The Playboy: A Comic-Strip Memoir

For the man who complained of Chester's work being nothing more than a tool for the elite to further distance themselves, I tell him not to base his reaction to this fine work on the snide remarks of a few poseurs. If you were to tell me you did not understand Chester Brown's work, I would have tried to explain it to you because it is something that more people should experience and enjoy. Though he is fine at it, I don't think Chester Brown likes being poor. If more people began appreciating his work, I doubt he would try to make himself less accessible. As for claiming this to be better than his excellent comics, the Playboy was first serialized in Yummy Fur. I suggest you finish reading the entire thing before making such harsh and unfounded claims.

Chester Brown - one of the truly brilliant cartoonists in the world - has given us here a touching autobiographical confession of his addiction to pornography. Even if you have never had the exact same experience yourself, you will find yourself able to relate to this book in a very personal way. Brown captures the perpetual guilt and loneliness of adolescence perfectly. What makes the book especially interesting is the method Chester employs in juxtaposing his adult life with his teenage years - his adult "self" time-travels back to his pubescent life and not only narrates the story, but actually becomes a visible little "fairy"-type of creature and interacts with the story in a comforting comic voice. This book is as honest as you can possibly get and will be enjoyed by anyone who loves the nostalgia and sadness of coming-of-age stories. Chester Brown's comic books are a splendid change from the pointlessness of most superhero stories or the shallow shock value of most "underground" comics. His comic books are more like pieces of music - carrying the reader's emotions into places of heartbreak and beauty.