Synopses & Reviews
An Acknowledged Classic returns gorgeously re-designed. In his first graphic novel, Its a Good Life, if You Dont Weaken--a best-selling D & Q titles ever--Seth pays homage to the wit and sophistication of the old-fashioned magazine cartoon. While trying to understand his dissatisfaction with the present, Seth discovers the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten New Yorker cartoonist from the 1940s. But his obsession blinds him to the needs of his lover and the quiet desperation of his family. Wry self-reflection and moody colours characterize Seths style in this tale about learning lessons from nostalgia. His playful and sophisticated experiment with memoir provoked a furious debate among cartoon historians and archivists about the existence of Kalo, and prompted a Details feature about Seth's "hoax".
Seth was born Gregory Gallant on September 16th, 1962, in Clinton, a small town in southern Ontario. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Details, National Post, Spin, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Seth now lives in Guelph, Ontario. Named One of the 100 Best Comics of the 20th Century by Comics Journal
This new edition of Seth's classic graphic novel presents the author's first book in its definitive form, collecting the extensive, beautifully illustrated storyline from his popular comic book series Palooka-Ville. Here, Seth vividly recounts his search for meaning in the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten gag-cartoonist of the 1940s and '50s. This compulsive task takes him through stacks of crumbling books and magazines in the hope of finding, and ultimately holding onto, a piece of the past. With this remarkable work, a masterpiece of the genre, Seth has demonstrated the full power of comics as a narrative form. The story unfolds slowly, opening windows onto haunting scenes of old factories, remote towns, and distant train routes. This is a marriage of art and story that truly sends readers on a voyage across both distance and time. "[Seth] invites the reader to linger cozily in his ruminative, patient stories, each of which grows from Seth's obsession with the past."The Village Voice
"Rich, evocative . . . Characterized by small moments revealing the author's sharp eye for detail."The Globe and Mail "After spending so much of my youth hoarding cardboard cartons of comics, it was a grand delight to discover this comic narrative written for adults. This graceful, simple, and compelling book tells the story of a good life lived simply."Stuart McLean, Host of CBC Radios The Vinyl Café
Review
"Seth's art is perfect for the story...and it matches his struggle to find order in a disorderly world. It's Seth's anachronistic characteristics and refusal to accept the 'joys' of modern life which make It's A Good Life so fun to read." Joe Garden, The Onion AV Club
Review
"Seth's pursuit delves so far into comics history that it occasionally risks marginalizing itself; but beneath the nearly self-reflexive arc of the story and artwork are two individuals at opposite ends of the comics world, who both stand before comics as...a field that can't hold the fulfillment they are restlessly seeking." David Auerbach, RainTaxi.com
Review
"[T]he book succeeds totally as a personal, visionary graphic novel. It's a Good Life features truly beautiful artwork and a fascinating look at a singular creator's thought process and creative drive." Alan David Doane, ComicBookGalaxy.com
Review
"[A] gentle, sad, swaying little book....A document of one artist's wrestling with ghosts of years long passed, It's a Good Life reads like a subtle exorcism." Matt Fraction, ArtBomb.net
Review
"[A] paean to bygone eras and to worlds lost to us forever....What makes It's A Good Life so successful is how dedicated it is to recalling the past and giving the reader a glimpse of the 'good old days' that Seth so fervently pursues." Xtop B. Sebela, SavantMag.com
Synopsis
An Acknowledged Classic returns gorgeously re-designed. In his first graphic novel, Its a Good Life, if You Dont Weaken--a best-selling D & Q titles ever--Seth pays homage to the wit and sophistication of the old-fashioned magazine cartoon. While trying to understand his dissatisfaction with the present, Seth discovers the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten New Yorker cartoonist from the 1940s. But his obsession blinds him to the needs of his lover and the quiet desperation of his family. Wry self-reflection and moody colours characterize Seths style in this tale about learning lessons from nostalgia. His playful and sophisticated experiment with memoir provoked a furious debate among cartoon historians and archivists about the existence of Kalo, and prompted a Details feature about Seth's "hoax".
Synopsis
One of Drawn & Quarterly's most popular and well-received books in recent years, It's A Good Life, If You Don't Weaken is now available in a new beautifully-produced, deluxe clothbound edition! This Ignatz Award-winning book tells the story of Seth's search for meaning in the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten New Yorker cartoonist from the 1940s. Seth's clever use of both fictional and autobiographical elements prompted Details magazine to write an extensive article last year on this noted book. Seth's evocative drawings are presented here in this lavish edition, printed in two colors on ivory-tinted paper. This new edition is presented with a new four-color die-cut image embossed onto its cloth cover and includes an eleven page section of "found" Kalo cartoons, with an extensive glossary of cartoon figures past and present.
Synopsis
An Acknowledged Classic returns gorgeously re-designed.
In his first graphic novel, It’s a Good Life, if You Don’t Weaken--a best-selling D & Q titles ever--Seth pays homage to the wit and sophistication of the old-fashioned magazine cartoon. While trying to understand his dissatisfaction with the present, Seth discovers the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten New Yorker cartoonist from the 1940s. But his obsession blinds him to the needs of his lover and the quiet desperation of his family. Wry self-reflection and moody colours characterize Seth’s style in this tale about learning lessons from nostalgia. His playful and sophisticated experiment with memoir provoked a furious debate among cartoon historians and archivists about the existence of Kalo, and prompted a Details feature about Seth's hoax.
About the Author
Seth was born in 1962 in a rural Ontario town. Seth lives in Guelph, Ontario with five cats, a gigantic collection of vintage records, comic books, and 20th century Canadiana, and his very patient wife. He regularly contributes illustrations to
The New Yorker and the
National Post and recently provided the entire album artwork for Sony records singer-songwriter, Aimee Mann.