American Elf, Book Two, January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005 : The Collected Sketchbook Diaries of James Kochalka, Vol. 2 - Softcover

Kochalka, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1891830856 ISBN 13: 9781891830853

Publisher: Top Shelf Productions, 2007

Synopsis

• Kochalka invented the daily diary comic strip, spawning a grass roots comix movement that has swept across the globe. Every day Kochalka draws a little comic strip about something that happened to him that day. As simple as that concept might seem, in Kochalka's hands it becomes something astounding and surprising; wickedly funny at times and deeply moving at others. This volume prints all the strips from 2004 and 2005 in gorgeous full-color.

About this title

About the Author:

JAMES KOCHALKA is, without question, one of the most unique and prolific alternative cartoonists working in America today. His comics have been published internationally by almost every alternative comics publisher; he's recorded several music albums under the name James Kochalka Superstar (making him a favorite at college radio stations across the country); and he's developed animated cartoons for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Hangover.

He is the first official Cartoonist Laureate of the state of Vermont, appointed in 2011.

Among his best known works are the Monkey vs Robot series, the superpowered frathouse comedy SuperF*ckers, the beloved children's series Johnny Boo, Dragon Puncher, and Glorkian Warrior, and his magnum opus, the 14-year span of daily diary comics known as American Elf.

From Publishers Weekly:

Rock star and indie comics savant Kochalka (Monkey vs. Robot) is back with his second collection of "sketchbook diary entries" from his popular Web comic. Some strips depict a working cartoonist's life: signings at comic book stores, teaching at the Center for Cartooning and cleaning up eraser dust before company comes over. But most are sharply observed vignettes that magically, day after day, grow into an offbeat but affecting story of family life in Burlington, Vt. Kochalka is at his best chronicling the various coughs, cold sores and warm, throbbing ear fevers he and his child contract, wondering where the cat has thrown up this time and coping with the consequences of a vow he makes never to be unhappy again. (It wasn't his fault—he got carried away while shoveling extra-fluffy snow.) Kolchaka's art takes advantage of the fact that these strips are supposed to be entries in a "sketchbook diary." It's rough and kinetic, using vivid colors and surreal figures (his best friend is a dog; an acquaintance may turn out to be a cyclops). The result is surprisingly realistic, but also versatile, able to handle poop jokes and late-night worries with equal weight. (Feb.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1891830856
• ISBN 13: 9781891830853
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192