Shutterbug Follies: Graphic Novel (Doubleday Graphic Novels) [Hardcover]

Jason Little (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally serialized as both a weekly newspaper comic strip and a web comics serial, Little's first full-length graphic novel (following his award-winning short book Jack's Luck Runs Out) is a witty, lighter-than-air murder mystery with a hugely likeable young sleuth. Scrappy 18-year-old Bee is working in a New York photo lab when a picture of a naked female corpse that's not quite what it appears to be piques her interest. Her amateur investigation of its photographer leads her to an ever-deepening mystery, a friendly cab driver, a cute but nervous photo assistant, some scary doings with the Russian mob and finally, into deadly danger. Little made his reputation on the alternative comics scene as an experimentalist, but he's also a natural storyteller. It takes a rereading or two to notice just how varied and complicated his techniques are (many of them are borrowed from photography, like the "fisheye lens" he uses in a few dramatic panels, or the rounded panel borders that suggest old-fashioned snapshots). The narrative flows gorgeously through quiet domestic moments, action scenes and a hair-raising dream sequence. Stylish and graceful, Little's figures and compositions suggest a grimier urban version of Belgian comics master Herg‚'s classic Tintin books. He captures New York City's animated density and diversity with his pop-art, candy-colored palette.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Shortly after starting work at a photo-processing shop in downtown Manhattan, Bee, 18, develops several pictures of dead bodies, some brought in by crime-scene photographer Oleg Khatchatourian. Now, developing pictures of "cats, babies, birthdays and vacations" isn't exciting, so she becomes a detective in the spirit of Nancy Drew, to determine whether or not Khatchatourian had something to do with his wife's demise. The horizontal layout and varying frame sizes propel the action to a fever pitch. Little's use of color is strong as well, with the photo-negative images adding a layer of mystery. Even the shape of the book, like a photo album, continues the artist's theme. The city of New York is a strong character, too, with its ethnic restaurants, crowded subway cars, niche galleries, and rock clubs. The New York Public Library even makes a few appearances as Bee researches her hunches with microfilm and the Merck Manual. The young woman is a plucky, indefatigable heroine who climbs out of bathroom windows and up fire escapes, and goes on high-speed car chases with a taxi driver/musician. With nearly implausible coincidences, a dash of slapstick humor, and a few red herrings, this is a detective romp, and the ending panel leaves readers breathlessly awaiting a sequel.
Jamie Watson, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385503466
• ISBN-13: 978-0385503464
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.6 x 6.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Awesome, I Plan to Spend Money on It, November 24, 2002

By 

"neuromancer2600" (Lousiville, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shutterbug Follies: Graphic Novel (Doubleday Graphic Novels) (Hardcover)

I've actually read this entire book, when it was on Jason Little's webpage. But I'm actually going to shell out the money for this book, which is surprising, because I rarely pay for any media I've already seen or can borrow from a friend. Why do I want this book bad enough to pay for it?
Simply put, Jason Little breathes life into the supposedly dead genre of action comics. But, unlike most neo-action comics, this piece doesn't rely heavily on "fighting the man" or some other deconstrutionist fantasy; it's an interesting story that would still work as a short story or novel, even without the stunning art. Reading this book is like watching a really really good movie and, best of all, one doesn't even have to be a "comic nerd" to like it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bee - A Heroine For A New Millennium, December 11, 2002

By 

FictionAddiction.NET - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shutterbug Follies: Graphic Novel (Doubleday Graphic Novels) (Hardcover)

One of the most common tidbits of literary advice that writers hear is to "show, not tell." In traditional fiction, this refers to describing what is happening rather than the narrator interpreting and justifying what occurs in a given scene.

This same advice, in a very literal sense applies equally well for the graphic novelist. Ideally, the only items that need to be "told" would be the dialogue between characters. The "showing" is done through graphics.

In "Shutterbug Follies" this advice is followed very well. The characters speak only when the pictures do not clearly show what their actions represent. The pictures decisively show characters taking action creating and solving problems. The dialogue is crisp and to the point. Dialects are handled, not with phonetic spellings, but with variations in syntax.

In many ways, the graphic novel shares a lot with film. Both are visual media that rely heavily on the audience knowing only what can be shown pictorially. The advantage that the graphic novel has is that one person's vision dominates the development of the story. This gives Shutterbug Follies a focus and consistency that many films lack.

"Shutterbug Follies" is the story of Bee, an eighteen year old girl, who by day works at a photo-mat deep in New York City. By night, she shares copies of the more interesting photos with her friend Lyla. When a photo of a female corpse in a bathtub catches her eye, Bee investigates further. She risks her life several times as she unravels the mystery behind the body.

This story is well told, with a drawing style that is simple and direct. The pacing draws the reader forward smoothly and efficiently. There are no subtle, deeper meanings in this narrative and these illustrations.

Jason Little's latest work, the graphic novel "Shutterbug Follies," is a pleasant diversion for an afternoon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hot damn!, October 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Shutterbug Follies: Graphic Novel (Doubleday Graphic Novels) (Hardcover)

if you like the works of daniel clowes then this graphic novel will have you flipping page after page. this girl (fabulously named "bee") lives in brooklyn and works at a photoshop developing pictures. one day she gets a batch of suspicious pictures from a famous russian photographerand soon she is hot on what seems to bea murder case. jason little pours some of his best skills into the one. definatly something to share with your friends.