AUTOBIOGRAPHIX

This slim anthology of autobiographical musings by established comics stars and up-and-comers alike is a mixed bag. Autobiography in comics is a tricky business; a unique perspective is key. Much of this material is straightforward reminiscences from aging talent: Will Eisner on his first rejection; Paul Chadwick on an old apartment; Stan Sakai on a trip to Europe; Sergio Aragones on an encounter with Nixon, etc. These pieces, like others in the book, are fairly prosaic memoirs by artists that veer often into sentimentality and vagaries. Though well drawn in loose, cartoony styles, the stories have no urgency and seem arbitrarily chosen. Furthermore, these and other artists show the world through their eyes, but reveal nothing unusual in the process—it's like sitting next to someone on an airplane and listening to him recite his life story in a monotone. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are a few fine pieces. Frank Miller's hyperbolic account of going to the Daredevil film premiere is ridiculous and entertaining; Paul Hornshemeier's pencil and ink story about drawing his story is thoughtful and well rendered; and Eddie Campbell, of From Hell fame, trumps the entire book with a devastating account of losing his artistic confidence, drawn in his trademark shaky, sensitive pen line. This compilation may be nobly intentioned, but autobiographical comics pioneer Campbell's contribution ultimately shows its deep flaws: in the hands of a master, autobiographical comics can be poignant and affecting, but even those skilled at other kinds of graphic storytelling can't always bring that eloquence to their own experience. (Dec. 2003)