Rusty Brown: Chris Ware

This is a thing of beauty- so much better than Jimmy Corrigan (I know people loved that, but this is more coherent and linear somehow despite the multiple POVs and fluctuations in time). I'm a disciple of Chris Wares 'Building Stories', which I revisit regularly- but I'd say this is just as good (at a stretch as building stories is the most genius beautiful thing afterall...).This is about the human condition- we follow several interwoven character threads back and forth in time. In usual Chris Ware style there are loads of details to keep going back and checking- beautiful frame by frame breakdowns of everyday minutae. There's that familiar feel of desolation in this book, like in his other work. We always want the superhero story, the resolution- but Ware puts things how they are, and obviously that can appear bleak at times but this is life, and here life is drawn frame by frame into an intriguing tapestry. Even the jacket of the book you could spend a day studying- this is a piece of art and a joy. If you enjoyed Jimmy Corrigan, or are just a human trying to live as best you know how- then you'll love this. The price I think is very reasonable for such a big book which must have taken an age to think up and actually draw!

The agonies of small town childhood give way to the agonies of small town adulthood. Perversely comforting how relatable it all is. The graphic design is also thrilling. Can't recommend enough.

I thought this would be better. I don't know why it's titled Rusty Brown as he's hardly in the book. In my opinion it tries to be too clever with a pretentious and confusing format with writing you need a magnifying glass for. Why such small type?!

Beautifully written and illustrated.

The detail in this book is beyond anything else. I haven't got to the end of it yet as I don't want to rush it and miss things but it's already worth my time and money on the pages that I have read.

Perfect

Add this to your Chris Ware collection. Intriguing, brilliant and confusing in the Ware style. Great stuff!

An absolutely stunning book. This is, in my opinion Ware’s best work. Beautifully drawn, achingly sad and yet at the same time uplifting.