Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

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Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

by Chris Ware

4.17 · rating details · 5,679 ratings · 593 reviews

This first book from Chicago author Chris Ware is a pleasantly-decorated view at a lonely and emotionally-impaired "everyman" (Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth), who is provided, at age 36, the opportunity to meet his father for the first time. An improvisatory romance which gingerly deports itself between 1890's Chicago and 1980's small town Michigan, the reader ...more

Paperback, 380 pages

Published April 29th 2003 by Pantheon (first published 2000)

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Sep 15, 2007

Kyle rated it

· review of another edition

I love me some graphic novels but I don't pretend that the vast majority of them rise to the level of serious literature. Most of the time I look for the large number of books out there that are "clever" (as in, better than 90% of TV) as a mindless respite between novels. And in the case of ones such as Louis Riel, Berlin, or Maus, I get a little bit of education without trudging through a 600 page history book.

Jimmy Corrigan, though, is one of the five or six graphic n...more

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Mar 23, 2007

Jay rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: People with eyes, brains, gasping capabilities

I'm surprised that GoodReads doesn't allow a sixth star for this book alone. I can not say enough great things about Jimmy Corrigan. Honestly, it changed my life, and I can't imagine anyone not being in awe of its mathematics, literally and figuratively. This book is like the Catcher in the Rye for graphic novels. It raised the bar and it will not be matched for a very long time. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Breathtaking and deep. Brilliant.

like 7 likes

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Jun 23, 2008

Anne rated it

· review of another edition

A friend, a physicist actually, recommended this to me after I rolled my eyes at superhero comic books. It's really great, heavy stuff. In just episode 1, Jimmy gets to meet his hero at a convention, who macks on his mom, stays the night, ignores Jimmy, and then leaves Jimmy to pass on his regrets/greetings to the mom.
The big plot, though, is twofold. One, how Jimmy gets re-discovered by his father, who had earlier walked. It turns out the father had re-married, and the story of that fami...more

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Nov 06, 2008

Mark rated it

· review of another edition

Incredibly sad. The impressive thing is most of the melancholy doesn't stem from overwrought, dramatic events but rather the eerily believable facets of Jimmy's life. The drab apartment buildings with neglected trees and empty parking lots, complete with a McDonald's arch in the distance. Jimmy eating a can of Campbell's soup by himself after stammering his way through a conversation with his overbearing mother. The shitty Thanksgiving decorations at the retirement home he visits.

...more

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Sep 08, 2007

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

Some of my favorite books are graphic novels, and this one is second maybe only to Blankets. It's a sad, shockingly complex graphic novel that toys with your expectations of the comic medium. Jimmy's a lonely middle-aged man who's in an unhealthily co-dependent relationship with his also-lonely mother. He doesn't know who his father is--until the day he sees a man dressed as Superman commit suicide outside his office window. On that same day, he receives a letter and a plane ticket from a st...more

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Nov 30, 2007

Nick rated it

· review of another edition

Well, the technical quality of the art is certainly good, and it's formally inventive and all that, and it most definitely does an effective job at maintaining and conveying a consistent mood- if you were feeling charitable, you could even say that there's something kind of magnificent about it's overwhelming, unrelieved bleakness- but when I was finished I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the point of the whole thing had been. On quality I'd say it deserved three stars, if it wasn't ...more

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Dec 01, 2008

Patrick rated it

· review of another edition

I know this is the graphic novel to end all graphic novels but I have to say I wasn't terribly blown away. It was well laid out and pretty to look at but was almost cliched in its portrayal of a loner. Meh.

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Feb 08, 2012

Steven rated it

"Since he always did what he was told he deserved better treatment in general."

(Oh, graphic novel form, where all the best storytellers appear to live...)

Sorry, you weren't supposed to hear me like that, but sometimes when I think in the written format I find that I'm actually thinking aloud. But back to Jimmy. Is it enough for me to say that it's silly how good this book is? That on top of it all, it is just so pretty and so smooth? Or that I'll never feel the same...more

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Feb 01, 2012

Keith rated it

· review of another edition

1. Now I have read it, so you can stop asking me if I have.

2. Almost didn't change the opinion I had of it before I read it. Deepened it, perhaps, not changed it.

3. Like a Paul Giamatti movie, multiplied by another Paul Giamatti movie.

4. Sad. Sadder than sad. Maybe not as sad as I worried it would be. Maybe it would have been sadder had I been sadder when I read it. Still, though.

