No More Shaves: A Duplex Planet Collection [Paperback]

David Greenberger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003

Take a trip to the amusing and poignant Duplex Planet.

The Duplex Planet started in 1979 as a small, self-Xeroxed fanzine by David Greenberger. In 20 years, it has become a veritable cottage industry and endless source of inspiration for Greenberger. The Duplex Planet features stories and conversations that Greenberger had with the residents of the Duplex Nursing Home in Boston, where he worked in the late-1970s and '80s. Greenberger presents the beauty and comical wisdom of the often-bizarre and occasionally poignant things said by his elderly friends. Greenberger never imposes his own worldview, allowing the residents to quietly flesh themselves into some of the more remarkable characters in contemporary literature. No More Shaves presents these stories in comics form, interpreted by many of today's best cartoonists, including Dave Cooper, Jason Lutes, Rick Altergott, and more. Too frequently the elderly are ignored or denied a voice in our contemporary culture; Greenberger allows them the opportunity to share their opinions, wit and creativity in ways rarely experienced by many. No More Shaves builds on Greenberger's text by further humanizing the residents of the Duplex Nursing Home through the comics medium; the sympathetic lines of these excellent cartoonists give them immediate life and form.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For over two decades, Greenberger has interviewed retirement home residents, attempting to depict as many characters as possible in this often-overlooked demographic. He posed offbeat questions (e.g., "What do you think George Washington's voice sounded like?"), sometimes letting his subjects ramble. He recorded the results and published them in his zine, Duplex Planet, and this collection of interviews features illustrations by comic artists. Though Greenberger is still interviewing subjects, this volume presents six of the men he originally befriended. Each section begins with a photographic portrait of the interviewee, followed by a handful of his memorable quotes. (Arthur Wallace, 1893-1980: "Hey! Hey! Don't be worryin' about goddamn international politics! Go down and tell Mary I want some whiskey!") He then shares segments of his conversations or stories in comic form, each by a different illustrator. Some artists portray interviewees in youth, as in "Baseball Damage," drawn by Tim Hensley. In "What's Gravity?" (drawn by J.R. Williams), an elderly man simply smokes, his facial expressions changing subtly from panel to panel. Others, like "Hiding in the Trees," drawn by Paul Nitsche, are more fantastical. Though styles vary, the art is consistently expressive and successfully illuminates the stories' poetry, whimsy, humor and melancholy. It sometimes even buttresses disjointed speech: aged minds tend to work in hard-to-follow ruts, tangents and circles-part of the book's charm. Greenberger offered these men a patient ear at a time in their lives when most people get ignored. The work's longevity will remind readers they yearn for the company of these precious individuals, and that's reason enough not to forget them.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

On first reading, this stuff seems merely hilarious. Then it grows on you and becomes strangely moving. -- Matt Groening

One of life's little wonders. We're lucky to have it. -- Lou Reed

[Greenberger] and his artists present these people as they are, in all their confused, endearing glory. -- Bust, Tom Forget

[M]odern-day versions of Chaucer's reports from the road to Canterbury; they resonate with a wry humor and a startling insight. -- The New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560972572
• ISBN-13: 978-1560972570
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,197,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The great Duplex Planet illustrated, April 1, 2003

By 

OilCanBoyd (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No More Shaves: A Duplex Planet Collection (Paperback)

I feel that Duplex planet is is in the same vain as Arthur Bradford's How's Your News. Elderly people, much like handicapped people, are often times vibrant,colorful, funny and moving parts of our culture. Greenberger, like Bradford, lets us hear thier voices. The zine, Duplex Planet, has always been something that I felt is beautiful and necessary. The special illustrated versions somehow added to the dimensions of the yarns by the inhabitants of the Duplex. No More Shaves is a wonderful collection brought to us by the wonderful publishers, Fantagraphics, that collects some of the greats in the world of alternative illustration. Highly recommended by the OilCan!

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice idea, but not the most satisfying execution, May 16, 2005

By 

Tracy Middlebrook (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No More Shaves: A Duplex Planet Collection (Paperback)

I was really intrigued by the premise of this collection and really wanted to love it. However, it just didn't work out for me. This had its amusing bits...the fact that many different artists contributed made it seem disjointed at times (the narrative being stories from elderly men in a nursing home didn't help with continuity, either *Smile* )

Still, it helped me pass the time. Some were truly sweet, some interesting, others scary and some dull...and then there were those that left me scratching my head. Oh well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing Else Like It, April 30, 2005

By 

Juke Jar (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No More Shaves: A Duplex Planet Collection (Paperback)

No More Shaves, as with all the Duplex Planet books, CDs, etc., is a unique journey stemming from the synergistic vision of David Greenberger and the residents with whom he connects so well and on so many levels--connects for the benefit of the residents, and for the benefit of anyone fortunate enough to cross the path of the Duplex Planet.

No More Shaves offers the added deminsion of the sort usually found in top-flight graphic novels--by some of the most esteemed practioners of the genre--to successfully bring the soulful conversations and musings into yet another organic medium.

To summarize: it's great. I love it.