The Left Bank Gang
by Jason
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 142)
Read in June, 2008
What if the American expatriate writers living in France during the first quarter of the 20th Century were cartoonists? And what happens when they can no longer make ends meet without selling out their art? That's the whole premise of this short comic from Jason.
Making appearances are, among others, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Jack Keats, Scott Fitzgerald, Jean Paul Sartre, and James Joyce. I'm a big fan of Jason's work. While this is probably more exciting to read as a gimmick than actual...more
Making appearances are, among others, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Jack Keats, Scott Fitzgerald, Jean Paul Sartre, and James Joyce. I'm a big fan of Jason's work. While this is probably more exciting to read as a gimmick than actual...more
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F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce walk into a Parisian bar… no, it’s not the beginning of a joke, but the premise of Jason’s unique new graphic novel. Set in 1920s Paris, The Left Bank Gang is a deliciously inventive re-imagining of these four literary figures as not only typical Jason anthropomorphics, but…graphic novelists! Yes, in Jason’s warped world, cartooning is the dominant form of fiction, and not only do these four work literary giants work in...more
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Read in August, 2008
Four stars, but a slightly lesser four stars, despite the awesome characterization of these famous people and how easy it is, in some ways, to recognize them, even though they've been Jasonized, i.e., turned into animals. Pound is, of course, scruffy. Fitzgerald looks cute and pathetic. Joyce is neat. And so on. I'm not sure the heist plot quite comes together, although I like the multiple perspective method of showing it. I probably prefer, in the end, that he make up his own characters, althou...more
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Read in May, 2008
This book begins with an utterly charming premise: it's Paris, and four cartoonists (Joyce, Hemingway, Pound, and Fitzgerald) sit around the Closerie des Lilas discussing the cartooning life, Dostoevsky's latest comic, and their floundering cash flow. A fairly simple idea sets this plot into motion, and a splintering of perspectives (a la Vantage Point, lol) tediously takes us to the conclusion. I didn't like the plodding way in which the tangled web of alliances became revealed, but I loved t...more
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I am sad that it has taken me this long to discover Jason. His books may not contain deep insights, but they are some of the funniest and most genuinely playful graphic novels I have read. The Left Bank Gang is my favorite book by Jason thus far. The first half is basically an impression of what life may have been like for the Lost Generation expatriates living in Paris, specifically focusing on Hemingway. It is relatively accurate, except that they are all cartoonists, and they are all a...more
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Read in August, 2006
recommends it for:
lovers of comics and ex-pats
When I saw this work on the shelves of the Brookline Booksmith, I tried to call my pal Sam over but my throat had nearly closed with entusiasm. I probably grunted -- you'd have to ask him.
But hot damn, Jason has long been known as one of the top in the field. His work is fresh and original, clean lines and compelling stories. And boy does he seem to have my number...
Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Pound and Joyce, hang out in Paris, complain about their lack of cash, and try to pull a bank heist....more
But hot damn, Jason has long been known as one of the top in the field. His work is fresh and original, clean lines and compelling stories. And boy does he seem to have my number...
Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Pound and Joyce, hang out in Paris, complain about their lack of cash, and try to pull a bank heist....more
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I wish I could write an overall review for all my Jason reads...they are all solid and consistent. Jason is an extremely witty writer/illustrator. Most of the time he doesn't even need any dialogue in his dialogue bubbles.
But this book is about old-timer writers (Hemingway, F Scott, etc) that have taken the occupation of comic book artists in this book. And if you know Jason, people die and ends are twisty.
But this book is about old-timer writers (Hemingway, F Scott, etc) that have taken the occupation of comic book artists in this book. And if you know Jason, people die and ends are twisty.
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I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that this is my first time reading one of Jason's books. In my defense, it's mainly because they're always out at the library. Having said that, this was one fantastic book (I'll probably go out and buy it this weekend) and I'll put more of an effort into getting his other books, as well.
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this was a really quick read as there really isn't that much dialogue, but it's a really interesting premise. famous authors that actaully are dogs, and that come up with a plan to help in times of flagging sales. good comic, but definitely on the cerebral side.
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
kubrickian modernists
Take a loose adaptation of Stanley Kubrick's The Killing, and substitute James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, and Jean-Paul Sartre for the main characters. Brilliant and amazing and very very fun to read.
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Read in December, 2007
What would happen if instead of writing the greatest novels of their time Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Fitzgerald and James Joyce decided to rob a bank to get rich? Nothing good. Gertrude Stein and Zelda Fitzgerald also star.
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Read in May, 2008
Off-beat, original... who else would've thought of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and their ilk as petty thieves? The more I read Jason's stuff, the more I admire his work.
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Yet another comic- but this one's about the cool ex-patriots that hung out together in their fancy literary circles. It's an English major's dream come true.
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Read in October, 2007
This is a graphic novel about Hemingway, Pound, Fitzgerald, and Joyce trying to steal money in Paris in the 1920s. It's like nerdy fan fiction, but cool.
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Fun fun book. Tough it turned into the plot from "the Heist" it was great to see the Writers of the time as Cartoonist. He has a bunch of fun stuff.
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Jason's understated style is great. In this book he takes literary figures of the Lost Generation and makes a funny and interesting story.
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A surprising, amusing, surreal book. It makes you work hard, but it's worth it.
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