Snake Pit 2008 by Ben Snakepit

by Ben Snakepit

Follow Ben's life through a transitional period, starting the year off with punks and puke and then mellowing out into watching TV and going to bed early. The way he lives his life may have changed, but the way he draws it is still the same honest, real, sloppy Snakepit that we all know and love.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Punk, Comic Book, Music

Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Ben is best known as the creator of Snakepit zine. Snakepit is a comic zine that features a three panel comic about each day of Ben's life. In interviews Ben has cited Jim's Journal by Scott Dikkers, a comic that appeared in The Onion, as his initial inspiration, although Dikker's comic was fictional, while Ben's is factual. Some issues of Snakepit have appeared as a split with zines such as Clutch, Tight Pants, Amazing Adult Fantasy and Gullible. Contributors to Snakepit have included Janelle Hessig of Tales Of Blarg. The zine was published quarterly until 2006.

In addition, Ben released the zine in one-year anthologies from 2001 to 2004. Snakepit was first published in book form by Gorsky Press in 2004. Entitled The Snake Pit Book, it featuring three years of Ben Snakepit's comic life, with a foreword by Aaron Cometbus. A second book of Snakepit comics, My Life In A Jugular Vein, published by Young American Comics, appeared in 2007. After the release of this book, Ben decided to return to the one-year anthology format with the release of Snakepit 2007 in spring of 2008, and subsequently Snakepit 2008 is anticipated in 2009.
Ben has released two one shot zines, Pills and Going To California.
Ben's work has also appeared in zines such as Capitol City 'Zine Compilation and Twenty-Four Hours and he has been interviewed in zines such as Comixville. As well, he writes a regular column for Razorcake zine.
Ben Snakepit is also a musician and has played with a number of bands including J Church. In 2006, J Church released a split single with the band Off With Their Heads, of which zinester Nate Gangelhoff is a member.

Reviews

[Eric Nagurney · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Snakepit books are pretty equally good, but this one is a little bit better than the previous because there's more dog in it.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical alterna-guy diary comics. Though nothing special art-wise or story-wise, the book is oddly engaging in its mundane day-to-dayness, and Ben Snakepit seems like just a nice dude who would be fun to have a beer with.

[Jennifer Whiteford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read the 2009 volume, but GR has no record for it for some reason. I sped through this as I do all of Ben's books. This was pretty much like all his others, compelling with it's day-to-day stories of Ben's life, but nothing earth shaking.

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray domesticity! Puppies and video games! More hangovers than crazy parties!
Opening a bank account, buying a truck! There's hope for me yet. An inspirational tale of learning to just keep on living every day! :P

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ben Snakepit draws a three panel comic for each day of his life during the year. This year he gets, or continues to be, old, in love and boring.

[Rye · Rating 3 out of 5]

My life in 10 years.