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Julio's Day (Love and Rockets)
It begins in the year 1900, with the scream of a newborn. It ends, 100 pages later, in the year 2000, with the death rattle of a 100-year-old man. The infant and the old man are both Julio, and Gilbert Hernandez's Julio's Day (originally serialized in Love and Rockets Vol. II but never completed until now) is his latest graphic novel, a masterpiece of elliptical, emotional
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Hardcover, 100 pages
Published
April 20th 2013
by Fantagraphics
(first published January 9th 2013)
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Gilbert Hernandez’s latest comic, Julio’s Day, tells the story of Julio, a Mexican gay man born in 1900 and who dies in 2000, and takes the format of telling the 100 year life of Julio in 100 pages. The book follows the lives of Julio and his family, and his friends and acquaintances that make up the small town they live in and how their lives change over the course of growing up alongside the major events of the 20th century. It’s a deep, complex, and absolutely captivating story filled with th
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The blue worms parts really freaked me out. If you want to save yourself time-and personal embarrassment-don't bother googling blue worms. It's not a real thing-according to my extensive internet research (google.)
Nice reminder that I never would have lasted a week in Art School. Not that I can't appreciate Julio's design merit, but I have no idea why critics call the artistic storytelling perfection.
If a family tree at the beginning of a book typically indicates that you might have a hard time keeping tracking of the characters, I guess a family tree with five drawn depictions (at different ages) of the each characters is a sign you might as well not even try.
If a family tree at the beginning of a book typically indicates that you might have a hard time keeping tracking of the characters, I guess a family tree with five drawn depictions (at different ages) of the each characters is a sign you might as well not even try.
Got much much better as the story unfolded. Predicted I was going to hate it the first twentyish pages. Turned around completely once Sofia has her Julio child.
So many intricate details weaving in and out I thought I would lose track, but surprisingly everything made sense. The concept of time and death wanders around much like that kid who left his family, and thus Julio's 100 years seems more of a singular story rather than an entire life, which is brilliant storytelling. The blue worms stuff ...more
So many intricate details weaving in and out I thought I would lose track, but surprisingly everything made sense. The concept of time and death wanders around much like that kid who left his family, and thus Julio's 100 years seems more of a singular story rather than an entire life, which is brilliant storytelling. The blue worms stuff ...more
Did not care for this one as much as most of this genius's other works.
The super-choppy editing style made the story-line seem fragmented and almost incoherent.
The super-choppy editing style made the story-line seem fragmented and almost incoherent.
A beautiful and perfect masterpiece. I've always admired and respected Gilbert Hernandez, but this is the first work of his that engaged me on a deep emotional level. Sparse and vast, wise and humble, this may be my favorite book of the year.
Book blurb: It begins in the year 1900, with the scream of a newborn. It ends, 100 pages later, in the year 2000, with the death rattle of a 100-year-old man. The infant and the old man are both Julio.
This graphic novel covers 100 years of history in 100 pages, and is done in an interesting manner: the juxtaposition of personal lives against historical/global events. All things do not make sense in the end, but that is kinda like life no? Why did Julio's father go walkabout? Threads merge and di ...more
This graphic novel covers 100 years of history in 100 pages, and is done in an interesting manner: the juxtaposition of personal lives against historical/global events. All things do not make sense in the end, but that is kinda like life no? Why did Julio's father go walkabout? Threads merge and di ...more
Gilbert Hernandez is back! Julio's Day is written in Palomar mode: multi-generational southwestern family epics, characters with variations of the same name (i.e. Julio, Juan, Julio Juan, etc), brutal twists of fate, hidden love, dark secrets, violence, sex, international politics affecting small town life. This isn't Palomar, but it shares a similar One Hundred Years of Solitude feel, except where Gabby Marquez is precious and depressive, Hernandez is more violent, twisted and existential.
Here ...more
Here ...more
Junot Diaz says this is a masterpiece, and I figure he, the writer of masterpieces, would know, so I picked it up just as it came brand new into our library and read it yesterday. The concept is a kind of challenge he would seem to have made to himself: in exactly 100 pages, tell the life of one ordinary man, born in 1900 and died in 2000, and in the process humanize him, make him come alive, make readers care about him, and to boot: in true novel fashion, make us care about the people and circu
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Apr 01, 2015
Maria Ella
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Tricia
Recommended to Maria Ella by:
Junot Diaz
So quiet and so subtle but very captivating. The premise of presenting a Saga - a story spanning a hundred years - is so amusing especially if it is only via 100 pages.
