Clyde Fans, Book 1

Clyde Fans #1

by Seth

Just along King Street at number 159 you will find the old storefront of the Clyde Fans Company. It's been locked up for years now and most people would naturally assume that it's completely abandoned. Look closer. Peer in through the display window into the dimly lit office and there on the far wall you will just be able to make out the black and white photographs of a pair of rather grim looking businessmen: Abraham and Simon Matchcard.

If you were to go in further—back through that battered safety door and into the living and work spaces of the old building you would pass into the hidden world that has sustained these lonely brothers for more than five decades.

In this, the first of two books, you will meet the Matchcard brothers and follow them through their journeys of disappointments, loss, and isolations. Two salesmen who have failed to "close."

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Canada, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Comix

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Seth, born Gregory Gallant in Clinton, Ontario, is a Canadian cartoonist celebrated for his distinctive visual style, deep sense of nostalgia, and influential contributions to contemporary comics. Known for the long-running series Palookaville and the widely acclaimed graphic novel It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken, he developed an aesthetic shaped by mid-20th-century magazine cartooning, particularly from The New Yorker, which he blends with themes rooted in Southern Ontario’s cultural memory. After studying at the Ontario College of Art and becoming part of Toronto’s punk-influenced creative scene, he adopted the pen name Seth and began gaining recognition through his work on Mister X. His friendships with fellow cartoonists Chester Brown and Joe Matt formed a notable circle within autobiographical comics of the early 1990s, where each depicted the others in their work. With Palookaville, published by Drawn & Quarterly, Seth refined his signature atmosphere of reflection, melancholy, and visual elegance. Beyond cartooning, he is an accomplished designer and illustrator, responsible for the celebrated book design of the ongoing complete Peanuts collection from Fantagraphics, as well as archival editions of Doug Wright and John Stanley. His graphic novels Clyde Fans, Wimbledon Green, and George Sprott explore memory, identity, and the passage of time through richly composed drawings and narrative restraint. Seth also constructs detailed cardboard architectural models of his imagined city, Dominion, which have been exhibited in major Canadian art institutions. He continues to live and work in Guelph, Ontario, noted for his influential role in shaping literary comics.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Seth's work, and this work is similar to others he has done or is doing. He's nostalgic, passionate about the past and the importance of preserving history and comic/art history. The tone and color of his work is subdued, a throwback to comic greats, and we can almost feel how much he wishes he lived 60-80 years in the past. And he cares about every-day people, people (mostly older guys) with largely unremarkable stories. This is the story of two brothers, one of whom, Abraham, inherited and took the reins of a company, Clyde Fans, and made it work, modestly, for decades, a pretty unremarkable guy, telling of his past work sort of boringly but also charmingly, really into the details of sales and the business. Who cares about this story of a small town businessman? But I found I did care about the guy, and even more, in part II, his brother, Simon, who speaks less but we go deeper into his story, about his repulsion from business/commerce/salesmanship, and this second half is admittedly far more engaging because of all the angst Abe's anti-biz bro has. We reader types mostly like arty, angsty characters, not businessmen, who like Abe, can be boring, but here we are, delving into the world has he sees it, and as it turns out it is charming.

All this is told through beautiful, golden ages style drawing, consistent with the period he wants to capture, and quirky art, too, in a way, perfect for a character study of two brothers who are both odd, a little off-putting, and still, for me, interesting as representatives of a past long ago. This is a kind of narrative trick Seth engages in; how do you make normal, every-day folks interesting, ones who are reclusive and typically uncommunicative? Yet most people are like them, I might argue, and why should literature only be about Macbeth or Gatsby? I like those kind of dramatic stories, but I also like these (fictional) slice-of-life stories, too, which he imbues with meaning and depth. He cares about these people. The second brother, Simon, cares more about cheesy, old-fashioned postcards, collecting them, cataloguing them, than business or sales; in this sense he stands in for Seth (and actually looks quite a bit like him) as one who likes and wants to preserve quirky, outsider art. I like this guy Seth a lot, who is in a class with his "mentor" and friend Chris Ware, who writes in his work about similar people. This book was published in 2009. Book 2 is still not out, but is close to being released, and I will read it, without question.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the one hand I'm excited that Seth made a book about a couple of brothers who sell electric fans in the 1950's. But on the other hand, I'm not that excited to read a book about a couple of brothers who sell electric fans in the 1950's. Chris Ware and Seth are neck and neck when it comes to drawing silent towns, but I found the first half of this book to be a real snooze. It's a 50-page present-day soliloquy that can be summarized with "My brother, the electric fan salesman. Not good." Once we get to the flashback second-half of the book, the story and drawings are old-timey pop fun that reminded me of Glengary Glen Ross with only Alec Baldwin's and Jack Lemmon's character. But jeez, Seth. That never-ending first half was a real clunker. You were killing me and the people on the plane who pretended not to read over my shoulder.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clyde Fans, Book 1" is the first part of Seth's masterpiece. It follows the fortunes of the two Matchcard brothers in the fan business. The book is divided into two parts with the first part set in the present following the Clyde Fans business with the confident brother, Abraham Matchcard, talking to the reader about the business, how it started, how it fared, his life now, and his relationship with his brother.

