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False Knees #1
False Knees: An Illustrated Guide to Animal Behavior
In Barkman’s debut print collection, False Knees fans will find old favorites along with an abundance of all-new material. Featuring creatures found in the author’s native Ontario, this always sharp, sometimes head-scratchingly bizarre collection of comics offers a view into the secret, surprisingly insightful world of blue jays, squirrels, geese, wolves, and rabbits.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2019
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704 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
June 6, 2025
False Knees
by Joshua Barkman
This is such a cute book! Gives you an idea what animals are thinking if most of them are a bit sparky. Funny and adorable art work!
by Joshua Barkman
This is such a cute book! Gives you an idea what animals are thinking if most of them are a bit sparky. Funny and adorable art work!
October 28, 2019
review to come
May 13, 2020
The False Knees comics are some of the best things to ever come out of the internet. Adorable, beautifully drawn, funny, and so wholesome. I love these dumb birds and their antics. 💖💖💖💖
On reading this printed version of Barkman's work as opposed to seeing it online, I was struck by how much detail and texture is in his illustrations. Also I don't know how he does it, but the animals he draws are so expressive. Part of me thinks birds are birds, how could they possible emote, but then I look at a False Knees comic and I am instantly proven wrong.
I would also be remiss not to mention the delightful, bizarre comedy of these comics. They always make me laugh out loud, which is really something considering most of them are 4-panel comics. They run the gamut from existential comedy to meta comedy to just dumb comedy. They are also so wholesome and warm and relatable.
I feel like every positive adjective you could think of applies to these comics. I love them a whole lot.
(Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster/Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!)
On reading this printed version of Barkman's work as opposed to seeing it online, I was struck by how much detail and texture is in his illustrations. Also I don't know how he does it, but the animals he draws are so expressive. Part of me thinks birds are birds, how could they possible emote, but then I look at a False Knees comic and I am instantly proven wrong.
I would also be remiss not to mention the delightful, bizarre comedy of these comics. They always make me laugh out loud, which is really something considering most of them are 4-panel comics. They run the gamut from existential comedy to meta comedy to just dumb comedy. They are also so wholesome and warm and relatable.
I feel like every positive adjective you could think of applies to these comics. I love them a whole lot.
(Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster/Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!)
January 6, 2022
дуже милі малюночки, майже все було смішно
July 2, 2025
An amusing little collection of (mostly) single-page cartoons wherein well-drawn animals say bizarre animal things or are juxtaposed with exchanges more likely to come from, say, middle-class humans, often using very adult language. The focus is mainly on birds, but squirrels are the second runners up, with the occasional whale or pig popping up too. There's even a skunk homage to Pepé Le Pew.
I like the strips that give a glimpse into animal nature best, but they're all okay, if a little short of laugh-out-loud funny.
The best comics are definitely the few that draw attention to the homicidal nature of plants. (Don't trust greenery, people!)
A free archive of strips is available online at FalseKnees.com. The strips in this collection mostly fall between July 2016 and April 2019.
I like the strips that give a glimpse into animal nature best, but they're all okay, if a little short of laugh-out-loud funny.
The best comics are definitely the few that draw attention to the homicidal nature of plants. (Don't trust greenery, people!)
A free archive of strips is available online at FalseKnees.com. The strips in this collection mostly fall between July 2016 and April 2019.
August 15, 2022
I just recently discovered Joshua Barkman’s False Knees webcomic on Instagram and instantly fell in love. I had to have a physical collection of these comics. The art is beautiful and the humor is right up my ally. I highly recommend this collection and I am eagerly anticipating more!
November 11, 2019
I laughed a lot though I read most of the part of this book previously as webcomic. Highly enjoyable nonsense with funny, but still truthful and educational illustrations of behavior of birds.
July 18, 2020
Funny short gags involving animals! I won't try to explain further. Just go to the website https://falseknees.com/
January 7, 2021
Just the right balance of existential dread and laugh out loud that I needed today.
January 6, 2024
joyous - who doesn't want to read comic strips about woodland creatures with social anxiety
August 21, 2020
I haven't read anything since the beginning of July (I've been, and will be, working 12 hours per day, I have no brainpower for anything afterwards) but I did read this when my copy of it arrived today.
It's incredibly clever, it's funny (this is my EXACT sense of humor), it's wholesome, the art is stunning, and there's only animals in it, not a single human being; I legit couldn't ask for anything more. 10/10, will read again.
It's incredibly clever, it's funny (this is my EXACT sense of humor), it's wholesome, the art is stunning, and there's only animals in it, not a single human being; I legit couldn't ask for anything more. 10/10, will read again.
December 28, 2019
This is another graphic novel that is SO smart and SO funny that it (metaphorically) makes me snort milk. The art is beautiful and every page leaves me frantically looking around for someone to show it to.
October 21, 2019
one of my favourite things in the universe
April 24, 2023
Another webcomic print collection. It features animals musing about the world and their own existence, or otherwise doing things that realistically drawn animals wouldn't normally do.
To be honest, this comic's humor isn't generally for me. I like the occasional morbid moments, but there's a sameness to the animals philosophizing at each other. There were rarely any strips that made me laugh, although there were definitely a few that managed to surprise me (like the one with the rabbit announcing its plans for the future).
For me, the really appealing thing about this comic is its artwork. I love the colors and linework. It makes me want to get back to some of the creative activities I used to do, like needle felting and drawing.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
To be honest, this comic's humor isn't generally for me. I like the occasional morbid moments, but there's a sameness to the animals philosophizing at each other. There were rarely any strips that made me laugh, although there were definitely a few that managed to surprise me (like the one with the rabbit announcing its plans for the future).
