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Kmart Shoes
This is the true story of Lance Ward's journey in and out of high school and his fights against abusive and uncaring family members, school yard bullies, and his own sense of self-worth. With his family in poverty, Lance grew up on sardine sandwiches and cabbage soup. He wore $8 shoes and tolerated hostile classmates and the nickname Kmart Shoes. On some days, Ward battled drug addiction and felony charges, on others he just needed to find a place to sleep in his own home. After a con man screw up his life, Ward’s mother kicked him out, his father didn’t want him, and the military wouldn’t take him. Only one thing kept him going – he could draw. Now, years later, Lance looks back and tells us his story in raw, honest detail. An in-your-face story of struggle and survival that is heart-breaking, comical, sad and triumphant.
- GenresMemoirGraphic Novels
164 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 16, 2012
Kmart Shoes
-Introduction by Mark McGinty
Raw. In your face. Honest. Real.
This is the true story of Lance Ward’s journey and his struggle to find acceptance from both family and society. He bounced from job to job and just when he seemed to figure things out would encounter some unexpected heart-breaking setback (like the time a notebook holding years of artwork was stolen, or the time he was swindled into committing a felony, or the time he failed to slit his own wrist).
Ward’s constant movement between his divorced mother’s and father’s homes is a foreign and sad concept to anyone who grew up in a stable family environment. Especially since the circumstances at both locations were often dire. Somehow Lance came out okay.
I've known Lance for years, but I never knew he went through all of this. And somehow the guy has managed to survive and become one of the most talented autobiographical cartoonists of the day. Drawn with vivid honesty and told from a perspective of present-day reflection, this is the unfiltered tell-all autobiography of a man who struggled with drugs, the law, the US military’s weight requirement, a cocaine addiction, a love of cigarettes, a hatred for alcohol, and a con man who seriously fucked up his life. It was inspirational to learn how he was able to rise above all the garbage and make a life for himself. It was sad and often depressing to see how close he would get to a dream, only to have it shatter miserably. But Lance kept going and now tells us his tale in this emotionally detailed graphic novel. This is not for children. With plenty of adult themes, sexual situations, drug use, and scenes of graphic violence, every drop of blood, every line of coke, every hand-drawn penis is completely appropriate. I couldn't put it down. It is the diary of a survivor’s mind. I feel stronger just having read the thing. I can only image how Ward feels having lived it.
-Introduction by Mark McGinty
Raw. In your face. Honest. Real.
This is the true story of Lance Ward’s journey and his struggle to find acceptance from both family and society. He bounced from job to job and just when he seemed to figure things out would encounter some unexpected heart-breaking setback (like the time a notebook holding years of artwork was stolen, or the time he was swindled into committing a felony, or the time he failed to slit his own wrist).
Ward’s constant movement between his divorced mother’s and father’s homes is a foreign and sad concept to anyone who grew up in a stable family environment. Especially since the circumstances at both locations were often dire. Somehow Lance came out okay.
I've known Lance for years, but I never knew he went through all of this. And somehow the guy has managed to survive and become one of the most talented autobiographical cartoonists of the day. Drawn with vivid honesty and told from a perspective of present-day reflection, this is the unfiltered tell-all autobiography of a man who struggled with drugs, the law, the US military’s weight requirement, a cocaine addiction, a love of cigarettes, a hatred for alcohol, and a con man who seriously fucked up his life. It was inspirational to learn how he was able to rise above all the garbage and make a life for himself. It was sad and often depressing to see how close he would get to a dream, only to have it shatter miserably. But Lance kept going and now tells us his tale in this emotionally detailed graphic novel. This is not for children. With plenty of adult themes, sexual situations, drug use, and scenes of graphic violence, every drop of blood, every line of coke, every hand-drawn penis is completely appropriate. I couldn't put it down. It is the diary of a survivor’s mind. I feel stronger just having read the thing. I can only image how Ward feels having lived it.
December 29, 2018
Lance was kind enough to send me a new comic he's working on (working title: "Blood & Drugs"), and I was immediately taken by it. Birdcage Bottom Books (my comics press) will be publishing it in late 2019.
I've been reading his back catalog of self-published work, and I started with "I Thought You Were Dead" (which collects "Kmart Shoes", "Adults Only", and "Radio Daze"), a frank autobiography of his early life. No details, no matter how damning or embarrassing, are omitted in painting a childhood full of humiliation and abuse. Ward somehow keeps his head up throughout.
