Drinking at the Movies, by Julia Wertz
Format: Graphic Novel composed of brief, journal-ish entries, ranging from single-page reflections to few-page short stories.
Content Rating: PG-13, for language, drug use, and looooots of alcohol.
Plot: An autobiographical comic following Ms. Wertz through her first year in New York City, outlining four apartments of varying quality, seven crappy and quickly-lost jobs, and lots of creative development and frustration. And whiskey. A lot of whiskey. While she maintains that she didn't want to end up writing a confused-adult-encounters-lots-of-adversity-in-the-big-city-before-things-start-looking-up story, that's still what happens, but the book isn't any worse for it.
Thoughts: There isn't tons to say about Drinking at the Movies, but I almost always love me some autobiography comics. It's one of my favourite graphic novel genres. I was first introduced to Julia Wertz's work through her stint as the editor of I Saw You, and it's nice to see her stuff expanded to a fuller length. She has a lot of the qualities of a talented observational comedian--her stories are at once frank, filled with a well-captured "feel" that only experience can give, slightly sad, and of course hilarious. Her cartoony style really only enhances all the little details she works in, both visually and verbally. If you don't care for autobio comics, this one probably isn't going to change your mind, but if you do, then this is a great (and recent!) little romp filled with smiles and frowns in equal measure.
[Holden Out.]
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