[...] Other reviews: Comics Worth Reading [...]

[...] Kleid, writer of Brownsville and The Big Kahn and cartoonist of Ninety Candles and various minicomics, has just self-published his first prose [...]

Johanna, one point about: “Given the praise you’ve already gotten, as you’ve mentioned here, I didn’t think I needed to pile on that bandwagon.”

As a writer, I’m always reminded that every comic book story could be someone’s first… or last. Not everyone knows what’s come before or spoken of elsewhere. I suppose I have the same idea about criticism– just because the bandwagon praised the book doesn’t mean everyone’s following the bandwagon. This isn’t just directed at BIG KAHN, by the by, but my opinion in general — when I read a critique or review, I like to see the good and the bad, even if there’s more bad than good. NINETY CANDLES got a lot of heat as did BROWNSVILLE about various aspects, but there was always a bit of detail or expansion about what the critic liked or thought worked and I would have liked to have seen that from you, someone whose opinions I respect.

Thass all :)

Thanks again for checking out the book!

Neil

For what it’s worth — I read this as an overall positive review,with one particular critical point being made. Since it spoke to my main difficulty with the previous work, I spoke up. But remember, even with my difficulties with the art, I still liked that previous work enough to order this one sight (and review) unseen.

it’s a unique element to comics when one is a writer — the critical literature speaks about this every so often, but it deserves more discussion.

Given the praise you’ve already gotten, as you’ve mentioned here, I didn’t think I needed to pile on that bandwagon. :) Since I was bucking the crowd by pointing out problems in the art, I felt it was more important to go into detail in that area.

I’ll also say, while I understand that the art didn’t work for you, I wish you’d discussed a bit about what did. You mention “the concepts are thought-provoking, exploring the nature of faith and its practice” and that “it’s an involving story” and for the time and effort you went into explaining what you didn’t like, I wish you’d taken the same time to explain what you DID like, giving as much weight to the positive as you do the negative.

Neil

The pitfalls of fast typing.

Neil

You’ll be able to tell the difference between the characters. One of the things I took away from BROWNSVILLE was this point exactly and honestly, I’m a little surprised that Johanna had this problem with the book. Nico and I gave a lot of attention to making sure each character had a distinctive article of clothing, hairstyle, etc to set them apart from the other. The only two characters who may be an issue are Eli and Avi – two brothers, one older than the other, whose facial features look somewhat the same but Eli, the younger, clearly has a rounder, softer, younger quality than his older, leaner brother. I’m curious about which other characters you feel, Johanna, are confusing?

Again, this is all my opinion, as is any review of a piece of literature. Johanna had some issues with the book that I disagree with, but those are her opinions and are certainly valid. I know a few other readers have had issues with “stiffness” in Nico’s art (which, personally, I don’t see) and, again, that’s their valid opinion, too. I don’t think it takes away from the strength of the story(telling) and everyone I know who has read the book — and I’m not talking about close intimates, I mean retailers and readers on the other side of the country that I’ve never met in person — has enjoyed it. The has garnered reviews from corners such as Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, Graphic Novel Reporter, Booklist and more every day.

I encourage you to give it a try, Jim (and anyone reading this review with concerns based on the critique), even if you just take out from the library, and if you’d rather not there are some other great graphic novels out there I’m sure will be up your alley.

Thanks for reviewing the book, Johanna,

Neil

[...] [Review] The Big Khan Link: Johanna Draper Carlson [...]