5. Does a lot of clever things, a little ostentatiously. Very much a ...more

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Oct 29, 2011

Katie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, male-author, graphic-novels

I thought this book was going to be a real winner. The reviews on the inside cover included praise from Dave Eggers and David Sedaris among others. The story takes place at a number of different time periods, so it gets a little confusing as to who is who, because you have to rely visually on knowing what a young Jimmy Corrigan looks like versus what his grandfather looked like as a boy, etc. What I love about graphic novels is that so often this happens completely effortlessly. Your eyes ta...more

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Aug 19, 2011

Matt Richter rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel

i wanted to like jimmy corrigan very much because author chris ware has done something which i greatly admire -- which is to produce something quite innovative, it's a creatively unique approach to the graphic novel medium. and on that level it's very successful! he has a distinctive style and the layout of pages is interesting without being confusing. it really looks like a graphic designer or architect's take on the graphic novel deal. unfortunately i just found chris ware's semi-autobiographi...more

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Jun 26, 2011

Williwaw Wilson rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics

This is possibly the saddest book that I have ever read. Sure, it is a "comic book," but don't let the format fool you into thinking that this is light reading. This is serious, disturbing stuff. It's not totally lacking in humor, but the prevailing themes are loss, rejection, death, crippling emotional and physical wounds, alienation, and dysfunctional family dynamics.

Chris Ware is a genius of panelology (albet, extremely rectilinear panelology) and color. He's also goo...moreThis is possibly the saddest book that I have ever read. Sure, it is a "comic book," but don't let the format fool you into thinking that this is light reading. This is serious, disturbing stuff. It's not totally lacking in humor, but the prevailing themes are loss, rejection, death, crippling emotional and physical wounds, alienation, and dysfunctional family dynamics.

Chris Ware is a genius of panelology (albet, extremely rectilinear panelology) and color. He's also good at employing leitmotifs, which recur in memories, dreams, or even in the actual present (a couple of examples: Superman, and a miniature toy leaden horse, both of which morph in uncanny ways during dreams, daydreams, and memories).

Come to think of it, the whole book is extremely non-linear. The basic storyline concerns a trip that the adult Jimmy takes to visit his father for the first time. Jimmy was abandoned by his father, either during infancy or before he was born. He and "Dad" are planning to have Thanksgiving dinner together during this trip, but Jimmy abruptly returns home for reasons that you'll have to discover for yourself. That is the basic "plot."

Upon this simple framework, Ware weaves the complicated fabric of Jimmy's memories, family history, daydreams, and fantasies. (Warning: there are plenty of disturbing sexual fantasies and incidents in this book, so you might not want to give it to your 9 year old son or daughter.)

Perhaps strangest of all, much of the book is devoted to the childhood of Jimmy's grandfather (at least, I think it's the grandfather), who was also abandoned by his own father at the Columbian Exposition (an extravagant "World's Fair" event in Chicago, 1893). Grandpa's Pa, a cruel bastard, takes nine-year-old Grandpa to a panoramic perch overlooking the city. The excursion is supposed to be a "birthday present," (a trip to the Fair) but in actuality, great-gramps has planned on dumping his kid off there in advance.

Most kids are terrified of abandonment, so you'd think that Ware would address this. Imagine that you are a child, brought by your father to the top of a large building. From a precipitous perch, you look over the city of Chicago. When you turn around, you realize that you are alone. You have been abandoned.

You would probably flip out. The terror would probably be compounded by the vertiginous, wide open space. But Ware stops here and fast forwards to the present. It turns out that Grandpa has been telling this childhood story to his adoptive grand-daughter, who is working on a family history project for school. Grandpa simply explains, in matter-of-fact fashion, that this is how he came to be brought up in an orphanage.

Perhaps Ware pulls out of the grandfather's story so abruptly because it strengthens the emotional disengagement of the narrative. We see so many painful things in this book, but for the most part, we are left to imagine the emotional impact for ourselves. Maybe this was a deliberate tactic. In a way, it makes the book more powerful. There is absolutely no psycho-babble in this book.

The first time I read this book, I had recently finished "The Devil in the White City," which is a True Crime/History book that focuses on the Columbian Exposition of 1893. It definitely made Jimmy Corrigan an even more interesting read!

