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American Elf #8-9
American Elf: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries, Vol. 3
Kochalka's diary strip has always been entertaining, but this might be the most action-packed volume of all. His neighbor's car gets firebombed, his little son Eli learns how to invent his own swears (like "pump duck"), and James gets a gun pointed at his face. Most dramatic of all, this volume introduces a new character - a new little baby Kochalka This collection prints all the diary strips from 2006-2007 in gorgeous full-color, including numerous strips that never appeared online.
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2008
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
James Kochalka
209 books106 followersJames Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal. Largely autobiographical, Kochalka's cartoon expression of the world around him includes such real-life characters as his wife, children, cat, friends and colleagues, but always filtered through his own observations and flights of whimsy. In March 2011 he will be declared the cartoonist laureate of Vermont, serving a term of two years.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 15, 2012
Book 3 of James Kochalka's life's work American Elf picks up where he left off from the second book beginning with January 1 2006 to 31 December 2007. The idea for these strips is simple: draw a strip every day. These range from 1 panel to 4 and have been in colour now for the last few years.
In this book James and Amy, their son Eli and their cat Spandy expand their family with the addition of Oliver Jonco Kochalka, James' druggy neighbours' car gets firebombed, James acts in a feature film, he teaches art classes at the local college, he rocks out with his new album "Spread Your Evil Wings and Fly" which doesn't sell well so his label Rykodisc drops him, he goes on holiday with his father who has Alzheimer's, and he goofs around the house with Eli, who also contributes to the daily strips and begins attending pre-school. He's also a video games fanatic who gets a Wii and a DS and spends lots of time playing both (even when Amy goes into labour).
The strips have a charm all their own: some days are detailed with lots of words and events, others are simply one panel of a outdoors scene. Either way it's a compelling read and a great comic. The book is printed on high quality paper and looks really good with the wide array of colours used. Highly recommended comic , ready for American Elf Book 4 please James!
In this book James and Amy, their son Eli and their cat Spandy expand their family with the addition of Oliver Jonco Kochalka, James' druggy neighbours' car gets firebombed, James acts in a feature film, he teaches art classes at the local college, he rocks out with his new album "Spread Your Evil Wings and Fly" which doesn't sell well so his label Rykodisc drops him, he goes on holiday with his father who has Alzheimer's, and he goofs around the house with Eli, who also contributes to the daily strips and begins attending pre-school. He's also a video games fanatic who gets a Wii and a DS and spends lots of time playing both (even when Amy goes into labour).
The strips have a charm all their own: some days are detailed with lots of words and events, others are simply one panel of a outdoors scene. Either way it's a compelling read and a great comic. The book is printed on high quality paper and looks really good with the wide array of colours used. Highly recommended comic , ready for American Elf Book 4 please James!
June 27, 2011
James Kochalka lives a charmed life where nothing really bad ever seems to happen. His is sort of a Family Circus for the indie crowd. All the girls want him. All the boys want to be him. He makes art that looks effortless. (I can literally make effortless drawings!) He sings in a fun band. (I can imagine myself yelling stuff!) He has a sexy sassy wife (Me too!) And a kids say the darndest things 3 yr old (I got one of those!) He stays at home all day, and provides amply for his family by doing what seems to come so naturally that his "work" cant possibly be any more effort than going to the bathroom (which he has several comics of himself doing!) Anyways, its hard not to envy this guy. I can hardly stand to read his stuff. But I am grateful that I can live vicariously through his comics. They are in fact really funny, and sweet, and beautiful. And It gives me hope to know that if I just slack hard enough and am born really good looking and really confident and really talented. wha? Awe shucks.
And shame on me cuz, as Jesus says in the parable of the talents and Rihanna in Live Your Life, God "aint got time for no haters"
And shame on me cuz, as Jesus says in the parable of the talents and Rihanna in Live Your Life, God "aint got time for no haters"
September 6, 2020
This book hasn’t aged well. Worth reading if you’re interested in the history of comics, because of American Elf’s place in popularising journal comics, or if you’re looking for modern comix style art reference. Otherwise, read Brian Ralph’s work instead.
January 4, 2019
LOVE all of them.
December 13, 2008
This volume just as lovely as the first two. Was surprised to see that it was in color, though. Not sure it justified the added expense, from a publishing standpoint. Still, they were even more lovely, this way.
I felt bad about the Kochalka family's "neighbor" troubles. I've had a meth dealer for a neighbor, so I have empathy. Never had any cars firebombed though. How charming!
