Customer Reviews

Mirror, Window (An Artbabe Collection)

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

 

 

I'm not normally a huge fan of the indie/hipster autobiographical comix scene - too often the stories told consist of nothing but roman a clef in-jokes and angsty twentysomething whining - but Abel manages to transcend the form in high style thanks to her natural storytelling abilities, ear for dialogue, and clear, attractive draughtsmanship.

The stories are short, clearly told, and deceptively simple - perfect for digesting during a lazy lunch hour. However, they prove meatier than you might think, lingering and coming back unbidden into the mind's eye for days after the last page has been turned.

The book itself is possessed of superior production values - it's big, eye-catching, and printed on thick, creamy paper; the kind of gorgeous art object you'll find yourself wanting to strategically lay around your apartment to impress visitors. But this, of course, is merely the icing on the cake - MIRROR, WINDOW is of sufficient quality that it'd be would be worth buying if it were printed on perforated toilet paper.

This is an interesting trip through the lives of singles who hit and miss in their attempts at connecting. I like the way the author shows how one's social network is a big part of the dating process. The characters are developed nicely so that one gets to know them.

Abel's short-story comics in Mirror, Window are well drawn and artfully presented. However, the art can not make up for the superficiality of the stories. Though each story has an interesting premise, not one struck a chord with me or ended up having anything interesting to say. Each plotline endeavors to be romantically depressing but lacks the depth to engage the reader's feelings.

This book might be fun to look at, but it is not very fun to read.

I'm not normally a huge fan of the indie/hipster autobiographical comix scene - too often the stories told consist of nothing but roman a clef in-jokes and angsty twentysomething whining - but Abel manages to transcend the form in high style thanks to her natural storytelling abilities, ear for dialogue, and clear, attractive draughtsmanship.

The stories are short, clearly told, and deceptively simple - perfect for digesting during a lazy lunch hour. However, they prove meatier than you might think, lingering and coming back unbidden into the mind's eye for days after the last page has been turned.

The book itself is possessed of superior production values - it's big, eye-catching, and printed on thick, creamy paper; the kind of gorgeous art object you'll find yourself wanting to strategically lay around your apartment to impress visitors. But this, of course, is merely the icing on the cake - MIRROR, WINDOW is of sufficient quality that it'd be worth buying if it were printed on perforated toilet paper.