One final warning: reading this book can be a logistical challenge, especially if you are the wrong side of 40+. The lettering is often so tiny that it's barely readable, and the flow from panel to panel can get somewhat complicated. So you need to have a high tolerance for the comic-book format and some good reading glasses. Also, this is not a quick read. Plan on spending about 5 hours on this. (less)

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Jun 15, 2011

Beaverton City Library Teens rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, realistic

Jimmy Corrigan is a lonely guy: a jittery, unattractive middle-aged man trapped in a dead-end job. The days bleed into each other, his only escape being a fantasy realm where he dons tights and becomes the smartest kid on Earth. A grim history of parental abandonment, stretching all the way back to the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and down the Corrigan family tree, has culminated in Jimmy's insignificant existence. Jimmy's life finally takes a turn when he receives a letter from his estranged fa...more

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Jan 03, 2011

Joe Young rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: abandonment, comics, graphic-novel, chris-ware

Chris Ware - Writer & Artist

A gorgeously rendered, achingly sad novel in comic form, Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth is a masterpiece of graphic novel fiction. The story follows the titular protagonist, an emotionally-stunted, 36-year-old man more comfortable in his fantasy life as "The Smartest Kid on Earth" than in the pathetic reality of his lonely existence. One day Jimmy receives a letter from the father he never knew, casually requesting a visit from his ...moreChris Ware - Writer & Artist

A gorgeously rendered, achingly sad novel in comic form, Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth is a masterpiece of graphic novel fiction. The story follows the titular protagonist, an emotionally-stunted, 36-year-old man more comfortable in his fantasy life as "The Smartest Kid on Earth" than in the pathetic reality of his lonely existence. One day Jimmy receives a letter from the father he never knew, casually requesting a visit from his long-abandoned son. Unsure what to do or even how he feels about this man he has never met, Jimmy is swept along on a tragi-comic journey to try bring some understanding and resolution to his own sad, messy life.

At times the structure of the graphic novel can be challenging for readers. The characters easily lapse into fantasy (which the reader is privvy to) and the stories of four generations of male Corrigans' are explored, which can be confusing as narrative switches occur abruptly and all four Corrigans' bear the same bald pate and slouching, doughy physique making it difficult upon first glance to differentiate between them. However, readers who manage to overcome the minor idiosyncrocies of this book will be richly rewarded. The art is simply amazing -- Chris Ware employs a spare and iconic syle (thank you, Publisher's Weekly) that is as effective at portraying the massive, architectural complexity of a Worlds' Fair as it is at portraying the lonely isolation of an abandoned child. I found myself re-reading passages just to be able to appreciate the delicate beauty of Ware's art; the man can communicate deep, profound sadness and loss in just four precise panels. Similarly, the story is trimmed of any unnecessary elements leaving a spare, sad and beautifully resonant story.

Finally, I want to touch upon the book as an actual, physical item. God, they say, is in the details. Rarely has this seemed more true than with Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth. The book is lush with detail: florid prose, seemingly ripped from turn-of-the-century pulp comics, encourages and exhortates the reader from front and back cover. Various types of diorama corresponding to events in the story are provided at intervals, complete with tongue-in-cheek assembly instructions (as if any reader would be so foolish as to take a pair of scissors to such a gorgeously constructed book). This is the rare example of a graphic novel collection adding up to more than the sum of its' parts.

I rate this book 5/5 stars. Highly recommended.(less)

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Jun 25, 2010

Nicki rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, graphic-novels

Jimmy Corrigan is a self-conscious, mother-pleasing, middle-aged man who is still encased in the unshed angst of a teenager. After getting an invitation to visit his father, whom he’s never met, he sets off on what becomes quite a little adventure compared to his uneventful life. That’s Jimmy Corrigan, the character, in a nutshell. But Jimmy Corrigan, the book, is so much more.

Every time Miguel would look to see what page I was on, he’d declare, “You’re reading it too fast!” In...moreJimmy Corrigan is a self-conscious, mother-pleasing, middle-aged man who is still encased in the unshed angst of a teenager. After getting an invitation to visit his father, whom he’s never met, he sets off on what becomes quite a little adventure compared to his uneventful life. That’s Jimmy Corrigan, the character, in a nutshell. But Jimmy Corrigan, the book, is so much more.

Every time Miguel would look to see what page I was on, he’d declare, “You’re reading it too fast!” Indeed, with so much visual richness, it’s not a book to be rushed through, but experienced. If I was reading fast it’s only because I couldn’t put it down once I started.

I’ve heard Jimmy described as a miserable and pathetic loser. While most would agree that he is sad, it’s interesting to note that there’s very little self-pity in Corrigan’s character. He doesn’t protest his lot in life, he rarely complains or grumbles. Even in the images of his private world and thoughts, there are no blatant confessions of unhappiness. And there’s something very endearing, innocent, and sweet about Jimmy. There were times when I just wanted to pick him up and squeeze him and tell him that everything’s alright. Unlike so many other angst-ridden characters, it’s not difficult to empathize with Jimmy.

