Backside of the Moon

by Tango Gao

The first book by Shanghai-born visual artist, cartoonist, social media phenomenon, and advertising executive Tango to be published in the United States, BACKSIDE OF THE MOON is a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek dissection of the everyday insanities of 21st-century urban living--and a witty guide to how to keep one's calm in the midst of the craziness. Tango's doodles have a simple, fluent, and funny style. His humor is obvious without words and explanation. Everything he draws has its own expression. Even air has a shape and a piece of bread can be a protagonist. Tango celebrates finding joy and surprise in our daily life. No matter how small we are and how frustrating life can be, we shall endeavor to feel "alive." Tango's playful line drawings may just help you attain inner peace and tranquility--but at the very least they will make you smile.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, Humor

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2017

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmm. this is more collection of optical illusions than it is graphic novel. the author's note talks about how he enjoys pushing the boundaries of perspective and helping people to find new ways of seeing the world.

the illustrations seem to be a 50/50 split between extremely creative, visually inventive ideas and repetitious phones-are-bad / what-if-the-toothpaste-tube-was-actually-pooping-when-you-squeezed-it type humor.

i do have to give gao credit, because more than once one of his illustrations made me react like whoa, how did you even think of that, bro?

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clever and funny drawings that really made me think and smile throughout the book :)

[Chu Qiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

We frames our own realities and experiences.

As zen master says ' When you start on a long journey, trees are tress, water is water, and mountains are mountains, after you have going some distance, trees are no longer tress, water no longer water, mountains no longer mountains, but after you have traveled a great distance, trees are once again tress, what is once again water, mountains are once again mountains."

Based on the three stages of Metaphor, I boldly divide folks into three levels of groups: first, second, and third. Apparently they can't communicate between different levels of groups. Life is a learning journey to discover, refine, and form your own unique experience and attitude toward to the world.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so funny. I thought it was going to be a graphic novel but it was just funny little cartoons. I don't know how else to describe it. I laughed all the way through and then went back again. Sometimes that's just what you need at the end of your day. This is adult humor. It has a bad word or two and there is a few things that a younger person just wouldn't get.

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of comic strip type drawings which are humorous, and many make you ponder the drawing before you get the joke. It has more subtle humor in most of the cartoons than in, for example, The Far Side, but a few made me chuckle. It was a quick funny thing to read in a time of 2020 that anything light and humorous is welcome.

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome collection of drawings and mini comics that play with shapes and illusions to make you look at things in unexpected and amusing ways. I really enjoyed this one; it held my attention all the way through and gave me some genuine smiles and laughs :)

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needs a little rearranging.

Black and white artwork. No captions. Some of these are seperate, if you don't get the gag,turn the page to see if it was continued there. Suitable for children?

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow talks…

Clever visuals. No dialogue necessary. The visuals tell a story. Be looking forward seeing more. Keep up the work. If one likes cartoons without dialogue, this is for you.

[Xuankang Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

😯😯😯👍

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Highly imaginative and hilarious with some illustrations being able to send strong messages while keeping the humor.

[No_One · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of illustrations. I actually worked on the production of this book-so if you have a copy without a title on it-that’s my fault.

[Mii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and interesting, some are harder to understand but I can't help but chuckle when it finally make sense.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Cute and clever, some had to look at more than once.

[Katra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius!

[jack]

okay picture -2