Suckle: The Status of Basil [Paperback]

Dave Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 18, 1997

From the id of Dave Cooper, creator of the critically-acclaimed Weasel comic book series from Fantagraphics and a designer of the Futurama television series on Fox, comes a surreal and unpredictable travelogue through a wholly unique cartoon universe that is both elegantly dream-like and grotesquely nightmarish. Suckle is Cooper's first major graphic novel, originally published in 1997 and unavailable for over three years. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed new cartoonists of the last ten years, winning multiple Ignatz and Harvey Awards for Weasel, which debuted in 1999 and has been Fantagraphics' most successful new series since the debut of Chris Ware's ACME Novelty Library in 1993.

Suckle spotlights Cooper's fascination with the surreal, sexual, and organic, and is reminiscent of the otherworldly dream logic of Jim Woodring's "Frank" stories. Suckle's protagonist, Basil, is born from a strange vulvic eruption in the desert. As his afterbirth is nibbled away by a myriad of outlandish scavengers, Basil naively sets out on a tangled, twisted quest for either a mother figure or a romantic interest. Cooper's bizarre and explicit themes and allegorically-rich imagery converge in an arresting, almost-psychedelic, literal and figurative climax from which Basil can begin to make sense of the world and his place in it. Printed on colored paper with limited two-color printing in parts, Suckle is as much a visual feast as it is a compelling fiction.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Artist Martin DeSerres, 38, was getting by on children's book illustration when a grant he had applied for finally came through, enabling a project he called "The Eroticism of Homeliness." Finding models was at first difficult, but Tina, a teenager, eventually kept her appointment with him. Chubby, bespectacled, pimpled, she seemed overweeningly shy. But she warmed to posing, especially in the nude. And Martin fell for her. Sex ensued, and it was the experienced, even jaded man who felt, perhaps, in love. For Tina, everything was much more casual. She enjoyed pleasing Martin and fulfilling his fantasies, but when he tried to fulfill hers, such as she had told him, she recoiled and eventually left. Cooper's chunky, brutal drawing style fairly drains the sexually explicit story of prurient interest without, however, making it repulsive. Indeed, this legend of sexual obsession chimes with the great Japanese novelist Tanizaki's similar stories (see the novel Naomi and several pieces in The Gourmet Club ). Truly and honorably, a graphic novel for adults only. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

Cooper has finally staked his claim as one of the very best cartoonists working today. -- Peter Bagge, author of Hate

Cooper's drawing is visceral, assured, charming and sometimes terrifying, and his narrative sense never falters. -- Scram

[A] combination of the gritty realism of R. Crumb mixed with the wild imagination of Dr. Seuss. -- The Prodigal Sun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (June 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560973013
• ISBN-13: 978-1560973010
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,816,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncomfortable...yet strangely tittilating...., April 23, 2004

By 

K. Leal "Novel addict :: *_*::" (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ripple: A Predilection for Tina (Paperback)

Reading this graphic novel is like being thrown into the deep end of the pool: you aren't expecting such blunt and graphic realism, but once you get into it, it's hard to take your eyes away. Take care: this isn't remotely for a kid of any age.
Since the summary is taken care of, I will say that I found myself thinking the story plays out almost like a FA (fat admirer) confession, of sorts. The ideas, art and ultimately the moral are much deeper and more personal than the brutish, roughly realistic and oftentimes disturbing art style would let on. The idea of large women being attractive is not found much in modern media, let alone in comic books. At first glance this appears to be a perverse sex romp, but don't judge this book by its cover.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ever read something that got under your skin?, November 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Suckle: The Status of Basil (Paperback)

Dave's art always makes my skin crawl, but it's also hypnotic -- the pages are interesting enough that I find myself skipping ahead without reading just to take in the landscapes that he's come up with (or the various fluids that might be dripping off his characters or buildings at any given time).

The story follows the beggings of Basil's life -- we see his birth, his first meeting with other humans (?), and his first experience with psychedaelics. And as this is a Dave Cooper book, there's lots of sex (none of it vanilla) and violence thrown into the mix!

Highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Brilliant, January 14, 2011

By 

Michelle N - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ripple: A Predilection for Tina (Paperback)

I'm not much when it comes to writing reviews but as a frequent comic book reader I must say that this comic book was a delightful read.

Most might think that the book may be more geared for males but I think other wise. As a female I thought the story was though provoking and paced beautifully. The ink work is detailed and specific to the mood of the book. I like how the line work changes from blue to pink at some parts. It can be graphic but, unlike in some books, it has purpose. The nudity is there to compliment the them and pushes the story along.

If your willing to try something new and something a big more daring then your typical PG comic book, (if that's typical for you) then you should pick this up.

By far this comic book is one of my favorites among others of Dave Coopers work. Just fantastic.