The drawings and layout of this graphic novel border on being downright cinematic. At times, it’s like looking at a flip book, only in slow motion and with dialogue. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to graphic novels, but I’ve never read one that conveys a better sense of time and movement.

The landscape is impressive. The setting superbly reflects the melancholy alienation of the characters. There’s a particularly affecting set of images that contain, among other things, a silhouette of the McDonald’s arches. Someone once described such establishments to me as “islands in a sea of asphalt.” The characters themselves are, in a way, like islands.

Ware also sets the stage for certain scenes with wordless pages which are so artfully done that you can sense what the air feels like, smells like, sounds like, all of which enhances your emotional connection to the scene. Throughout the novel, some panels are wildly detailed while others are minimalistic. Ware seems to know just how many and which specific details will best match the mood of the moment.

Thought and emotion is masterfully conveyed by flashing back and forth between imagination and reality in a way that feels realistic and believable. There are several parallel storylines in addition to extended daydreams and all the different threads overlap and connect together magnificently.

One of the things that I value most in a writer is their ability to tell you without telling you. This book just might be my new favorite example of that. Once you’ve put the pieces together it gives you a sense of mind-blowing accomplishment, as though you’ve just solved a riddle. That leads me to perhaps my favorite thing about this book. It demands something of you. This is not a book for passive readers who want all the conclusions and meanings spelled out for them. This book asks that you, as the reader, reach between the layers to uncover the significance of events, to experience the irony, to complete the puzzle.

Jimmy Corrigan is an artfully interwoven tapestry of realism, fantasy, and flashback. It is both innovative and intelligent.
(less)

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Mar 01, 2010

bup rated it

· review of another edition

God help me, but I'm addicted to lists. So when I saw a goodreads friend had a shelf of 'Guardian 1000' top novels, I had to know what it was. So far I've been able to resist the temptation to make my own shelf at goodreads to keep track of it, but I did download the list from the Guardian website and import it into a spreadsheet. The list doesn't quite ping my O/C tracking instinct enough, though, because among the books I noticed a misspelled author's name, an entry for the 'book' "The C...more

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Feb 17, 2010

Nicole rated it

· review of another edition

I could not put it down once I started. I was immediately drawn in to Jimmy's character and eager to uncover his background. He's a middle-aged homely man, with a low self-esteem who is constantly overlooked by all of those around him, except for his overbearing mother. His life is interrupted by an attempt at reconciliation by his estranged father. Jimmy decides to meet his father, and things that are uncovered seem basic, but Chris Ware, the author, is a genius at subtle allusions so the reade...more

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Feb 07, 2010

Mark rated it

· review of another edition

I'm going through a graphic novel phase right now and this one is part of that newly-established canon. Unlike some of the others on that list (Maus, Blankets) I had a really hard time getting into the character. His story is simply miserable in every way. He's a lonely middle-aged loser getting back in touch with a father who more or less abandoned him. Ware intercuts with stories of older generations of Corrigans, who led lives that were equally miserable.

Much has been said ab...more

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Nov 10, 2009

Emily rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2003

One of the books I lugged to St. Louis with me was a paperback version of Chris Ware's award-winning Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid in the World, a surprisingly introspective graphic novel that originally appeared as a serial "cartoon" in a Chicago magazine.

It is the story of a withdrawn middle-aged man, blown sideways through life, who one day gets a letter from his long-lost biological father, casually asking him to come for a visit. The story of Jimmy's visit to his fath...moreOne of the books I lugged to St. Louis with me was a paperback version of Chris Ware's award-winning Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid in the World, a surprisingly introspective graphic novel that originally appeared as a serial "cartoon" in a Chicago magazine.

It is the story of a withdrawn middle-aged man, blown sideways through life, who one day gets a letter from his long-lost biological father, casually asking him to come for a visit. The story of Jimmy's visit to his father Billy alternates with that of Billy's father--also called Jimmy--who was abandoned by his own father at the Chicago World Fair at the age of nine. Both Jimmys look the same, so the point about abandonment breeding abandonment is clear. Sometimes one or the other of the Jimmys will drift into a reverie, which can be confusing. It takes time, but all the different symbols, images and people do eventually coalesce into a story which isn't about any specific Jimmy at all.