For me, the really appealing thing about this comic is its artwork. I love the colors and linework. It makes me want to get back to some of the creative activities I used to do, like needle felting and drawing.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 3, 2025
Cheese puff plant. This was a bunch of laughs. I love it when animals swear.
February 4, 2021
I asked for this for Christmas and my mother bought it, mostly because the subtitle had "animal behavior" in it and she loves that kind of thing. She ended up starting it before she gave it to me and was surprised to discover that it was a comic book...but not as quite as surprised as she was when one of the rabbits on page 64 is snatched up by an owl mid-sentence.
...I had to endure a few "do you really find this kind of thing funny (do you maybe need therapy)?" comments, but yes, I did find this funny. Thanks, mom.
...I had to endure a few "do you really find this kind of thing funny (do you maybe need therapy)?" comments, but yes, I did find this funny. Thanks, mom.
October 9, 2019
Dit boek maakt me zo gelukkig. Prachtige tekeningen, flauwe grappen, een perfecte weergave van wat voor ons soms onlogische gedachtespongen van vogels zijn en de realisatie dat iedereen iets groots kan doen.
February 23, 2020
Seducingly sanguine! Vividly vermillion! Seriously cerise! Remarkably rufous! Partially puce! Categorically cochineal!
October 22, 2021
Animal observation gives witty insight to human nature. Great illustrations. Made me laugh out loud.
August 28, 2022
A true delight.
July 27, 2025
Rarely have I laughed out loud so many times while reading a book!
False Knees is a series of simple comics featuring animals saying and doing silly things. Most of the comics are in a two-by-two grid and are painted with vibrant watercolor. Most of the comics deal with birds but there are also some featuring raccoons, insects, and even a whale.
The animals say philosophical things, ridiculous things, outrageous things. Several of them point out the absurdities of being human.
In one of my favorites, the panels zoom in on a pond. In the final panel you finally see the smallest fish that says “I’m going to change the world!” Devastating and hilarious. In another a crow gets heckled for only saying “caw caw caw” in a standup comedy routine. In the next panel he sweats with panic. In the final panel we see his notecards which just say “caw caw caw.” Another features plants in each panel. The text reads, “IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY, YOU CAN HEAR THE NATURAL WORLD TALKING TO YOU / CAN YOU HEAR IT? / IT'S SAYING: "SHHH... DON'T WORRY" / “YOU DON’T MATTER.”
False Knees is a series of simple comics featuring animals saying and doing silly things. Most of the comics are in a two-by-two grid and are painted with vibrant watercolor. Most of the comics deal with birds but there are also some featuring raccoons, insects, and even a whale.
The animals say philosophical things, ridiculous things, outrageous things. Several of them point out the absurdities of being human.
In one of my favorites, the panels zoom in on a pond. In the final panel you finally see the smallest fish that says “I’m going to change the world!” Devastating and hilarious. In another a crow gets heckled for only saying “caw caw caw” in a standup comedy routine. In the next panel he sweats with panic. In the final panel we see his notecards which just say “caw caw caw.” Another features plants in each panel. The text reads, “IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY, YOU CAN HEAR THE NATURAL WORLD TALKING TO YOU / CAN YOU HEAR IT? / IT'S SAYING: "SHHH... DON'T WORRY" / “YOU DON’T MATTER.”
August 16, 2020
Note to myself: Whenever I am going to read something like this (especially when I already know the webcomic) I should think beforehand, if I really want to mark funny comics. I ended up with at least a fourth of the book tagged.
Still so funny. Who knew you could still mine animal based humor (but with very detailed drawings) with existentialism and a dash of absurdity. And I’ll forever laugh at the idea of a crow doing stand-up.
Still so funny. Who knew you could still mine animal based humor (but with very detailed drawings) with existentialism and a dash of absurdity. And I’ll forever laugh at the idea of a crow doing stand-up.
May 19, 2025
Has a problem with tone. Some parts comic, some parts didn’t emote like they ought. Other bits were endearing, though.
Overall I’d prefer a bit more earnestness, but that’s just because I find nihilism a dish best served optimistic. Especially centering around the animal world. Animals don’t think about embarrassment; i find the anthropomorphism a bit… ah… narcissistic. That’s not to say there isn’t humor to be found in animal behavior. There totally is. Maybe the style of humor just isn’t for me.
Overall I’d prefer a bit more earnestness, but that’s just because I find nihilism a dish best served optimistic. Especially centering around the animal world. Animals don’t think about embarrassment; i find the anthropomorphism a bit… ah… narcissistic. That’s not to say there isn’t humor to be found in animal behavior. There totally is. Maybe the style of humor just isn’t for me.
November 14, 2021
Beautiful little book
I love the strip, and have been reading it online for a while. The Kindle book really is nice with the Comixology feature, zooming in to each panel. Having False Knees on Kindle will allow me to revisit one of my favorite books with its bon mots of one-page stories
I love the strip, and have been reading it online for a while. The Kindle book really is nice with the Comixology feature, zooming in to each panel. Having False Knees on Kindle will allow me to revisit one of my favorite books with its bon mots of one-page stories
May 11, 2022
Enjoyable and amusing.
July 18, 2022
Amazing drawings of animals (mostly birds) and deadpan humor. This collection of 1 page commics was great!
January 13, 2023
Fuck it, 5 stars
August 2, 2023
Love this web comic. Wish it had been a single story flow instead of a jumbled collection, but I still enjoyed it.
October 9, 2023
I would have liked a little more dialogues but the illustrations are absolutely stunning ! The colors pop and the expressions on the birds are very funny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews