Buddy Does Seattle (The Complete Buddy Bradley Stories from "Hate" Comics, Vol. I, 1990-94) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Everett True (Author) "Almost 15 years ago, I arrived in Seattle from the UK..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Collecting the complete Buddy Bradley stories from 1990 to 1994, this volume is an intense and frequently witty blast of Seattle-based slacker dysfunction. The title character is perhaps the most honestly portrayed everyman the medium has ever seen, an antihero whose utter obnoxiousness, "who cares" attitude and disdain for everyone and everything around him make him as believable as any comics character can be. A warts-and-all time capsule of lower-class 20-something life in the birthplace of grunge rock, this dense work hurls readers into borderline-disturbing tales. Functionally psychotic girlfriends, drunkenness, narcissistic rock and roll histrionics, graphic yet visually repellant sexual episodes, an edgy sibling reunion, a squirm-inducing mixed race date that culminates in bizarre role-playing, and many other escapades of rock-bottom suburban tragedy are made bearable by Bagge's wildly exaggerated art style and savagely humorous scripts. A sense of despair pervades every panel, but readers won't be able to look away from the train wreck and will find themselves drawn further into this theater of unrepentant losers. The claustrophobic b&w images are deceptively cartoony, the perfect expression of the darkness and tension that make up Bagge's bleak comedic landscape. Definitely not for kids, this is a harsh read that brilliantly wrings uncomfortable laughs from the all-too-familiar minefield of everyday life. (Feb.)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up–Buddy, a 20-something Everyman for the Gen-X, slacker, whatever generation, moves from New Jersey to Seattle with his high-maintenance friend, Stinky. The fellow blunders through the typical challenges of early adulthood: finding a career, friends, sex, and love. To call him a loser does injustice to the term; although he is smart, his lack of ambition and pattern of bad choices manage to keep success just out of reach. All of the bad choices combine with constant whining, rationalizations, and philosophizing, making Buddy one of the best-wrought characters in independent comics. His life becomes an out-of-control train, and while it's obvious that every action will bring him nothing but more bad luck, readers can't help but go along for the ride, wincing and laughing all the way to the final crash. The supporting characters, including his bipolar girlfriend and his UFO-obsessed roommate, are equally well developed and serve to push Buddy's buttons throughout his episodic misadventures. Set against the backdrop of Seattle in the 1990s, the story pokes a little fun at all the Internet start-up companies, flannel-wearing grunge rockers, and overpriced coffee bars that made up much of the city. Although influenced by talents like R. Crumb, Bagge's artwork feels unique. The cityscapes of Seattle are realistically rendered, while the characters are done in a looser, cartoon style that gets really wild whenever a character undergoes stress. Newcomers and old fans alike shouldn't miss this collection.–Matthew L. Moffett, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books; 2nd Fantagraphics Books Ed edition (February 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560976233
• ISBN-13: 978-1560976233
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #422,708 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best!, January 9, 2007

By	Randy Warren - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Okay, so Hate is generally criticized by its fans (which is bizarre in itself) for "selling out" and going to a color format. Well, you have nothing to complain about with this volume; it's the ENTIRE black & white run of Hate, from #1-15, all in one book! AWESOME! I had most of the comics of this group, but having them bound all together really increases the joy of following the whole storyline from issue to issue (not to mention I was missing a few issues, and to be honest who wants to hunt down separate comics when you can have it all in one book?).

The only downside of this volume is that it is slightly smaller than the original comic size. So, Bagge's busy inking style gets compressed somewhat, which is a bit of a drag. If you want full-size, I would suggest getting the 5-issue full-size volumes available. The only drawback is that you'd have to buy 1-5, 6-10, & 11-15, and they each retail for $16.95 (though I got the 21-25 volume for $4.95 right here from an Amazon re-seller, so really...).

Overall, I'd say this is a perfect carry-around volume of the BEST era of Hate. The ONLY negative is the size, and it's really not small, just small-ER than the comic. Which also makes it easier to carry around, so...what was I talking about?

Oh, and there's also a pretty lengthy interview with Bagge at the front, if you like that kinda thing (as I do!).

I recommend!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the best of the best!, April 20, 2007

By	Art - See all my reviews

This collection includes the funniest issues from one of the all-time funniest comic books ever created. Peter Bagge is an absolute genius whose ear for dialogue and eye for details is unmatched. From the comic book fans arguing over Kelly vs. Kurtzmann to the garage rock band at rehearsal to the encounter with an old girlfriend, every detail rings hilariously true. If you've ever shared a cheap apartment with an assortment of weird roommates, you need to read this book, and as soon as possible. This is an all-time classic that will have you rolling on the floor with laughter.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ey Buddy!, February 17, 2008

By	Mark Twin (Burmuda Triangle, East) - See all my reviews

This first volume of Peter Bagge's "Hate" comics (which were published between 1991-1994) exposes -literally- the lives of young Harold "Buddy" Bradley and his friends in 1990's Seattle. Buddy is an unpretentious, quiet guy with a low-end job, a troubled girlfriend, a gang of near-delirious friends and no clear perspectives on his future. "Buddy does Seattle" take us through everyday's struggles to survive, enjoy and ultimately make sense of things of Buddy and his friends. Although settled in specific coordinates (Seattle's 1990s) their tragedies, inquiries, virtues and miseries seem, directly or indirectly, all too common to many youth elsewhere (and retrospectively to many among us, the moderately elder). The plot is relentless, always funny and many times hilarious, and the drawings are little masterpieces on themselves. I work hard to try to delay my finishing this Vol. 1, and am delighted I still have Vol. 2, "Buddy does Jersey" coming up. Buddy Does Jersey: The Complete Buddy Bradley Stories from "Hate" Comics, Vol. II (1994-1998)