Customer Reviews

Why Did Pete Duel Kill Himself

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

An excellent and depressing collection of short pieces from Mark Kalesniko. The stories all revolve around the main character Alex, a 6th grade dog-faced boy. The dog face is symbolic here (as everyone else is drawn normally, and they do not comment on Alex's appearance) for the perpetually out of place person, who naturally does not fit in with society, and is constantly perplexed with it.

This begins with Alex mentally trying to figure out why his TV hero Pete Duel had committed suicide, to not connecting with his father, being diagnosed with a learning disability (This is set in the early 1970s, so the term "retarded" is thrown around a lot), and then sent off to a "special school."

This is a heartbreaking book, as you feel more and more for Alex, as he clearly has little understanding of the turn his life takes. It's about growing up and the life of quiet desperation that occurs, when you're 10. In this it is not just Alex; it is all of the characters in the story. They all have problems of one sort of another, that blend together in a mosaic of depression and sadness.

The art is a simple black and white format, but this somehow brings the stark and stale emotions of the story even more. This is, of course, not about the life of Pete Duel, but on how it affects a young fan of his. It is moving, cheap and easy to read.

Buyer Beware. This is not a story about Peter Duel. If you want to see this book, find someone who has it and look first. Do not spend money unless you want a comic book that has little to do with Mr. Duel, and a lot to do with the author. If I could give it negative star rating, I would.

Although it opens with a news article describing the suicide of Pete Duel, an American television actor who at the time was riding high on the success of a popular 1970's television western, 'Alias Smith and Jones', Mark Kalesniko's second graphic novel doesn't deal with any biographical account of the actor's last days. Rather, the question raised in the title and pondered over in the intervening chapters of an account of a traumatic childhood is a signifier for the incomprehension faced by a young boy whose only hope for a better future as an adult is shattered by the death of a favourite actor who had success and fame and seemed to have everything to live for.

That's a pretty bleak premise and outlook for a graphic novel which, featuring a younger version of character created in Kalesniko's debut graphic novel 'Alex', would appear to be at least semi-autobiographical - but the subject was very much in vogue during the black-and-white independent boom of the nineties (Malachy Coney's Holy Cross stories, also published by Fantagraphics around this time, similarly deal with childhood martyrdom and dreams of escape to a large extent) and, first published in 1997, 'Why Did Pete Duel Kill Himself?' remains one of the key works from this period.

None of the brief chapters recounting stories of childhood disappointment and disillusionment of Alex Kalienko are in themselves excessively traumatic, most of them rather commonplace little events - learning and failing to ride a bike, being beaten-up by an older kid when playing hide-and-seek, being humiliated by a teacher in front of the whole class at infant school - but dwelling on them and the rendering of them in such detail through the artwork and combining it with the outlook described in the book's title, it collectively adds up to a rather more troubling and affecting story that, at only 87 pages long, does nonetheless indeed have all the depth and quality of a graphic novel.

Kalesniko's artwork here is simply beautiful to behold, retaining the clear fluid lines and the expressiveness of his debut 'Alex', but allowing more shadow detail in the rendering that adds character to the sense of it being reminiscence that distances it from the immediacy of the older Alex. The real wonder of the book is the fluidity of the sequential art, the movement from frame to frame coming to life in an almost animated manner, dwelling on every moment of the sequence of events leading to shattered hopes, disillusionment and ignominious humiliation. Bleak perhaps, but the familiarity and realism of the little stories are likely to also evoke tenderness and sympathy for the character of little Alex and resonate with our own concerns for an adult life that may not have worked out exactly as we might have hoped.

I found this book very interesting and I can relate to the character in alot of ways! I had the same feeling of "why why why" about pete coz he was my favorite actor too like the person in the book and I also felt that it had to be better to be an adult but having gotten that far myself I realized it's not better and the grown up's are more immature then the kids in school! well, not all but alot! and I like the way it's done in cartoon form! patricia

Looks like Pete Duel fans are a bit peeved this book is only peripherally about their favorite television actor, but please don't let the negative comment stop you from reading this beautifully drawn tale of parental disconnection, emotional trauma and the often overlooked -- but very real -- pains that accompany childhood. It takes place around the time of Pete Duel's death and the title question, which frames the story, is posed by the young boy who's the book's main character. Kalesniko's spare, deceptively simple style is unique in modern comics, and his sense of visual pacing is one of the best I've seen in the form. The story is poignant (I sincerely hope it's not *too* autobiographical), but there's humor throughout as well. A treasure from one of the less well-known masters of the modern graphic novel. If you like it, be sure to check out Kalesniko's 264-page graphic novel "Mail Order Bride" as well, which is even more stunning.

This is absolutely the strangest thing I've ever seen. It didn't make any sense at all and there is absoultely no connection Pete Duel. They should have named it "Strange Dog Boy" and let it go at that. But I guess if you like oddball comics you might have fun with it. Not a read for Pete Duel fans~!

The title is very misleading. This is not a book, its just pages and pages of comic drawings that may not appeal to very many. It certainly does not appeal to Pete Duel's fans.

i am a pete duel fan and i did not like this book at all! this book really has nothing to do with pete. its a comic book and is not about pete. the only reason i kept the book was for the news paper cliping of petes death on the front page. that is the only thing there is about pete in this book!

This is a well-made comic book. The story is interesting and you can relate to it. There's comedy, pity, and a whole variety of emotions expressed in the book artistically and cleverly. The drawings are distinct. I definetely recommend it.

This is a wonderful book. The story is simply told yet speaks volumes. The drawings are wonderful. I highly recommend it.