow to continue the strip in accordance with his father s wishes. This soon leads to a major crisis for the fledgling cartoonist after he discovers that he s wholly unwilling to create wholesome and whimsical work for the entertainment of the masses. Finding himself backed into a corner, Chas decides to do the only logical thing, and do his best to get the strip cancelled. And that s when things get really interesting...and very, very funny. Andrew McGinn s script is a finely tuned machine, fueled by equal parts broad humor and sharptoothed social commentary. Peppered throughout with realistic adult language and situations, every scene of The Legacy reveals a deeply considered understanding of the dynamics underlying familial, generational, and professional relationships, as well as a keen and steady grasp of how easily conflicts can arise between, and within, individuals. David Neitzke s line work is the perfect complement to McGinn s wordplay. Supple, lanky, and yet wholly controlled, his cartoony rendering, choice of shots, and use of negative space is spoton in every panel. Neitzke also proves to be a master at imbuing his characters with a wideranging emotional life, a skill that becomes increasingly important as the consequences of his impetuous decisions become increasingly apparent to Chas later in the script. Driven by his growing awareness that even the smallest of our actions can have far-ranging and unforeseen consequences, Chas Brown finally makes a decision that irrevocably alters his life s course even as it propels The Legacy towards an ending that is as satisfying as it is inevitable. More importantly, it s also the moment that marks this character and his story as something worthy of real attention. As with the best books, The Legacy offers casual readers an enjoyable opportunity to escape into another world. But it also offers those wanting something more from their entertainments a glimpse of that rarest of moments the instant when a callow youth chooses to become a man. (May 2010) Bill Baker --ForeWord Magazine
Let me be honest, I get a lot of books from people who think they are comic writers or graphic novelists. Many of them are just awful. I try to encourage them, but sometimes I wonder if that's doing them any favors. I didn't know what to expect from "Legacy," but it is brilliant! That's not something I say often. The book is funny, poignant and perfectly drawn. I'm insanely jealous that something that looks so simple can be so complex. --Mike San Giacomo author of TALES OF THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN and PHANTOM JACK: The Nowhere Man Agenda, has been writing a comics review column for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland since 1993. He also teaches a course on comics books.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
better than the bible...well, at least holier.,
By
This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)
A disclaimer: I am Andrew McGinn's brother.
I admit I have never liked graphic novels. In fact, I have always despised them. I find the stories lacking depth and the art distracting. In essence I always thought of them as novels for people with ADD. Not true with The Legacy. The minute I opened Andy and Dave's book I couldn't put it down. The story is believable, funny as hell and the art is fantastic. The meat lies in the back, though, in the Smithsonian museum guide. Great stuff and well worth the price of admission. If you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief at the Family Circus cartoon in last Sunday's funnies section, you'll definitely dig The Legacy. In addition I want to beg you to buy this book. I plead with you: Andy has a nasty Swiffer habit and he needs your money to keep his floors freakishly clean.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a fun read,
By
This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)
I'm not normally big on graphic novels, so I wasn't sure if I was going to like this or not. I was pleasantly surprised. The story was original. The artwork was good, and for those that pay attention includes a huge number of side jokes that really added to the story. I started The Legacy not knowing what to expect but ended up reading it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.
The Legacy is a fun read and it won't disappoint. tk
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, poignant, and a terrific read!,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)
The collaborative work of author Andrew McGinn and illustrator David Neitzke, "The Legacy" is the story of a young man of artistic talent being saddled with the unwanted responsibility of continuing his successful cartoonist father's newspaper comic strip, thwarting his own ambitions of being a graphic novelist. A rollicking good read from beginning to end, "The Legacy" is thoroughly entertaining and carries an all to familiar message of what happens when parental expectations are foisted upon a most reluctant 'next generation'. Highly recommended for both personal and community library graphic novel collections, "The Legacy" is witty, poignant, and a terrific read!
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