The second part is set in the past with Simon Matchcard, the shy brother, trying to become successful as a fan salesman like his brother and how he fares along the way. Simon's lack of experience shows and he doesn't sell any fans and hides out in a hotel. This second part is almost entirely wordless compared to the first part with masses of dialogue from Abraham. The ending leaves the reader wanting to see what Simon does as he ends up at night on an empty "Crazy Golf" course.

I don't really want to criticise Seth as I adore his work. "It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken" is brilliant, and "Wimbledon Green" is a comic masterwork. "Vernacular Drawings" is a gorgeously produced book of the artist's paintings and I can't wait to read "George Sprott" which is on order.

"Clyde Fans" though is a bit so so. Abraham's story is a bit mundane and follows the usual Seth gripe of "things were better in the past even though I know they probably weren't" and so we get anecdotes about how business was good and how technology has moved on and left small businesses in the dust, real John Steinbeck type stuff.

But the artwork is as wonderful as always, especially in Simon's story where there are haunting images, perhaps indicative of Simon's state of mind, of ordinary landscapes given surreal beauty by Seth's hand. I guess I'm saying I liked it but it wasn't a gripping read. It is the first part mind and so sets up the story for the next part but as for it being Seth's supposed masterpiece, well, I'm hoping Part 2 picks up the pace a bit.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating yet subdued character study...or studies. Reread -- as well as reread issues #16-20 of Palookaville -- before turning to Seth's new volume of Palookaville.

10/8/2017 - Once again, rereading this and entire Clyde Fans installments as refresher, and to prepare for final chapter in latest Palookaville.

[Xavier Roelens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth vergelijkt zich met Alice Munro en ja, eenzelfde warme nostalgie spreekt uit deze graphic novel. Het eerste deel is een lange monoloog van Abe Matchcare. Op een vloeiende manier denkt hij terug aan zijn werk als verkoper van ventilatoren, aan zijn vader en aan zijn wereldvreemde broer. Ondertussen wandelt hij door de vergane glorie van zijn winkel.
In het tweede deel keren we 40 jaar terug in de tijd. Hier wordt er veel meer gezwegen en zien we eerder wat er zich in het hoofd van broer Simon afspeelt We ontdekken dat hij helemaal niet voor de verkoop in de wieg gelegd is.
Goodreads lijkt me te vertellen dat er nog een vervolg is, wat het wel heel erg open (maar wel mooie) einde zou verklaren.

[Julia Lama · Rating 4 out of 5]

No soy una gran admiradora de las obras de Seth ni de su estilo de dibujo pero él como autor me causa mucha curiosidad. He disfrutado varias lecturas suyas pero sería incapaz de recordar personajes o tramas concretas. Aun así siempre permanece conmigo cierta sensación de pausa y nostalgia triste. Y eso no es algo que suceda todos los días. Pocas obras de ficción consiguen provocar en mí unos sentimientos tan concretos.

Con "Ventiladores Clyde" vuelve a suceder. No es un comic trepidante o intrigante, pero a veces, agradezco dar con una lectura que me imponga un ritmo lento y contemplativo. La historia cuenta con dos partes bien diferenciadas y una de ellas es un larguísimo monólogo sobre el pasado, la vejez y el trabajo de vendedor... Temas que no me atraen particularmente, pero a través de la óptica nostálgica de Seth, funcionan a la perfección y me llevan de la mano.

Es lo que muchas veces categorizaría de "historias que no cuentan nada" pero que en el momento idóneo, hacen sentir y se disfrutan.

[Mark Jerrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I'm not sure why. Maybe coming down from finishing Lev Grossman's excellent The Magician's Land I was in the mood for something more whimsical and fantastic; in contrast, Clyde Fans is a look at the seemingly dreary lives of a couple of fan salesmen, brothers Abe and Simon, from the '50s up to the late '90s.

Seth's art is an instant draw, however. His line work is bold and solid, and the images he chooses to present in telling this story are striking and haunting. I'm thinking particularly of late scenes showing the train and Simon's break-and-enter into the abandoned golf course. Seth really knows how to tell a visual story, and a simple, silent panel with debris blowing down a city street is enough to send shivers down my spine.