The culture and the history is presented with few speech bubbles, and some of the scenes does not make any sense, but that is also true with culture and history and life in general. You do not need speech bubbles to tell everything. You see the plot and its development amd conclusion in these black and white sketches.
On a persona ...more
The culture and the history is presented with few speech bubbles, and some of the scenes does not make any sense, but that is also true with culture and history and life in general. You do not need speech bubbles to tell everything. You see the plot and its development amd conclusion in these black and white sketches.
On a persona ...more
I was very confused -- because I went straight into the novel without reading the introduction -- but as I read on I picked up the movement quickly and I completely indulged the story and the progress of Julio's life. I was very eager to know what would happen and where everyone would end up. It's absolutely compelling and warm from page to page. I really love it; I read it in 2 hours. I was left thinking about it and exploring its contents afterwards, even now. It struck a definite interest wit
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Geesh.
I thought the premise for this title was so interesting. One hundred pages, each one for each year of Julio's life. We get to see Julio grow up and witness 100 years of events, from 1900 to 2000. Except the only reason I know any of this is from the introduction. Yes, some of the events are mentioned, mostly wars, but there's nothing that tells me that he dies at 100 or is born in 1900.
But I suppose if the story itself was interesting, then this omission of detail, only given away in the i ...more
I thought the premise for this title was so interesting. One hundred pages, each one for each year of Julio's life. We get to see Julio grow up and witness 100 years of events, from 1900 to 2000. Except the only reason I know any of this is from the introduction. Yes, some of the events are mentioned, mostly wars, but there's nothing that tells me that he dies at 100 or is born in 1900.
But I suppose if the story itself was interesting, then this omission of detail, only given away in the i ...more
Really disappointed in this. I was hoping for a book about what it is like for Mexican immigrant in the USA. This book was fast paced and minimal dialogue, which ruined this book. All of the characters looked similar,and I can't figure why it is called Julio's Day when it seemed to focus on random people at different times,and not on the main. character. Also there was no separate spots between times,as it just ran on. No chapters or any thing to suggest that so many years had passed.
Another stunning piece of work from Beto. In 100 pages he illuminates the life of Julio from birth (1900) to death (2000). There's a wonderful simplicity here (the panels, the language) that hits just the right pacing - just enough information and time spent to allow the reader to develop a true sense of care and concern for Julio and all the characters in this community. It's such a blessing that the Bros Hernandez still put out such quality work.
Beautiful and at times surreal...a snapshot of a century through the experiences of one family.
I'm more than familiar with the Hernandez Bros. and their work, although this is the first time I've actually read one of their books. The various Love and Rockets titles have been on my "to read" list for years...and now I'm quite anxious and excited to seek them out and finally immerse myself in them.
Obviously I was drawn to this title because of the titular character...and in actuality there are sev ...more
I'm more than familiar with the Hernandez Bros. and their work, although this is the first time I've actually read one of their books. The various Love and Rockets titles have been on my "to read" list for years...and now I'm quite anxious and excited to seek them out and finally immerse myself in them.
Obviously I was drawn to this title because of the titular character...and in actuality there are sev ...more
I loved this graphics... reminded me of David B. and the content reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Its a story about the day Julio was born until the day he died at the age of 100. And you can see the transformations during that same period and also follow the members of his family.
I wanna read more from this guy... thats for sure. ...more
I wanna read more from this guy... thats for sure. ...more
I have been a fan of Gilbert Hernandez ever since I first read the hefty hardcover collection Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories a few years back; so when I stumbled across this relatively shorter piece by him in the library, I could not resist picking it up. And I am glad I did.
Julio's Day is both very typical Gilbert Hernandez, with a focus on place and people, and somewhat different from that previous collection I read. Here we follow Julio from his birth to his death, but the narrative i ...more
Julio's Day is both very typical Gilbert Hernandez, with a focus on place and people, and somewhat different from that previous collection I read. Here we follow Julio from his birth to his death, but the narrative i ...more
JULIO’S DAY is another funny, touching, beautiful work by Gilbert Hernández. His style here is epic, following the title character from birth to death over 100 pages of his 100 years. It’s an intimate portrait of a repressed man and a tumultuous century, but told with restraint. Unlike MARBLE SEASON, which I read just before this, there is a more expressive brushwork at play, which reflects that larger canvas tale. Nature is an active character, expressed often in almost abstract strokes that ar
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Disjointed review.