There is nothing cartoon-like here--it's clean, sometimes plain, modern graphic design. Pantheon has posted two pages of the book: one maps the origin of the woman Jimmy meets as his adopted stepsister; the other is from the historical section. Neither of these is a particularly striking example of the filmic quality of Ware's layout. Sometimes two panels will be nearly identical, except for the position of a character's eyes. On one page, we see a group of houses from street level, then from slightly above, to suggest a plane taking off. It is almost as though Ware were displaying a series of still frames from a movie. Some of the tiniest panels show nothing but grass moving in the wind, or an unoccupied chair. But turn the page and you may find a grand architectural drawing.

This book is unexpectedly poignant, sometimes even depressing--but it is also moving, and the illustrations are used to great effect, in a way that finally breaks free of the paradigm introduced by Art Spiegelman in both content and the use of the graphic form.(less)

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Jul 29, 2009

M. Rephun rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone who isn't scared off by books that are challenging and depressing

Recommended to M. by: discovered it on my own

I don't have much to add about Chris Ware's brilliant graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan: The smartest kid on Earth, that hasn't already been said. Yes, it is incredibly sad. The characters move like ghosts through the alienated landscape they inhabit, and their loneliness is palpable. When the title character, a doughy, middle-aged loner, stammers that he just wants people to like him, it hits home in ways that are almost disturbing.
Some may be put off at first by the book's dense symbolism a...more

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Aug 06, 2010

Cindy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

This is a beautiful graphic novel - almost 400 pages telling the story of the Corrigan family, which includes various men named Jimmy Corrigan. The art is beautiful, and the pacing is slow, and it all just adds to the enormously enveloping feeling of loneliness - I think especially the loneliness of a child - which comes through from the story.

The storyline may be confusing at first - what is present day, what is the past, what are dreams - but it’s worth sticking to. And again, the ...more

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Aug 14, 2007

Jerome K rated it

· review of another edition

Oh yes. Get this book. It's crazy. It's so minutely crafted you can just spend hours and hours looking at Chris Ware's intricate imagination (which he makes fun of) and non-linear narrative style. The story, layered like lasagna, is about Jimmy Corrigan's life, imagined and real. It's a loser's life, mired in paranoia and abyssal self esteem. But he makes a decision to meet his estranged dad, and it takes him on the adventure of a lifetime. A heartbreaking journey.

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May 14, 2009

Longdivi rated it

· review of another edition

Some people don't like Chris Ware's work because it's too literary, or depressing, or self-deprecating. I might find myself agreeing with them if this book wasn't so impeccable stylistically. The layout, colors, quality of line, lettering--it all works so well, I find it irresistible. And the writing is very good, too. Again, it might be too restrained and somber for some, but the quality is undeniable.

I've read reviewers compare this book to ULYSSES by James Joyce, citing its ob...more

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Apr 06, 2007

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

If anyone, anywhere still needs to be convinced that graphic-novels can match traditional novels in artistic achievement, give them this book. Chris Ware's art perfectly balances this slow, complex, tragic tale of human emotion and lonliness. His technical skill and inovative panel layouts stretch sequential art to its limits, and never hit a false note. One of the most touching and memorable novels, graphic or otherwise, that I have ever read.

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Feb 09, 2010

Brendan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 1996-2007, 2010, comics, fiction, humor

I read Jimmy Corrigan several years ago when I was still living in Florida. It's always stuck with me as remarkable and amazing, something I got to tell Chris Ware when I had dinner with him, Art Spegelman, Scott McCloud, and a couple other English department people a few years ago. But after reading Arterios Polyp a couple weeks ago, I decided to take another look at Jimmy Corrigan.

Ware's graphic novel tells the wide ranging story of three generations of Jimmy Corrigans, the first a...moreI read Jimmy Corrigan several years ago when I was still living in Florida. It's always stuck with me as remarkable and amazing, something I got to tell Chris Ware when I had dinner with him, Art Spegelman, Scott McCloud, and a couple other English department people a few years ago. But after reading Arterios Polyp a couple weeks ago, I decided to take another look at Jimmy Corrigan.

