Snake Pit 2007 by Ben Snakepit

by Ben Snakepit

Ben illustrates his daily life in 3-panel comic adventures involving beer, weed, work, shows, tour, and love. He journals his exploits from each and every day, whether he goes innertubing, attends raucous parties filled with monsters, or hangs out with his girlfriend. And for each entry he lists the song that he drew the day's strip to. His drawing and writing style is sincere and heartfelt, in a way that makes you concerned for Ben's happiness, whether you've met him or not. The quarterly and bi-monthly formats are no more, and now each year will be collected in a single slim paperback, just like in the beginning.

Genres: Comics, Music, Graphic Novels

Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

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

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh look, it's pot-smoking, Texan, punk-band-rockin me! Yep, a full year of 3-panel diary comics from one dudes life, a good quarter of which amount to "I went to work and stood there." Also, sometimes he goes on band tours to Carbondale, Illinois! And watches movies with his girlfriend! And eats food.

So, I get it, and I actually enjoyed it alot, the intent to be fairly positive about a not-entirely thrilling life! Even if you draw just kind of ok! High-fives dude. On the other hand, it's just somebody's diary comic. And if I was reading and rating my own stuff I'd probably just give it a 3 too. It's totally fun, but it doesn't amount to all that much. And that's totally cool. Hooray.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Party Garbage: https://www.discogs.com/artist/134907...

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same. Which is a good thing. Life broken down into 3 panels a day.

[Craven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since Ben Snakepit says that his comic was written to be read on the toilet and that's where I read it, I'd say that it was good for it's intentions, actually perfect for it's intentions. Nonetheless, I think it's about as literal as you can get when it comes to what 2 stars means on goodreads.com, "it was ok".