Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
The Man Who Grew His Beard
The Man Who Grew His Beard is Belgian cartoonist Olivier Schrauwen’s
first American book, having staked a reputation over the last decade as one of
Europe’s most talented storytellers. It collects seven short stories, each a headspinning
display of craft and storytelling that mixes early twentieth-century
comics influences like Winsor McCay with a thoroughly contemporary voice...more
first American book, having staked a reputation over the last decade as one of
Europe’s most talented storytellers. It collects seven short stories, each a headspinning
display of craft and storytelling that mixes early twentieth-century
comics influences like Winsor McCay with a thoroughly contemporary voice...more
Paperback, 112 pages
Published
October 3rd 2011
by Fantagraphics
(first published June 1st 2010)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
133)
A bizarre, perplexing, and brilliant book. Kind of reminded me of Christin and Bilal's Townscapes, in that the stories have no visible continuity with each other, but all feature a similar-looking character: the eponymous bearded man. In one story he's a sensitive explorer who has some rough times in Africa, in another he's a lecherous self-styled adventure hero who can convince horses to grow wings, or a guru who discovers the ink from which humanity sprung. The ambiguity of whether they're the...more
I really enjoyed, but was slightly mystified, by this Belgian masterwork of surreal imagery and beautifully spare story lines. I had not heard of Olivier Schrauwen's work before picking up this short collection of comic stories, each centering on an often helpless figure with a thick beard who finds himself in a variety of bizarre situations. Among some of the most purely dream-like illustrations I have ever seen, themes of art, self-image, and imagination are explored through extremely effectiv...more
It opens like a silent movie, silent. Vivid colors punctuate characters that remind me of Hemingway, Freud, and Hitler. They are hunting in the jungle and strange things happen stranger every time.
Then it goes all INTERNAL. Weird little vignettes about the process of thought. My favorite is OUTSIDE/INSIDE in which a man leaves a manse and misses the train, all rendered in vagrant white and grey. That's OUTSIDE. The INSIDE is a beautiful tale of courage and virility in which every motion is a he...more
Then it goes all INTERNAL. Weird little vignettes about the process of thought. My favorite is OUTSIDE/INSIDE in which a man leaves a manse and misses the train, all rendered in vagrant white and grey. That's OUTSIDE. The INSIDE is a beautiful tale of courage and virility in which every motion is a he...more
A challenging collection of comics stories, in both visual and narrative terms. I like what Schrauwen is doing here, as he plays with the form of comics and comics storytelling, and the book rewards multiple readings. Ultimately I think the beauty of the drawings outweighs the quality of the storytelling, but in a book like this one, that's not so much a serious defect as an indication that the author is trying new things and pushing beyond limits. And the book is beautifully produced--it makes...more
A very interesting graphic work, stories with very limited narration or explanation that allow the reader to interpret plot however they see fit. And I very much enjoyed doing so.
My favorite of the series was the origin of humanity in a drop of ink. I also enjoyed the not always constant sizes of fellow's beards.
The art was imaginative and detailed, each page an artwork in it's own right. This is not a traditional comic book though. Although there could be some superheroes in the story, there i...more
My favorite of the series was the origin of humanity in a drop of ink. I also enjoyed the not always constant sizes of fellow's beards.
The art was imaginative and detailed, each page an artwork in it's own right. This is not a traditional comic book though. Although there could be some superheroes in the story, there i...more
A drawing style and sense of the absurd similar to Glen Baxter's, Schrauwen collection of stories reads like a series of short movies about serious matters told with dream logic. I like his use of off-registers, as if the stories unwound on poorly printed pulp paper, and, with the monochrome images, the way in which his drawings look like a cross between faded, erratically reproduced photos and drawings found in a mildewed book.
This book is not for graphic narrative beginners, since it does expect the reader to grasp the overall and ever changing framework of the story by its graphic morphings. While the recurrent topic is internal worlds, its varied graphical manifestations even within a single story are what makes Schrauwen a promising revolutionary of the vignette. Daring, experimental, multilayered. An important work in comic storytelling.
Some really interesting narrative experiments here, but at times felt like 'Fort Thunder lite'. That's not a bad thing considering that a lot of the Fort Thunder stuff can be inscrutable. I would have preferred less Photoshop trickery, but Schrauwen has a good sense of pacing and in drawing out mystery. Looking forward to reading more by him.
I can imagine these stories taking on more meaning or revealing themselves more with subsequent readings. They have a strongly intimate sense and make great use of the graphic format to convey their intentions. They feel like little Poloroids of the subconscious.
disappointing. 'Hair Styles' (the reason I bought it, after reading that story in Mome) is a work of genius. The rest is kind of watery but not in the inspired, awesome way HS is. Couple of the later ones are cheesy.
This is an absolutely beautiful collection of comics. Bizarre, funny, a little sad. And full of just plain awesome illustrations. I only wish there was an introduction or something--I'd love more information about Schrauwen, his ideas, and his process.
Extremely imaginative, thought-provoking, and really very beautiful.
Genius. So well done I even liked the parts I didn't like.
There is no place in my brain to fit this book.
absurde strip met sfeervolle tekeningen
this book is the ducks balls
Super bizarre, original and wonderful!
I know that is not a proper sentence.
Little vignettes that make you go
"WTF???"
I know that is not a proper sentence.
Little vignettes that make you go
"WTF???"
The title of this collection of short stories was my favorite part about it. There were one or two beautiful stories in terms of both art and overall storytelling, but most of them are unmemorable.
everybody should be freaking out about how good this is.
Blech! Truly awful.
May 11, 2013
Bob
marked it as to-read
Mar 20, 2013
Kenia
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
