Percy Gloom

Percy Gloom #1

by Cathy Malkasian

Cathy Malkasian has made the jump from animation to the printed page with a graceful, delicate leap. She deftly uses her pencil to create thick, expressive characters moving through the twilight of a shadowy Orwellian world. Humorous and bewitching at the same time, Percy Gloom is a unique gem of a story. The story begins with our hero bravely striking out on his own for the first time, leaving his mother's house to apply for his dream job as a cautionary writer for the Safely-Now Corporation. In the process, he uncovers an unreal world of secret societies, benevolent families, and bureaucratic security. Lazy-eyed Percy Gloom fights to overcome the loss of his wife, Lila, to a truth-pointing, lotharian cult leader. Approached by his doctor to help protect some special people and given advice by some talking goats, Percy comes to terms with his place in the gloomy world and finds himself reaching enlightenment (literally). Percy Gloom is an absurd but hopeful fable for these strange times we live in.



2008 Eisner Award winner: Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award and 2008 Eisner Award Nominee: Best New Graphic Album.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Adult, Comix

174 pages, Hardcover

First published June 25, 2007

About the author

Cathy Malkasian's alternative comics career began at age four, with the covert distribution of sketches to an unreceptive neighbor (“Keep your brat’s pamphlets off my porch!”). Hot on the heels of this and various kindergarten triumphs, she became overbearingly enthused, teaching herself to sketch and paint, pursuing music lessons, play auditions and somehow ending up with a degree in musicology. Her blend of goofiness, sarcasm, and rumination has carried her through the years.

In the early 1990s Malkasian began her career in animation, starting in design and storyboarding, then directing series episodes and pilots, and eventually co-directing the Wild Thornberrys Movie in 2002. Soon after she turned her efforts to novel and graphic novel storytelling, and returned to animation to direct many episodes of Curious George TV.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Percy Gloom's dream job is at Safely-Now, a Cautionary Writing Institute, where he will test products and warn the public of their many dangers.


There's also possible tooth damage if you bite the hairbrush...

Will a series of bizarre coincidences and even more bizarre characters keep the diminutive Percy from fulfilling his fondest wishes?

There's not a lot of rhyme or reason to this silly book, but there are a lot of things to love - the Funnelheads, muffins, Percy's mum, the ritual self-inflicted Deathslap, a telescope that allows you to see your twin (who may or may not be dancing a polka), and TALKING GOATS!

There's a wonderful, definitely non-gloomy message at the end, not to mention sheet music and lyrics so you can sing along with the goats.


An' a one, an' a two...

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Percy Gloom lives in an odd Dave Cooper “Crumple” sort of world. There are "just add water" mountains and goats that sing opera. This reads like a Kafka tale, had Kafka also been a cartoonist who trained under Edward Gorey, Richard Sala and Dave Cooper.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that I was hallucinating. There are few comics that are as sweet, humorous, poetic, and beautiful as Percy Gloom. The quirky art drew my attention but the beautiful story and gems of wisdom that are tossed like pearls kept me hooked on Percy Gloom. A most read for comic enthusiasts looking for a break from super-stories or anyone looking to see where words, panels, and drawings are capable of taking you.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann.
Strange unexpected storytelling, that transcends its at-first difficult-to-swallow-illustration style. I loved the details in the illustrations - the giant snails, the shapes of the trees. Transgressive and dark, despite its seeming naivete.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[...] it is a shame that we trample so many people while running from our shadows."

[Ill D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Percy Gloom is a one of those graphic novels that at first glance looks like it'd be something exciting and fresh, but stellar artwork- no matter how hypnotic- is no replacement for a scant and bizarrely developed plot that touches on various philosophies like existentialism, nihilism, and various phenomena that we all face- but doesn't really coalesce into any powerful message or conclusion. We're supposed to feel sad for Percy- and that's basically it. We see him try to make sense of the oddly fantasy-esque world that he is thrust into- that we can barely make sense of ourselves. He's something of an autist, a hypochondriac, and a momma's boy- saturated with timidity and a, disappointingly, unendearing simplicity and single-mindedness- under which there is supposed to be buried a heart of gold. While such a character construction might work in another story- how this character is formed, grown, and interacts with his outside world I find myself unable to care because his world is very strange, very different, and thus unnervingly un-relatable.

