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Magic Boy & the Robot Elf
by James Kochalka
Magic Boy is an old, decrepit man. Lonely and confused, he decides to build a robotic replica of himself. However, the robot goes insane and attacks his creator, then goes back in time, and kills his creator's childhood self. The robot then lives out the entirety of his creator's life in his stead. Space and time warp around Magic Boy and his Robot Elf, and fact and fantasy fracture and get shuffled together.
Magic Boy is an old, decrepit man. Lonely and confused, he decides to build a robotic replica of himself. However, the robot goes insane and attacks his creator, then goes back in time, and kills his creator's childhood self. The robot then lives out the entirety of his creator's life in his stead. Space and time warp around Magic Boy and his Robot Elf, and fact and fantasy fracture and get shuffled together.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
21 people want to read
About the author
James Kochalka
209 books106 followersJames Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal. Largely autobiographical, Kochalka's cartoon expression of the world around him includes such real-life characters as his wife, children, cat, friends and colleagues, but always filtered through his own observations and flights of whimsy. In March 2011 he will be declared the cartoonist laureate of Vermont, serving a term of two years.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 22, 2017
Utterly absurd and hilarious. Laughed out loud at the library. :S
June 6, 2024
Didn't think I'd see a robot get jerked off today. No siree
November 12, 2024
This was certainly something
May 4, 2025
Well, that was… hmmm, weird, I think that’s the right word. A little sad, a bit funny, a little unexpected, a bit strangely plotted, but mostly just weird.
May 13, 2015
After reading this reprint of his first mini-comic/graphic novel, I've come to a conclusion about James Kochalka: sometimes a little bit can go a long way. I absolutely adore his "American Elf" books but I think that's because (a) I respond more strongly to autobio comics, and (b) Kochalka's signature brand of surreal, wide-eyed lunacy can be a tough sell in a longer work. Having read a lot of his output, I can say I'm definitely a fan but I prefer his comics in measured doses.
The story of "Magic Boy & The Robot Elf" is typically Kochalka-esque: an old man is afraid of dying so he builds a robot elf to hold all his knowledge and continue his legacy. There's also time-traveling, an alien kitten sentry, an exhibitionist mother, and a surprisingly violent murder. Honestly, for the first half of the book, I wasn't into it; I felt like it was just weird for the sake of being weird. As I read on, however, I got more invested in the story and it ended on an appropriately bizarre note that was actually pretty moving. It's one of those odd experiences where the aftertaste is somehow more satisfying than the actual meal.
James Kochalka is a polarizing but important voice in comics. His musings on life and death and his freakishly adorable characters are always worth listening to, even if they can occasionally be a bit long-winded. At the very least, he creates comics that definitely provoke a visceral reaction.
The story of "Magic Boy & The Robot Elf" is typically Kochalka-esque: an old man is afraid of dying so he builds a robot elf to hold all his knowledge and continue his legacy. There's also time-traveling, an alien kitten sentry, an exhibitionist mother, and a surprisingly violent murder. Honestly, for the first half of the book, I wasn't into it; I felt like it was just weird for the sake of being weird. As I read on, however, I got more invested in the story and it ended on an appropriately bizarre note that was actually pretty moving. It's one of those odd experiences where the aftertaste is somehow more satisfying than the actual meal.
James Kochalka is a polarizing but important voice in comics. His musings on life and death and his freakishly adorable characters are always worth listening to, even if they can occasionally be a bit long-winded. At the very least, he creates comics that definitely provoke a visceral reaction.
May 17, 2015
Bought this book under a kind of duress, but it was totally worth it.
As the summary says, Magic Boy is an old man who builds a robot which goes back in time and kills him to take his place.
It's a crude book which reveals the author's crude mind, but it's one of vulnerability. Magic Boy struggles with being old, but also enjoys it, and reminisces about his life.
There's a lot of vulnerable frailty, magic boy's nudity is not avoided as the capabilities of his own body are part of the exploration.
There's also a lot of weird shit that doesn't make all that much sense. But if you like things like Ivan Brunetti's Schizo, this will be right up your alley.
If you like robots who are killer and confused and vulnerable, if you like cats with agendas, if you like dopey old men, if you like very unstylized violence and people unafraid of having caused their own deaths, you will enjoy this book.
As the summary says, Magic Boy is an old man who builds a robot which goes back in time and kills him to take his place.
It's a crude book which reveals the author's crude mind, but it's one of vulnerability. Magic Boy struggles with being old, but also enjoys it, and reminisces about his life.
There's a lot of vulnerable frailty, magic boy's nudity is not avoided as the capabilities of his own body are part of the exploration.
There's also a lot of weird shit that doesn't make all that much sense. But if you like things like Ivan Brunetti's Schizo, this will be right up your alley.
If you like robots who are killer and confused and vulnerable, if you like cats with agendas, if you like dopey old men, if you like very unstylized violence and people unafraid of having caused their own deaths, you will enjoy this book.
September 19, 2011
Magic Boy is nostalgic for his youth so for some reason he builds a robot elf. The robot elf goes back in time, kills the young Magic Boy, and takes his place. Magic Boy in the present watches all of this through some TV. He decides to kill himself but an alien spacecraft shows up, he shoots the alien, jumps into the spacecraft and goes into space. Then he regresses into his youth through some space magic, until he becomes an embryo.
Yeah, weird. James Kochalka's first published comic book is kind of all over the place ideas wise and Kochalka's freewheeling plotting is kind of funny. Practicality and logic will not get in the way of the story Kochalka wants to tell. It's interesting in places but overall it's not that great a comic book as it's strangely dull despite the fantastical elements throughout. New readers to James Kochalka should check out American Elf and Fantastic Butterflys for better books by this brilliant artist.
Yeah, weird. James Kochalka's first published comic book is kind of all over the place ideas wise and Kochalka's freewheeling plotting is kind of funny. Practicality and logic will not get in the way of the story Kochalka wants to tell. It's interesting in places but overall it's not that great a comic book as it's strangely dull despite the fantastical elements throughout. New readers to James Kochalka should check out American Elf and Fantastic Butterflys for better books by this brilliant artist.
October 29, 2014
This book is good though I can’t really put my finger on why. It’s strange, and quick, and unpredictable. It doesn’t really go anywhere, yet something is always happening. Maybe I should back up a bit and tell you what the book is actually about?
Magic Boy is old. He is really old. One night he decides to build a robot version of himself, but the robot proves insane and uses a time machine to travel into the past and kill his creator as a young boy. Then the robot lives out the life of his creator. Being killed as a child has no effect on the older Magic Boy however, as he sits at home watching the events unfold on his special viewfinder. Like I said it is strange.
I did enjoy the book. There is something indescribable about it. You read and you know you read it, but you’re not sure what has really happen.
Magic Boy is old. He is really old. One night he decides to build a robot version of himself, but the robot proves insane and uses a time machine to travel into the past and kill his creator as a young boy. Then the robot lives out the life of his creator. Being killed as a child has no effect on the older Magic Boy however, as he sits at home watching the events unfold on his special viewfinder. Like I said it is strange.
I did enjoy the book. There is something indescribable about it. You read and you know you read it, but you’re not sure what has really happen.
October 31, 2008
4 bintang untuk imajinasi Pak Kochalka dan warna oranye untuk menggambarkan masa lalu.
Makin lama aku makin bisa menikmati kartun Kochalka yang ceritanya adalah perpaduan kehidupan sehari-hari yang tampak remeh misalnya ngasih makan kucing sampai hal-hal yang canggih misalnya membuat robot super canggih dalam waktu semalam. Tidak perlu terlalu serius membaca ceritanya, santai saja.
Tokoh favoritku di buku ini adalah.... (lagi-lagi) kucing.
Makin lama aku makin bisa menikmati kartun Kochalka yang ceritanya adalah perpaduan kehidupan sehari-hari yang tampak remeh misalnya ngasih makan kucing sampai hal-hal yang canggih misalnya membuat robot super canggih dalam waktu semalam. Tidak perlu terlalu serius membaca ceritanya, santai saja.
Tokoh favoritku di buku ini adalah.... (lagi-lagi) kucing.
June 18, 2012
Found this at the local half-priced book store. It was a quick read. Seems to be from the era when alternative comics meant that story was optional and weird characters doing goofy random stuff was considered good. Even as a "surrealistic" comic, which the blurb trys to sell it as, it doesn't quite deliver. I'm gonna feel kind of bad selling it back to the bookstore but hey "caveat emptor".
January 7, 2009
A little confusing and slightly depressing, but a quick and decent read.
November 14, 2010
More like a pop song than a comic in some ways.
December 19, 2012
Robot + ball bag lump = slightly confusing time travel nonsense.
December 21, 2013
The strangest and least accessible of what I've read of Koschalka. But the storyline....is tres inventive.
'Back to the Future' weird.
Just proves what you can do with comics, I guess.
'Back to the Future' weird.
Just proves what you can do with comics, I guess.
October 7, 2024
A more mature work from the author of Superf*ckers. Surprising, seeing that this came first.
December 29, 2015
I liked it, but I'm not sure I understood it. There was a lot that felt like it came out of nowhere. It was still good though.
September 20, 2016
I don't think I really understand this, or else I just don't appreciate it. Meh.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews