“Since Richard’s reviewed one of the new releases from
Blank Slate Books (Trains Are Mint,
reviewed here), I thought I’d take a look at the other one:
We Can Still Be Friends by German cartoonist
Mawil. I picked the book up with some trepidation, because it seemed like a kind of book that I’d read before, more than once. There is no shortage of black-and-white autobiographical comics in which a slightly nerdy, white, male, middle-class cartoonist talks about his troubles with women. And sure enough, the content of We Can Still Be Friends is nothing new; but the way Mawil tells his stories makes it stand out from the crowd.”
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Forbidden Planet
“Mawil is one of the most popular comics creators in Germany. He has had 6 books published in his home country, with Beach Safari published in English by Top Shelf. Mawil created this 64-page comic as his MA thesis, and it deals humorously with 4 unrequited (naturally) crushes he had from when he was a boy up to a student. He maintains a lightness and humour, never descending to the narcissism or self-pity that many such autobiographical comics would have done. In part this is helped by having the stories told as if they were being discussed in a bar with friends (with the associated laughter, incredulity and commiserations). I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t find some sympathy with at least one of the situation that Mawil describes.”
mehr:
comixinflux.com
“Love Mawill’s book, too. I was dreading this on first skim, because if there’s one kind of comic book I can’t stand, it’s the “self pitying cartoonist fails with the ladies” sub-genre riddling the back catalogues of Top Shelf, Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, etc. But Mawill’s work is lacking entirely in melodrama and any real self-pity. It’s just touching, funny, and human, and exquisitely cartooned. Really – visit his
website and have a hoke around. He’s cracking. I’ve a real hankering to see more of this guy’s work translated into English now.”
mehr:
badlibrarianship.com