Sometimes I worry that Jame's fat mouth will get him into trouble, but he seems to get in the face of people who deserve it, so "hurrah" for him.
And, as usual, reading the Kochalka sketchbook diaries make me feel a little more human, and a little more happy with humanity as a whole. That makes them extremely valuable.
I felt bad about the Kochalka family's "neighbor" troubles. I've had a meth dealer for a neighbor, so I have empathy. Never had any cars firebombed though. How charming!
Sometimes I worry that Jame's fat mouth will get him into trouble, but he seems to get in the face of people who deserve it, so "hurrah" for him.
And, as usual, reading the Kochalka sketchbook diaries make me feel a little more human, and a little more happy with humanity as a whole. That makes them extremely valuable.
March 25, 2009
I kept meaning to review this somewhere, but never did, so I don't have a link to anything formal.
Here's a link to James Kochalka's site though, where his strip runs daily-ish:
http://americanelf.com/
It's Kochalka's diary strip, where he produces about four panels about a significant anecdote from each day. In addition to being a cartoonist and children's book author, Kochalka is also in a semi-professional band and has had two little boys since starting the strip, so it's become something of a domestic comedy about an immature father. I think of it as what the Family Circus would be like if the Family Circus was a brilliant comic strip.
Here's a link to James Kochalka's site though, where his strip runs daily-ish:
http://americanelf.com/
It's Kochalka's diary strip, where he produces about four panels about a significant anecdote from each day. In addition to being a cartoonist and children's book author, Kochalka is also in a semi-professional band and has had two little boys since starting the strip, so it's become something of a domestic comedy about an immature father. I think of it as what the Family Circus would be like if the Family Circus was a brilliant comic strip.
September 26, 2012
I read these as fast as I possibly could as they had become well overdue, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them.
James Kochalka has really developed a gift for finding the magic moments of his day and making them relatable. I think these probably benefit from being in book form and being read in succession as you get a better picture of his life and his family, and it makes the 'what should I draw today?' comics feel more thought out than if you just encounter one on a page of print or on the website. The best side benefit of reading these all at once was that it made me step outside of myself to observe the little moments of my day and made it easy to laugh at myself. A+ sir!
James Kochalka has really developed a gift for finding the magic moments of his day and making them relatable. I think these probably benefit from being in book form and being read in succession as you get a better picture of his life and his family, and it makes the 'what should I draw today?' comics feel more thought out than if you just encounter one on a page of print or on the website. The best side benefit of reading these all at once was that it made me step outside of myself to observe the little moments of my day and made it easy to laugh at myself. A+ sir!
September 8, 2010
Amusing if uneven cartoon narrative of the real, quirky life of cartoonist/graphic novelist/rock musician James Kochalka. A lot about marriage and raising a young child in here. Some of the humor is bathroom humor and not appealing to me (or, I suspect, many adults) and some of the panels are in poor taste and/or dark humor (some of which I like, some I don't). The majority, though, is amusing and many panels are insightful or thought-provoking (as well as simply provoking!). Good read-alike for Life in Hell fans as well as fans of slice-of-life comics.
March 24, 2009
American Elf is James Kochalka's daily diary comic. It has pretty much become "Kochalka's Kid Says the Darndest Things." Kochalka is pretty annoying in large doses, so it is best not to read these all at once. Still he is often funny and his huge level of creative output is impressive and inspiring.
April 23, 2009
i believe that it is a grand testament to kochalka's general wonderfulness that i go out and buy books of his comics to which i have access to completely free on line.
american elf is one of those comics our entire family loves to read.
american elf is one of those comics our entire family loves to read.
April 30, 2009
Reading American Elf makes me want to get married and start a family...almost. The percentage of Spandy-related comics has declined since he had Eli and Oliver, but still they're filled with honest and fresh reflections on life, with an appreciation of simple things that I can relate to.
Read
June 28, 2011Family Circus for hipsters, except it can be crass or vulgar. The panels I like, though, I really like.
October 24, 2011
TOP SHELF, PRINT THE REST. COME ON.
July 8, 2012
YES!
August 14, 2012
This third volume in the continuing Kolchalka diary is often too cutesy for its own good, but overall a solid read (especially for those who dislike "short-run" comics).
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September 24, 2018I like the last panel in the book best, but I love all of James' reflections on parenthood and being. I need to search out more volumes of his work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews