Ellerbisms: A Sporadic Diary Comic

by Marc Ellerby

The cult autobiographical web-comic is finally released in a handsome collection from Great Beast Comics.

Ellerbisms is the story of a relationship told in pictures through the autobiographical comics of Marc Ellerby. Ellerbisms catches a glimpse into the life of a young couple, their highs and lows, their sighs and LOLs.

Ellerbisms collects more than 200 original strips plus an additional 30 pages of brand new material exclusive to this edition.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Biography, Nonfiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Marc Ellerby is a cartoonist based in Essex, England. His comic book work includes the autobiographical diary comic Ellerbisms, the YA urban fantasy comedy Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter as well as illustrating licensed properties such as Rick and Morty, Doctor Who,and Regular Show.

Reviews

[Carly Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, I read it in one sitting. Half wish I had discovered the blog and had it drip fed though but very enjoyable. Voyeuristic, your reading his diary but with permission. I look forward to more from him.

[Alex Sarll]

I'm not usually much for straight autobiography in comics, but the page-a-day constraint on most of this prevents the endemic sins of the form. Plus, having encountered Ellerby's work everywhere from Phonogram to Who and Rick and Morty, I do love the way he cartoons - a style which, again, offers a counterweight to any wallowing. Meaning that it balances out as an easy but ultimately very affecting read. Lovely stuff.

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up on a whim at a sale and it was a satisfying read. Ellerbisms is a collection of a webcomics documenting moments in the author/artist's life. Most of the comics deal with his relationship to Annie and their eventual breakup. There are some really emotional moments, but given the choppy day by day format, they do not flow well, nor do readers always get resolution. But the book is an experimental form and an interesting one to read. The art is strong and there's some good humour.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Ellerby walks a treacherous fence between comic relief and emotional breakdown in this collection of his autobio strips (most of which ran on the web several years ago). It's the kind of balance most of us seek in life: can we laugh long enough to keep from crying? Luckily, yes, Marc can, and this keeps Ellerbisms from being the cliche diary comic where it's just navel gazing and self-absorption. Marc chooses his moments carefully, building his own narrative about chasing one's artistic dreams while also chasing romance, and finding triumph and heartbreak alike in both. Having worked with Marc on other comics, I know the raw honesty that is on display here. He is cagey in how he tells his tales, but he doesn't bury the emotion of the events. The result is a comic that is both entertaining and relatable.

[Gretel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS! I purchased this on a whim on Amazon for 77p or so and this week I've been trying to savor this, not wanting it to go too quickly. It is brilliantly drawn, extremely touching and tender but still very humourous. I love Ellerby's drawing style and I love the detail he put in some of his scenes (and it appears has good music taste too, he's a Rolo Tomassi fan!). I would definitely read other comics by him. I only wish this publication was longer. :(

[Joe Decie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spot varnish on the cover and rounded corners. Marc has gone to town on this book. I'd read it as a web comic and had collected the minis, so would be interested to hear how it reads to a newcomer. I for one very much enjoyed it.

[David Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, still as fresh as when I bought the photocopied ones from Marc at comic fairs.

For everyone else: this is a lovely story of two people which just so happens to be told using pictures. Get it, you won't regret it.

[Todd Roboltou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a good time reading this comic, autobio comics always leave me feeling I know people and have gained new friends somehow. Deeply personal in places, very interesting to note the change in art as Marc Ellerby grows as an artist along with the story.

[Twan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My gangsta-ass signed and doodled in version beats your copy. EASY

[Halima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this graphic novel at MCM comic con this past weekend. It’s an autobiographical novel composed of daily panels the author created capturing a moment from his day. I admired it because I felt it honest (though I’m aware that when retelling moments from your life, the story can be embellished) - I felt sympathy for Anna and found myself wondering at times why the author chose to share certain things about himself and his relationship. Regardless an interesting read that kept me engaged on my commutes to work this week.

[Julia A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh God, this book left me so emotional, I was not expecting that at all. The ending made me cry.
I loved getting a peek into the author's life through the daily comics, they did a wonderful job of telling a story that felt coherent and flowed, even though there were gaps that the reader has to fill.
I didn't read his Ellerbisms before, so I wasn't sure what I would make of it at first, but I am glad I picked up this novel.

[Andrew Brassington · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was lent this by a couple of friends and I hadn't encountered this comic before. I personally didn't gel with the structure of the book (a compilation of very small snippets from everyday life) because the pacing felt very weird. This was kind of hammered home through the epilogue which was given more than two pages, and had some breathing room to luxuriate in the main character's inner dialogue and it made my realise how much more I wanted that in the book.

[Just One More Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting this author at a con. I’d dragged my wife over because I saw Rick & Morty, yet ended up shopping for myself.
Ellerbisms is a wonderful look into into a couple in their mid twenties simply trying to work out how to make it in the world. Who can’t relate to that? (Aside from those yet to approach their mid twenties, I guess).

[Leo 9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book, although as it is a diary comic, it is a bit annoying hearing a really interesting topic on one page, then never hearing the conclusion, I'd say the best part in the book was the chapter ends, because he would draw a continues comic for a couple of pages

[Liam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in one day, even though I expected the end I didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as it did. Thanks for the insight to your life Marc.

[Dave Dellecese · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, genuine, roller coaster through life and relationships.

[Kate M T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it all in one go. I couldn't put it away. Great first love story and the real life ending. From 16 + I would say.
P.S. I would like to know who cleaning windows for free? 😉

[E.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I mentioned previously in my review of The Dalek Project I am no connoisseur of comic books, graphic novels or anything that could be remotely associated with art. However, like any amateur wannabe critic, I do know what I like…and I definitely like Ellerbisms.

Ellerbisms is a collection of short autobiographical comic strips that mainly hones in on the relationship between Marc Ellerby and his Swedish girlfriend, Anna. It also displays everyday life at its most exciting and its most tedious, captures the soul-destroying pain and intense euphoria that pursuing a creative career can evoke, and beautifully reveals the traits of a typical, modern day twenty-something; an excitable, guilt-enslaved idiot, too busy overthinking and underthinking and not thinking at all.

The whole thing is best described as irrelevant relevance, romanticizing the unimportant and downplaying the catastrophic. Turning a fleeting moment into a permanent one is strange, entertaining and thought-provoking, and it oddly forces the reader to consider their own life while reading the deeply personal thoughts of someone else.

To read this review in its entirety, please go to http://www.dystopic.co.uk/ellerbisms-...

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw these (Ellerbisms and Chloe Noonan) being promoted on Twitter (download + name your own price), and thought, why the hell not? I love comics, the art looks good and it sounds interesting. And after reading it? I am not disappointed. It was a good book, though a bit weird, at times comics just seem to end without them feeling like needing to end already.

Might write a longer review later, or maybe not. I would recommend this comic though, if you are looking for something short (most of the comics are one page and are about one day in the life of the author) and something interesting and at times funny.

[John Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read it on the web (it's less a story and more little snippets of time, though it does develop)

[Dosgallos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encantado con este descubrimiento

[miha · Rating 4 out of 5]

really really liked it, some pages really made me burst out laughing, others were sad, but good, and i just couldn't put it down till the end

[Ripham · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me ha gustado mucho. Es un continuo "contado no tiene tanta gracia, tenías que haber estado allí". Muy insustancial. No he conectado, me he quedado igual.