Seth
Clyde Fans: Book One (2004)Author: Seth
Genre: Graphic Novel (Literary)
Plot Summary:
Abraham Matchcard is an elderly gentleman that lives a life of solitude. He narrates to the reader his reflections on life, and ways to become a successful salesman. Abraham discusses his family in slight detail, leading into the second half of the book that focuses on Abraham's brother Simon in 1957 and his attempts at becoming a salesman. Throughout his week out of town on sales mission he is overwhelmed with thoughts of failure. SPOILER: The end of the book reveals why Simon became a recluse. The reader follows Simon through a series of sales attempts, waiting for a breakthrough success, but this never comes. The last page shows him in an empty space outside, reflecting on his past week of failures.
Geographical Setting: Canada
Time Period: 1997(part one)/ 1957 (part two)
Series: Volume one of the two volume Clyde Fans series, a collection of Palookavile comic book issues 10-15
Appeal Characteristics:
The story is about an elderly gentleman, Abraham reminiscing about his family's old fan business. The first half is written in a conversational style- Abraham is speaking directly to the reader. It is illustrated with many panes focusing on setting, this in combination with the narration make the pace slow. The first half of the book is told in first person narration and the illustrations follow Abraham through his daily routine. He is the only character shown in this part of the book and the solitude creates a somber tone. The second half of the book is slightly faster paced, as there is more action of Simon traveling to different stores. More characters are introduced, but these are all secondary to the development of Simon and the inner dialogue that is insinuated through the use of images.
Read-alikes: Readers that enjoy Seth's drawing style, emphasis on illustration and introspective tone should read his other picture novella, It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken . This book is set during the same time period (1950s) featuring a main character reminiscing on the past. This book is about Seth, a cartoonist and collector that searches for the identity of a cartoonist that has made an impact on him.
The book Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine shares similar illustration style and has the same introspective somber tone as Clyde Fans . The main character is a lonesome young man who is dealing with the disintegration of his relationship. He visits a friend in New York where he learns the truth behind the circumstances that led to his girlfriend leaving.
Caricature by Daniel Clowes has similar in-depth character development, and like Clyde Fans is told through monologues. The book is a series of vignettes focusing on eccentric characters, interjecting commentary on contemporary social life.
Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware is great graphic novel for readers that enjoy the in-depth character development in Clyde Fans and serious reflective tone. Ware also has a similar illustration style to Seth, with somewhat simplified drawings that maintain a level of detail in setting. The story is about Jimmy Corrigan's reunion with his father who abandoned him as a child. Throughout the book further themes of abandonment are explored through four generations of Corrigan men.
Blankets by Craig Thompson is a fictionalized memoir following Craig through his senior year of high school and utilizing flashback to tell of his childhood. Readers looking for another nostalgic graphic novel with detailed character development will enjoy this book. Similar to Seth, Thompson uses panes that are void of characters or writing to emphasize setting and slow the pace.
Red Flags: A few frames of nudity
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken (2003)
Author: Seth
Genre: Graphic Novel (Nonfiction/Semi-Autobiographical Memoir)
Plot Summary:
Seth is a Canadian cartoonist who lives a life of nostalgia. He is obsessed with the idea that life and society have weakened with time. He literally goes on a hunt to track down an obscure artist from the fifties called Kalo that had a comic published in The New Yorker. He finds Kalo’s other comics, talks to his daughter and mother and realizes that he is no longer living. Throughout the story Seth sacrifices relationships with his girlfriend and family because he focuses too much on rediscovering the past.
Geographical Setting: Canada
Time Period: 1980’s
Series: The story was originally serialized in issues 4-9 of the Comic Book Series, Palookaville
Appeal Characteristics:
It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken won the 1997 Ignatz Outstanding Graphic Novel Award. The pictures are created in an old fashioned comic style. Curvy lines and solid two-toned shading are prominent. The themes of nostalgia and melancholic longing for the past are brought out graphically and through a simple story line. Seth has a “sidekick” friend who supports him in his quest to re-expose the purity and sincerity or the past which could be related to a traditional superhero theme.
Read-alikes: Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks and Monkey vs Robot by James Kochalka are both books that follow the theme of the corruption of time and how development is not always a good thing. If you are looking for graphic novels with similar graphics as Seth, Kevin Huizenga is a good author to check out. His Or Else is drawn in the same style of swooping lines and solid shading. Seth’s works could also be compared to Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts. They have similar artistic style and both deal with insignificant individual situations in order to reveal deeper more important thoughts.
Red Flags: Nudity
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