While the writer probably meant to create this fantasy world as something of a caricature of our world in order to critique its institutions she doesn't like (like corporate America I guess)- it just comes across as trite and stupid because her treatments of them are so simple and uninspiring. Percy too faces volcanic vituperations from capricious bosses. As his job unfolds he also confronts the typical conniving over-achieving co-worker. Unfortunately its not so much the simplistic and insipid take on this institution but, that fact that its importance to the plot is minimal and it merely exists as a segue to the actual conflict. Nothing to see here folks, move along.

And the conflict itself is pretty stupid. And the only way to cure it is for Percy to go through a highly abbreviated and unexplained- like everything else in this novel- mythical journey- that would take up a significant portion of a book of any other novel in this fantasy genre- but only takes a few pages in this- in which the protagonist acquires a stupid macguffin to tie all the loose ends up. Through which the antagonist is supposedly vanquished- even though we never see what happens to her. And Percy lives his life by coming to a puerile existential conclusion that life is just is and we need to enjoy it just 'cause. How dumb.

I think there is supposed to be some subtle critiques of nihilism - in that the antagonist is fearful of death and has committed- along with her diabolical followers- despicable acts to hold its icy hand at bay. Also, there seems to be a cagey affirmation of eastern philosophy as superior since the antagonist is defeated by the knowledge- that everything always was with no beginning with no end. Fatalism also seems to play a part in this but, isn't really discussed at all.

I hope someday Cathy Malkasian can put her stunning and hypnotic pencil work to a story that actually is emotionally involving and relatable to her dear readers. Until then I'll be yawning away.

[ᗩᑎᗪᖇᗴᗯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly different

I love the art, and the feel of Percy's bizarre and melancholy world, and the dialogue is chock-full of quotable gems - I'm almost sorry to have read a dead-tree edition that I can't easily click'n'share from.

For those who have questioned the author's message, I'm not sure there needs to be one. Someone described this book as "Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland meets Terry Gilliam's Brazil" and that's a pretty good description of what I got from it.

Very highly recommended.

[Gabriel Infierno · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a sweet book, the illustration and art in general is very well done and even though I like it, I end up not being crazy about it, I don't even know really why, I think that maybe all the metaphors don't trigger nothing or have something that I can personally relate, I don't know, I think I might give it a second reading in a while so I can maybe reach a better conclusion, but for now, this is why I give this 3 points instead of 4.

[Dave Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing I thought about when entering the world of Percy Gloom was Alice in Wonderland . Hold that thought and lay on some of Terry Gilliam's Brazil and you're getting half way there.

An absolute delight. A bizarre world is Percy's inhabited by nightmarish consequences and peopled by grotesque characters. It's Dickens gone noir.

The fantastical narrative weaves itself around an omnipresent back story that ensures that this is no ordinary graphic novel. EXTRAordinary it is. It's down-the-rabbit-hole stuff peppered with some riveting flights of visual fancy.Not one pedestrian page or panel. Everything is integrated like a seamless garment.

It may seem a weird business to negotiate through all the characters that people Gloom's comic noir but everyone of them is unforgettable. Lines and washes on the page; thought and talk bubbles...a magic kingdom leaps out at you. Totally credible.

This is the comic you read in order to re-read often.

[Sean Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Beautiful, weird illustrations. A story about the meaning of life and cautionary writing--I think. It's Woodring weird, only with more words. Best line:
"As the world crumbled I warned against nail clippers."

[Kris Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

No

[Mireille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, weird, beautiful. A joy to read.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Larry C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surreal, wonderful delight that encompasses an emotional life lesson. I really liked this book. Malkasian is an amazing author and artist.