As well, the opening narration seems at first to be an interview with Abe, who reflects on his and his reclusive brother's lives, but as we follow Abe from room to room, including the bathroom, it begins to appear as if Abe is ruminating on the past to no one in particular, and maybe just himself. Seth uses panels to present the opening chapter in a documentary style, but subverts that style as we are shown more and more personal moments and spaces in Abe's environment.

But the art isn't all this story has going for it. Seth's character work is superb, and Simon is especially well developed. Part of me wonders, after having watched several interviews with the eccentric Seth, if the character is somewhat autobiographical. They are certainly similar in appearance, but Simon could be as much as thirty years older than Seth. That said, this discrepancy would still make sense considering Seth's penchant for the past and disdain for certain cultural trends of the present.

The main topic of this graphic novel is sales, at least on the surface, and the characters struggle or succeed based on their ability to make a sale and understand the process. In this regard, Abe is the success story and Simon is the failure. At the end of Book One, however, the reader is left with a sinking feeling that Simon is not solely at fault in this failure, but that consumerism - ever present in the past as it is now - and Simon's participation in it stokes and inflames his social anxiety.

Book Two will hopefully expand on these ideas, but either way, I'm looking forward to diving back into this black and white world and all the beautiful doldrums therein.

[Ray Nessly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like some others here, I thought the second part much more engaging than the first part, the former being primarily a soliloquy with not a whole lot in the way of drama to propel it. Love these characters --cynical Abe and poor, hapless, fish-out-of-water Simon--and the detailed drawings. Interesting how Seth uses shadows, especially on faces, ranging from grey to black. Sometimes the shadows are so dark the character's head can be partly or even completely engulfed in black, as if wearing a mask or a black hood. I'm definitely interested to see more of Seth's works.

"I liked to watch the real salesmen-- the old-time travelers. A lot could be learned from those guys. Those fellas had plenty of charm. They used to say that sincerity sells-- and if you can fake that, you've got it made."
Ha. Gotta love that.

[Ana Pérez · Rating 3 out of 5]

La primera parte es de notable alto: un dibujo sencillo que casa a la perfección con el relato. Transmite melancolía, añoranza y el paso del tiempo como una apisonadora sobre la vida del personaje. No se distrae de su objetivo e incluso me ha recordado un poco a la obra "Muerte de un viajante". En cambio, la segunda parte es insípida y con poco contenido, rompiendo el ritmo de la anterior y bajando notablemente el nivel narrativo.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 biblio

[Glen Farrelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Seth, you are so frustrating. Sometimes your art and storytelling ability are fantastic. Undoubtedly, you were and are a trailblazer of the graphic literature form - an auteur cartoonist with a unique narrative and visual styles and themes. But occasionally, your work fails. Not that I'm excited to be a God killer (particularly since we share a hometown), but someone needs to say the emperor has no clothes.

I applaud Seth experimenting with the medium. Experimentation is necessary not only for great art but to keep a medium vital. But despite best intentions and the greatness of past work, not all experiments succeed.

Case in point, the first part of this book is a soliloquy and given directly to the reader (presumably). Such soliloquies are a conceit (made famous by Shakespeare) that is not without problems, i.e. it is unrealistic and takes the reader out of the fantasy (that's why Brecht did it). It can also be tedious as with only one speaker there is often no drama. Direct address soliloquies don’t generally work in other mediums. At least with theatre, there is a direct physical relationship, a co-presence, between performer and viewer. With a book, the distance is too vast between character and reader, so it never stops feeling weird that one character is going on (and on for MANY PAGES) to an invisible someone. (It doesn't help that it is a great big spiel about the nature of sales back in the old days - not particularly interesting for more than a handful of pages).

Lingering on one character and one location is inherently problematic as the lack of change creates monotony. Seth knew that a soliloquy would be visually deadly, so he has the character move in and out of rooms, eat, bath, etc. all why never having the character break his outward gaze and speech to his invisible audience. The character goes inside and outside and into seemingly countless different rooms to the point that it gets ridiculous as to the why and where are all these places. Despite the changing location, the character is also often in the same position within the frame - so the composition of the panels gets very visually monotonous.

The various narrative and visual techniques used in the first half add up to poor use of the medium and uncompelling storytelling. This story might work in other mediums, but it inherently is a poor use of this medium.

Thankfully, the second half is much stronger as it has various scenarios, characters, locations, and hints of an ultimate mysterious (possibly tragic) end.

I have to say that I am stunned by the reviewers who have unfettered praise for this work. If this same work was released with someone else’s name as creator (which wouldn’t work as the visual style is distinctly Seth and a main character looks like him), I’m certain it wouldn’t earn the praise. The flaws in the use of medium are apparent and lethally dull.

