Amazing Rain (Paperback)

by Sam Brown (Author) "I Live in the city..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This graphic novella by comic artist Sam Brown, whose website has become an online phenomenon, entwines unusual fable with unconventional comic style. Combining the deceptively simple lines of Matt Groening, the deft and elegant colors of Herg, the cinematographic eye of Eric Drooker, and the dark humor and nostalgic sadness of Edward Gorey, Amazing Rain is Sam Brown's most beautiful novella to date. Presenting a story within a story, a fable embedded in a narrative of urban disenchantment, Brown's latest work surpasses the drawings for which he is already known. In an era when graphic novels have reached a critical mass in the popular consciousness, Sam Brown's highly personal style stands out in the crowd. This book will delight both the new convert and the longtime fan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press (November 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932360506
• ISBN-13: 978-1932360509
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #780,264 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Amazing!, November 3, 2004

By	Nathan Blaney (carlstadt, nj United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I suspect that there are two types of people in the world: those who love Sam Brown's www.explodingdog.com and those who haven't discovered it yet!

I fall squarely into the first category. I am always thrilled when new work appears on the site. Why? Because Exploding Dog is a unique art concept. It is a semi-collaborative art project where visitors are invited to submit phrases, ideas, or titles, and drawings are created to fit. Well, kind of. Sam Brown has a unique vision. Quite often, the drawings he creates take a radically different approach to what might seem like a straightforward subject. Many truly defy explanation... yet are still wonderfully interesting.

The world that Sam has created for his art is one inhabited by stick figure people, robots, rockets, and various small creatures. All are drawn in a minimalistic linear style, which at first glance may seem unsophisticated. Spend a little time really looking, though, and you'll be quite surprised. These drawings can convey a huge amount with only simple lines and (generally) flat areas of color.

In addition to the drawings featured on the site, there are also Exploding Dog shirts, prints, and books available. These items help many people get their Exploding Dog "fix" during the occasionally lengthy periods between updates to the site. Soon to be added to this collection is Amazing Rain. 116 full color pages, fantastic from beginning to end. In this somewhat dark, odd tale, Sam "weaves a story within a story, a fable intertwined in a narrative of urban disenchantment and pastoral escape." I won't even begin to try to explain or capture the essence of it. Trying to do so would not only be impossible, but never stand up to actually seeing, reading, and absorbing this book.

More interesting than any illustrated novel and vastly more sophisticated than any comic, this book is a literary and visual art piece. One of the greatest strengths of Amazing Rain is that, although this is a continuous story, each page works on its own in the same way that the single panel drawings featured on Exploding Dog do. I can think of no other work that stands up in this way.

All in all, I have nothing but the highest praise for Sam and his most recent effort. My only complaint is that there aren't a couple hundred more pages!

4.0 out of 5 stars cute book, February 5, 2009

By	guy incognito (OC, CA) - See all my reviews

very cute book, a lot of unique humor and artwork. The crudeness of the drawings is one of the best things about the author's humor and storytelling.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, January 13, 2006

By	Amy Warner "camarohunnie" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sam Brown is a creative genius! This is a great book. Fun to read and look at, it pretty much has something for everyone. Highly recommended!