[Gareth Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of graphic novel - cute, crazy, melancholic, surreal, surprising, funny, sad, inventive and drawn beautifully.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd but gorgeous comic about a mild-mannered, gentle man named Percy who lumbers around with his enormous head. The story is quite a bit scattered in its approach as Percy goes from one situation to the next with minimal connection between them, but Percy Gloom works best as it blends the mundane goings on with the surreal backdrops of each narrative beat. Indeed, a lot of Malkasian's artwork is spare and functional for the story, but on occasion she allows for some more fantastical elements to really come forth. The economical use of the eccentric bits of artwork really works pretty well here and allowed for the story to have this beguiling atmosphere to it. The story of Percy Gloom has some Kafkaesque elements to it, but it also fits in some sweet and charming moments here and there.

I wish I connected with the story as much as I did with the tone and the artwork, because I do think there is some underlying brilliance to be found here.

[Ellen IJzerman (Prowisorio) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zo begon het om iets voor half twee vanmiddag en zojuist sloeg ik het eerste boek van Percy Gloom met een zucht dicht.



Een zucht van spijt. Omdat het genieten over is. Ik ♥️ van Percy, en ben blij dat zijn volgende avontuur naar mij op weg is!

[Justen Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Percy Gloom never really lives up to the promise of its beautifully rendered abstract world about a neurotic little man with a light-bulb head in a secretive town. It never establishes any stakes or real drama, instead focusing on the abstract soliloquys of its lead and his interactions with people who both despise yet ultimately need his sweet compassion. It's fine to experience once for its lavish illustrations but provides little incentive to return.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both Percy Gloom and Temperance are similar in that they are folksy fantasy parables that deal with big human themes. Percy Gloom follows a man coping with questions of live and death, entering a new city where these factors are writ large in the supporting cast around him. It's intelligent and well drawn, and worth a look.

Temperance is better, however.

[Jarrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming little book. Yes, it's superbly weird, I can certainly relate in many ways to the titular character. The author does an exceptional job of world-building, And it's a delight to go along for the ride on the pedal car with Gloom. With all the odd moments there is a certain sweetness, and powerful takeaways throughout the book.

[alifstyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year 2007 – Read a book about Harry Houdini in Bangkok, Thailand. Before that, I came across a poster for David Copperfield's road tour. Unfortunately, the tour was abruptly cancelled due to David Copperfield's scandal case.

[Donny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I was supposed to get from this. Or the artist's vision.

[Jess Rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feel like I missed something with this one...

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I suppose we all need our hobbies to keep ourselves busy..” μα φυσικά κύριε Percy!

[Eva Siagian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel grafis bagus.. recommended.. baca aja deh sendiri.. wkwkwk..
Nanti saya buatin video youtube ngomongin buku ini ;)

[Mickey Bits · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not get it. Did not enjoy it.

[Tony Rawls]

Delightful

A witty and whimsical tale .
Percy the odd but strangely familiar immortal little man. Looking forward to further adventures.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed the message in this one. The illustrations are a treat. Hard to follow, but who cares! Along the way, you're visually entertained and then there's a fable to feed your brain. Pretty fun.

[Salty Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Percy Gloom is a special sort of Mamma's boy, who gets sucked into a nightmarish world, where skewed characters come out of the woodwork. How he survives these uncanny adventures borders with insane luck.

[Nicholas Karpuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me.

I expected a sort of indie-comic transgressiveness, with the usual sort of depraved behavior and twisted scenarios. What I received instead feels more like a more whimsical Kafka.

Surrealism is an impressive trick to pull off well. You have to have a world with bendable rules, but one where the stakes for the protagonist still matter. Modern comics very rarely center on a nice guy. Anti-heroes and edgy jaded cynics normally populate comics, so its refreshing to have a story about a guy who's neurotic but genuinely wants the best for everyone and feels so passionate about the pain in his life that some pages hurt to read.

What snuck up on me was the optimism. Despite the name, there's a constant thread of hope that passes through this story. Roald Dahl often had the one kind adult archetype in his stories, the figure who helped kids realize that not everyone was a horrible human being. Cathy Malkasian puts characters of this type at even intervals, so the hopelessly neurotic and often mean-spirited people Gloom encounters don't overwhelm the reader.

And ultimately, the story leaves off with a set of moment that are both touching and ultimately satisfying. The struggles of life come through in a fascinating way when you have a character who could live forever or kill himself at will. It may not have a explosive conclusion, or a sexy style, but Percy Gloom will linger in my memories, digging a bigger impression the more I think about it.