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First part was a bit long and tedious, but Simon's part of the story brought my rating up to a 4. There is definitely an interesting dichotomy between the narrative; I assume Abe, being the successful salesperson, has always been somewhat of a talker, and his segment is all explained through his wordy monologue while walking about doing his day-to-day whereas Simon's is through the art and his nervous flashbacks and expressions. Yes there is dialogue in part 2, but it functions almost as background. Pretty great usage of the comic format. Simon's also dressed as Seth would (and how he's been drawn in other works with the suit and hat and glasses), so I wonder how much of the character is drawn from his own personality.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would've rated this higher if it were a complete book, instead of only half a story. And if I'd known my library only has this Part 1, I wouldn't even have bothered reading about Abe Matchcard, retired Canadian salesman of the family fan business, and brother Simon's ill-fated attempt in the field. Somehow this reads like a mystery, so I found myself searching through the pictures (which are excellent btw) for clues without knowing what for.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story in this graphic novel seems so mundane. 2 guys selling fans in the 50's. But I was totally enthralled. I'm anxiously awaiting the publication of part 2, where I doubt anything will happen. Still, it reminds me of playing in grandma rosses old wood storage area. musty and otherworldly light. its like a dream where the ordinary is somehow inexplicably extra-ordinary.

[Damon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super. The first half seems deliberately dry and bland, the second half gives a more intimate look at a character's inner life, but still told in a very detached and straightforward way. Overall an oddly captivating read.

[Ned Frederick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course I realize I’m supposed to like this dark, Kafka-esque mediation on isolation, mental illness, and the dreariness of nostalgia. That’s the setup. But I can’t bring myself to see it as anything other than a bleak downer of a book.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

How interesting can a book be about people trying to sell fans? Seems like they would have had more luck selling horses and buggies. Only recommended for Seth fans!

[Jardley · Rating 3 out of 5]

very quick read, identified both past and present with Simon the other brother. Took the other brother's advice with a grain of salt, as one would with other's opinions/advice.

[MariNaomi]

The art and the lettering was just perfect.

[pierlapo quimby · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'è da attendere la fine, ma sembra bello.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a slow burn to the good parts.

It's a really loose way of saying that I didn't particularly enjoy the first half of the book--though I stuck it out, & I'm glad I did.

Clyde Fans is the story of a family-owned business where they sold...fans. It sounds unexciting, & initially it is. We're greeted with the eldest Clyde brother, Abe. He recounts the decline of his family's business, slowly weaving together a story in a narration that's very much like how a senior citizen would recount old stories. In the next half, the reader is engaged in a time warp where present becomes past and we learn more about Simon Clyde.

Simon's segment of the story really sold this graphic novel for me. While I knew Abe was getting somewhere, and that his perception of his brother is his own, we are able to meet Simon and experience him in an intricate light.

The pages are lovely--they're a yellowed, thick stock that really throws you into a world of nostalgia and antiquity. Seth's artwork is lovely--he makes great use of shadows to depict mood, with the only hues being shades of black and white with a light blue. You really do feel like you're in the 1950s--or stuck in a dusty old time capsule named Clyde Fans.

Clyde Fans (Book 1) is recommended for teens and older. There is slight nudity depicted, and an instance of racial insensitivity (although--you have to remember the time period it is set in).

I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on this series in its entirety!

[Hex75 · Rating 5 out of 5]

un gioiello: a una prima parte che è essenzialmente un lungo monologo (degno di venir rappresentato a teatro) si contrappone una seconda parte che gioca maggiormente coi silenzi, e che via via diviene quasi onirica. lo stile di seth è piacevolissimo a leggersi, ed ogni tavola è ricca di particolari su cui fermarsi (soprattutto tantissimi oggetti di modernariato). mi domando se uscirà mai il secondo volume...

[Stately Elms Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a signed copy of this at OLA convention 2019.

The title is dull.. the premise seems dull.. and yet this is one of the best graphic novel I have read all year.
The dialogue is monotonous yet interesting. The colour is dull yet so visually appropriate.

I have to get my hands on book 2 now..

[W M]

I did not like it. I saw a review on The Guardian, and I figured I liked the last book I read based on a review from there, but not this time. It just seemed nostalgic without any original analysis.

After viewing a short Youtube video of Seth, he actually reminds me of Josh Flagg from Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles.

[Pearse Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course this is good. It's motherfucking Clyde Fans, bitch! Step right up and be amazed by frozen chicken dinners, novelty postcards, and broken fan wheels. Excited to read the other four books in the series.

[Ginidir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately too short, it was a poignant marriage of psychology, character, and architecture.

[Forest Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great art but slow story.

[Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth's tale of small town Ontario business crosses Death of a Salesman with Essex County. Spot in art and concept. Four Stars.

[Terri Karp · Rating 3 out of 5]

?

[gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about family, and identity, and sales, and fans. But most of all, it's a two-parter and I cannot wait to read the second book!