I still don't understand why Julio's father went on that trip.
I don't like the implication that homosexuality is caused by childhood sexual trauma.
This story was quite interesting in scope and style.
I still don't understand why Julio's father went on that trip.
I don't like the implication that homosexuality is caused by childhood sexual trauma.
This story was quite interesting in scope and style.
Read this sitting in the library. Brilliant and sad depiction of a life. Also has some uplift as one character does actually get out of the cycles.
after I read this I spent a couple minutes googling "blue worm poisioning" in many variations to see if it was actually a thing.
This is beautiful. The only disappoint is that, like the lives of his characters, it's over too soon.
This was a good novel, but really depressing. Grotesque, droning, and... Yeah. Maybe it wasn't so good.
loved it. from beginning to end. one of beto's best.
Sometimes I wonder about whether the things I read count as "books" towards my Goodreads reading challenge. Am I "cheating" if I count novellas? Art books? Slim volumes of poetry? Graphic novels? I usually count the first three, and not the fourth. It's a distinction that only matters to me, of course, but I mention it because I have no such hesitation about Julio's Day.
Not only should it count, it will probably be one of the best books I'll read all year.
Gilbert and Jamie Hernandez have been st ...more
Not only should it count, it will probably be one of the best books I'll read all year.
Gilbert and Jamie Hernandez have been st ...more
Julio's Day is a lovely, poignant portrayal of a Hispanic community in the Southwest through the eyes of Julio whom we meet on the day of his birth in 1900. The first panel is the wide open mouth of a baby newly born. Each page of the graphic novel is a year in Julio's life, and through him we experience not only his own life and that of his family, but also the major historical and cultural events of the 20th century. Funny, sad, warm, and difficult, we experience the relationships that Julio h
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I wanted to give this a higher rating, but I just didn't enjoy it at all. There was a lot of disturbing imagery (and I'm left wondering why the author made up a fictional disease when this book is otherwise realistic and historically accurate). I didn't connect with any of the characters, and there was so much left unsaid...which is certainly intentional but it didn't work for me.
Many people loved this, so don't discount it based on my review alone.
Many people loved this, so don't discount it based on my review alone.
this is a very concentrated book, distilled down to the essentials and considering the dramatic sweep of julio's life, maybe too concentrated. i would have loved more, but what was there was incredible. people who don't usually read graphic novels might find this one hard to follow--but it is short enough to pick up and read often. try it...
I found Julio's Day on a LGBT Graphic Novels list (https://www.equalli.com/blog/the-lgbt...) and brought it home from the library. It's the story of a man, Julio who is born in 1900 and dies 100 years later in 2000. Julio is closeted and lives with his mother throughout his entire life. I had trouble following the story. It felt choppy in many parts. The transitions were nearly non-existent. The book is a great concept and the drawings well executed. I just wish the story were stronger. I had a
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I really have to stop reading those 'Top 100 Graphic Novels' lists. This work follows the 100 year life of Julio, a man who ends up watching others do things with their lives while he watches with a blank expression. Why? Don't know and don't care after reading this.
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Gilbert and his brother Jaime Hernández often write together under the name "Los Bros Hernandez".
Gilbert Hernandez, born in 1957, enjoyed a pleasant childhood in Oxnard, California, with four brothers and one sister. In Gilbert’s words, they were “born into a world with comic books in the house.” His childhood enthusiasm for the medium was equaled only by his appetite for punk rock.
Initiated by ol ...more
More about Gilbert Hernández...
Gilbert Hernandez, born in 1957, enjoyed a pleasant childhood in Oxnard, California, with four brothers and one sister. In Gilbert’s words, they were “born into a world with comic books in the house.” His childhood enthusiasm for the medium was equaled only by his appetite for punk rock.
Initiated by ol ...more
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Dec 24, 2013 10:51AM
It seems hallucinatory because of the father's cartoonishly swollen belly, but I took it to be real though there are dream sequences ...more
Dec 24, 2013 11:20AM