Ware's graphic novel tells the wide ranging story of three generations of Jimmy Corrigans, the first a boy during the 1893 Columbian exposition in Chicago. The youngest, now a man in his thirties(?), goes to meet his previously-absent father, during which they have many uncomfortable conversations. It's funny and dark and awesome all at once: Charlie Brown on steroids. Some additional thoughts:

* Man this book is sad. I remember thinking it was gloomy before, but returning to it now, I'm amazed at the everyday melancholy Ware captures in the mundane details of the Shlubby main character(s). There are numerous moments of uncomfortable silence, with characters muttering inanities or saying nothing. Ware adds sound effects that highlight the silence--little coughs or scratches.
* The art remains incredible. Ware brings a sure, draftsmans hand to the images, with crisp lines and loving attention paid to buildings and the like. The spreads showing the genealogical evolution of the characters are genius, with arrows and flows guiding the eye nicely.
* All the people are a little grotesque, particularly anyone of the Corrigan line: they have distinctive under-eye pouches and beady eyes and puffy, unattractive bodies. The word schlub comes to mind.
* The dysfunction that shapes the lives of all three Jimmys stands out as the central force shaping the work. That, and the presence of unattainable red-haired girls (a nod to Charlie Brown?). The first Jimmy's dad makes the book especially grim, and reminds us of the dark forces shaping the working class (actually, he's a craftsman) in the 1890s.

But the way the story weaves together is pretty darn fantastic. Just talking about it makes me want to go back and look at the art again.(less)

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Jan 18, 2010

Nicole rated it

· review of another edition

I’m familiar with other stuff from Ware, but had never read this. Since The New Yorker called it “the first formal masterpiece of the medium” (man, is The New Yorker ever pretentious sometimes), and since it’s a good ten years old, I figured I should get around to reading it.

Well, it’s completely amazing, but it made me want to die. Seriously, I think it may be one of the saddest books I’ve ever read. I get more emotional about graphic novels in general, probably because of the addit...more

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Apr 03, 2010

Jason rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-2010

When I fist picked this up I was thinking of a Jimmy Neutron type of book about a kid who either is or dreams of being a super-genius, who has some wacky and zany adventures and manages to save the day in some way. This is not that type of book.

This is a book about three generations of absolutely screwed up father-son relationships told in a sometimes simple, sometimes confusing manner. It is a depressing book because in it people are awful in that completely believable way that peop...more

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Feb 16, 2011

Snotchocheez rated it

· review of another edition

Protruding irresistably from the uniform lineup of mundane "W" titles at our local library was this multicolored anomaly, a (gasp) Graphic Novel! (If you knew the slim offerings of our library, you'd know what a novelty this is). In the past three years, I'd tried on two other separate occasions to plow through its riches; perhaps because it's a format of fiction I'd not cottoned to in the past, I never could force myself to give it more than a token few minutes at a time to randomly...more

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Oct 29, 2010

Fabian rated it

· review of another edition

I guess I understand why people consider this a masterpiece. I, myself not a wholehearted admirer of the graphic novel, am usually very surprised by the narrative techniques and posh styles used in famous comics like "Watchmen", "Maus" and, most recently, "Ghost World". This one is said to "elevate the medium" to another level and it kinda sorta does: like witnessing Jim Carrey going from funnyman to dramatic acteur! The story is so droll, boring, sad... d...more

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Jan 29, 2011

Lukeetc rated it

· review of another edition

Singlehandedly offers enough raw emotional impact and masterful storytelling to shut up anybody *still* not convinced that graphic novels are a valid medium for "grownup stuff". You know those books where you finish them, and instantly want to read them again? 'Jimmy Corrigan' is one of those, not least because, even as you're enjoying it and having your heartstrings tweaked in subtle ways, you get the feeling that Chris Ware is just a bit cleverer than you are, and as such you're miss...more

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About Chris Ware

Most well-known for his Acme Novelty library series and Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth. His works explore themes of social isolation, emotional torment and depression.

Some of his best known characters are Quimby the Mouse and Rusty Brown.

More about Chris Ware...

Books by Chris Ware

Quimby the Mouse: Or Comic Strips, 1990-1991

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Quotes from Jimmy Corrigan, the Sm...

“METAPHOR: A tightly fitting suit of metal, generally tin, which entirely encloses the wearer, both impeding free movement and preventing emotional expression and/or social contact.” — 5 people liked it

“I guess we all make choices as to how we want to live, right?” — 1 person liked it

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Groups That Shelved Jimmy Corrigan, t...

500 Essential Graphic Novels

209 members

last activity Jan 22, 2012 06:41pm

shelf: read

Chicago Style

19 members

last activity Jan 23, 2012 07:48am

shelf: read

title link	preview: Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth
avg rating	preview: Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth Goodreads rating: 4.17 (5679 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/321821.Jimmy_Corrigan?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881660m/321821.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/321821.Jimmy_Corrigan?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware[/url]

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

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