These comics were drawn hastily ("Blood & Drugs" barely looks like it was drawn by the same artist...an accident resulting in a crushed drawing hand seems to have somehow benefited Ward!) in an effort to get it all out on the page. Ward admits that he wants to tell these stories in an effort to keep himself from dwelling on the past, to stop obsessing over the wrongs that have been done to him, by him or to himself by himself), and I sincerely hope they've proved therapeutic.
I've been reading his back catalog of self-published work, and I started with "I Thought You Were Dead" (which collects "Kmart Shoes", "Adults Only", and "Radio Daze"), a frank autobiography of his early life. No details, no matter how damning or embarrassing, are omitted in painting a childhood full of humiliation and abuse. Ward somehow keeps his head up throughout.
These comics were drawn hastily ("Blood & Drugs" barely looks like it was drawn by the same artist...an accident resulting in a crushed drawing hand seems to have somehow benefited Ward!) in an effort to get it all out on the page. Ward admits that he wants to tell these stories in an effort to keep himself from dwelling on the past, to stop obsessing over the wrongs that have been done to him, by him or to himself by himself), and I sincerely hope they've proved therapeutic.
March 31, 2012
Raw. In your face. Honest. Real. A true story of struggle and survival that is heart-breaking, comical, sad and triumphant.
This is the true story of Lance Ward's journey in and out of high school and his fights against abusive and uncaring family members, school yard bullies, and his own sense of self-worth. One some days, Ward is dealing with addiction and felony charges, on other days, he is just trying to find a place to sleep in his own home. For someone who grew up in a stable family environment, Ward's constant movement between his divorced mother's and father's homes was a foreign and sad concept. Especially since the circumstances at both locations were often dire. He struggled to find acceptance from both family and classmates, bounced from job to job and just when he seemed to figure things out, would encounter some unexpected heart-breaking setback (Like the time a notebook holding years of artwork was stolen, or the time he was swindled into committing a felony, or the time he failed to slit his own wrist).
I've known Lance for years, but I never knew he went through all of this. And somehow the guy has managed to survive and become one of the most talented autobiographical cartoonists of the day. Drawn in beautiful vivid watercolor and told from a perspective of present-day reflection, this is the honest tell-all biography of a man who struggled with drugs, the law, the US military's weight requirement, a love of cigarettes and hatred for alcohol, a cocaine addiction and a con man who seriously fucked up his life, and somehow came out okay. It was inspirational to learn how Ward was able to rise above all the garbage and make a life for himself. It was sad and often depressing to see how close he would get to a dream, only to have it shatter miserably. But Lance kept going and now tells us his tale in an amazing full-color graphic novel. This is not for children. Contains adult themes, sexual situations, drug use, and scenes of graphic violence and yet every drop of blood, every line of coke, every hand-drawn penis is completely appropriate. I couldn't put this thing down. It was the diary of a survivor's mind. I feel stronger just having read the thing. I can only image how Ward feels having lived it.
This is the true story of Lance Ward's journey in and out of high school and his fights against abusive and uncaring family members, school yard bullies, and his own sense of self-worth. One some days, Ward is dealing with addiction and felony charges, on other days, he is just trying to find a place to sleep in his own home. For someone who grew up in a stable family environment, Ward's constant movement between his divorced mother's and father's homes was a foreign and sad concept. Especially since the circumstances at both locations were often dire. He struggled to find acceptance from both family and classmates, bounced from job to job and just when he seemed to figure things out, would encounter some unexpected heart-breaking setback (Like the time a notebook holding years of artwork was stolen, or the time he was swindled into committing a felony, or the time he failed to slit his own wrist).
I've known Lance for years, but I never knew he went through all of this. And somehow the guy has managed to survive and become one of the most talented autobiographical cartoonists of the day. Drawn in beautiful vivid watercolor and told from a perspective of present-day reflection, this is the honest tell-all biography of a man who struggled with drugs, the law, the US military's weight requirement, a love of cigarettes and hatred for alcohol, a cocaine addiction and a con man who seriously fucked up his life, and somehow came out okay. It was inspirational to learn how Ward was able to rise above all the garbage and make a life for himself. It was sad and often depressing to see how close he would get to a dream, only to have it shatter miserably. But Lance kept going and now tells us his tale in an amazing full-color graphic novel. This is not for children. Contains adult themes, sexual situations, drug use, and scenes of graphic violence and yet every drop of blood, every line of coke, every hand-drawn penis is completely appropriate. I couldn't put this thing down. It was the diary of a survivor's mind. I feel stronger just having read the thing. I can only image how Ward feels having lived it.
October 18, 2012
Lance Ward grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in small town Minnesota. Being poor didn't matter until the day his parents split up and his dad moved away. That is when Lance and his sister Wendy began to feel poor. They grew up eating cabbage soup and sardine sandwiches, wearing second hand clothes and dime store shoes. Lance endured teasing and his mother's abusive boyfriend as his life began to spiral out of control.
