The Acme Novelty Library

Getting this book in the mail after having immensley enjoyed Jimmy Corrigan was comparable to my best xmas present-opening experiences as a kid - a feeling I assumed would not occur again, now that I'm a dried-up adult. I got it alongside acme novelty library 16 + 17, which I ordered whilst drunk and deeply regretted until recieving them. Wow! I simply cannot beleive something this amazing exists. I suggest reading 16 + 17 first, as there are secrets about Rusty Brown's fate that you may want to save until after you've got yourself into the 'Rusty-Brown-as-a-child' storyline. A large portion of this book involves middle-aged rusty, so... Well, its up to you. I can see the merit of reading it in the reverse order as well. Either way, this book is just utterly amazing - I haven't enjoyed any comics remotely this much, since reading Twisted Tales in my youth. I still have the final 3 pages left, and am quite excited! (Other reviewers say its the best ending ever, so I'm going to save it... You are a disgrace to humanity if you pass this up.

This is a phenomenal collection of Ware' s various single pages, larger format reprints and new meanderings. A frightful amount of detail and dedication. In response to the post 'you better have 20/20 vision' - I can't imagine why someone would use this space to bag a book for it's meticulious detail and give it one out of five stars [then credit Ware as a 'huge talent']. The 'detail' is part of the obsessive intrigue of the book which I think characterises Ware's respect for the reader. I can't understand why someone would deter another from buying a book based on poor eyesight over actual content. Buy a magnifying glass if ya struggling perhaps? Vent over.

Some comics might make you laugh till you cry. This one works the other way. You'll think and get depressed until you find a place to smile in. Exquisitely produced, it's like owning a piece of custom art on your bookshelf (not that it will fit) or coffee table. Astounding, perfect, unique: read it and fill in your own superlative.

Chris Ware's tragicomic characters are experiencing the dramas of life that most people would rather not admit even exist. Divorce, hate, ambivolence, child abandonment (a disturbing recurrence in Ware's work.), mental cruelty, substance abuse, murder, shame, self-loathing, etc. This is coupled with very dark tounge-in-cheek humor of the kind that makes you wonder if you should really be laughing or not. (You should.) Above it all is Ware's astounding design work. Nobody but NOBODY can create a world as fine and obsessively detailed as Chris Ware. Endless throwbacks to Victorian book design, Advertisments from early 20th century to comic book styles of the 50s. He has created a unique enviroment that is as dazzlingly brilliant to look at, as it is uneasy to read. I've never been dissapointed by Ware's work and this is no exception. This does collect previously released work from his Acme Novelty Library so if you already own all of those issues this may not be for you. However it is a terriffic collection and a must for fans, modern comic enthusiasts or people just interested in fantastic book design.