Lance and his father had a tense relationship. Lance was artistic, not athletic and didn't live up to his father's expectations. Dad didn't want him anymore and his mother treated Lance as a guest in their home as he was forced to sleep on the couch and abandon his bedroom space. Yet Lance had a gift, he could draw. Drawing was Lance's way to escape and this gave him hope.
Lance draws and tells the true story of his life growing up disillusioned and disheartened. Kmart Shoes is a gritty graphic novel that throws out punches as Lance struggles to survive and find love. Some people are lucky to grow up and have everything they want but not Lance. Lance is a survivor of a tragic childhood and his book is a triumph of his will to endure and survive.
Lance is a well known cartoonist and comedic artist. The artwork in Kmart Shoes is done in black, white and muted gray. His artwork is drawn with heart and humor and it might just make you cry. Lance is able to tell his sad story with attitude and charisma. He offers up lessons of hope as he lives the mantra, Don't ever give up.
As you read Kmart Shoes, look for the bearded guy in the corner. That is where you will find Lance, playing with his kids, creating his art and enduring.
Lance and his father had a tense relationship. Lance was artistic, not athletic and didn't live up to his father's expectations. Dad didn't want him anymore and his mother treated Lance as a guest in their home as he was forced to sleep on the couch and abandon his bedroom space. Yet Lance had a gift, he could draw. Drawing was Lance's way to escape and this gave him hope.
Lance draws and tells the true story of his life growing up disillusioned and disheartened. Kmart Shoes is a gritty graphic novel that throws out punches as Lance struggles to survive and find love. Some people are lucky to grow up and have everything they want but not Lance. Lance is a survivor of a tragic childhood and his book is a triumph of his will to endure and survive.
Lance is a well known cartoonist and comedic artist. The artwork in Kmart Shoes is done in black, white and muted gray. His artwork is drawn with heart and humor and it might just make you cry. Lance is able to tell his sad story with attitude and charisma. He offers up lessons of hope as he lives the mantra, Don't ever give up.
As you read Kmart Shoes, look for the bearded guy in the corner. That is where you will find Lance, playing with his kids, creating his art and enduring.
October 12, 2012
I did receive the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. So thank you!! This was the first time I have ever read a comic book. So it was a bit different for me. The drawings were pretty kool to look like. I have seen better looking drawings but it wasn't terrible drawings.
There were somethings that I wished he would go into more detail about it wasn't a big deal that he did not. I did like the book though :). The way Ward wrote the book made it seem like he was there just telling you his life story. What I mean by that is that it's told in a really causal way. I cant wait to read another one of his books!
Now by no means was this a light going book though. This was completely real, honest, and just plain emotional book. This book goes through all kinds of problems people have like having your parents go through a divorce, dropping out of school, battling a drug addiction, having suicidal thoughts, and going to jail. I think going through all those things made him stronger as a person and it does help him as a writer (having the experience that some have not). I love that he was able to get passed all that he went through and has a good life going.
There were somethings that I wished he would go into more detail about it wasn't a big deal that he did not. I did like the book though :). The way Ward wrote the book made it seem like he was there just telling you his life story. What I mean by that is that it's told in a really causal way. I cant wait to read another one of his books!
Now by no means was this a light going book though. This was completely real, honest, and just plain emotional book. This book goes through all kinds of problems people have like having your parents go through a divorce, dropping out of school, battling a drug addiction, having suicidal thoughts, and going to jail. I think going through all those things made him stronger as a person and it does help him as a writer (having the experience that some have not). I love that he was able to get passed all that he went through and has a good life going.
Want to Read
September 17, 2012I wore Kmart shoes as well.
Plain white, for 3 dollars, from the bin.
Plain white, for 3 dollars, from the bin.
November 3, 2012
This book is all about telling you every little tidbit of what this person felt growing up, but I'd rather be shown it. This is a graphic representation, so show me more graphic images. Here we mostly get close ups of someone's face with a narrator cloud above them and not much dialogue. When there was dialogue, it was so much better than the narrated text.
I think this could've been a great graphic novel had there been more graphics and had the author stuck to dialogue. When there was dialogue, I started skipping the narrated text because I don't need someone telling me everything. The dialogue was strong enough that I could figure it out on my own. I wish the whole book was like that.
I think this could've been a great graphic novel had there been more graphics and had the author stuck to dialogue. When there was dialogue, I started skipping the narrated text because I don't need someone telling me everything. The dialogue was strong enough that I could figure it out on my own. I wish the whole book was like that.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews