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Nobrow 17 x 23
Lost Property
Gerald is just your regular everyday mailman. One day, having lost a precious and personal item, he visits his local lost and found. There he finds far more than he bargained for, because in this "self storage," each and every one of Gerald's lost possessions has been kept and contained.
Andy Poyiadgi makes films by day and comics by night. He has directed trailers for Heinz, Ford, the Guardian, BBC, BAFTA, and The Sopranos. He has contributed to several anthologies, including Wu Wei and ink+PAPER. His recent comic, Teapot Therapy, was shortlisted for the Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize.
Andy Poyiadgi makes films by day and comics by night. He has directed trailers for Heinz, Ford, the Guardian, BBC, BAFTA, and The Sopranos. He has contributed to several anthologies, including Wu Wei and ink+PAPER. His recent comic, Teapot Therapy, was shortlisted for the Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize.
24 pages, Saddle-stitched
First published September 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 23, 2016
A beautiful and lovely piece, this short story has a sort of magical realism to it that edges on the uncomfortably bizarre. A mailman who loses a letter opener gets called to a Lost Property 'shop'(?) to collect it, only to discover all of the items there were once his.
I love the artwork and the panelling, and I especially like the fact that the narrator isn't the main character; it adds a layer of unknown to the MC who is already a closed and quiet person.
Though I do believe that some stories are better left as short teasers for thought and discussion, I would have liked a little more to this one as it get a bit rushed at the end.
I love the artwork and the panelling, and I especially like the fact that the narrator isn't the main character; it adds a layer of unknown to the MC who is already a closed and quiet person.
Though I do believe that some stories are better left as short teasers for thought and discussion, I would have liked a little more to this one as it get a bit rushed at the end.
February 9, 2016
A very sweet short comics story, a sort of fantasy, about a mailman who gave up his dream of being a sculptor. He gets a call from his local Lost and Found that they found his letter opener with his name on it. He goes there and finds the whole basement of the building is filled with his lost or missing things. It's not a realistic story, it's more magical realism, as the woman who works at the Lost and Found graduated from high school with him and he has not seen her since. So, the past and your abandoned dreams meet the present. The art has simple fairy tale elements and also some original ideas in it, very accomplished overall. I liked it very much. Sweet fantasy story for all ages about pursuing your dreams and making a future out of the past, not just letting it go.
What happens in spite of what you guess from my review so far will STILL surprise you. It did me, anyway. A kind of metaphorical resolution that seems simple yet is still powerful.
What happens in spite of what you guess from my review so far will STILL surprise you. It did me, anyway. A kind of metaphorical resolution that seems simple yet is still powerful.
April 4, 2016
A quaint little read in a thin pamphlet type format.
This one follows the story of a post man who is told that something he has lost has been handed in to the local lost property office. Upon arriving at the office the post man discovers a lot more than he bargained for!
For such a tiny little read this one really made me smile. It seemed to be just the right thing that I needed at the time. The art style was plain but very effective - I would recommend to all!
This one follows the story of a post man who is told that something he has lost has been handed in to the local lost property office. Upon arriving at the office the post man discovers a lot more than he bargained for!
For such a tiny little read this one really made me smile. It seemed to be just the right thing that I needed at the time. The art style was plain but very effective - I would recommend to all!
November 12, 2016
I don't normally buy graphic novels, but this was so beautiful and touching and thoroughly enjoyable!
August 9, 2016
I loved LOST PROPERTY! It's full of beautiful artwork, and it reminds you that it's never too late to go after your dreams. It's definitely a story that both children and adults can enjoy!
November 4, 2017
The illustrations were perfect and the story as a whole was so heartwarming. I loved it!
January 7, 2024
Lovely!
December 17, 2016
In a lifetime, we lose many things. Toys. Shoes. Gloves. Dreams. In this short story sort of graphic novel, we have Ged, a post carrier, who is very meticulous, and makes sure that everyone gets their letters and parcels, but his own things, he loses.
Until one day, something with his name is found, and he goes to the Lost Property office and finds his letter opener, as well as everything else he has lost over the years.
Sweet story about loss, and finding things again. Seems like a simple story at first, and then you get the deeper meaning.
Until one day, something with his name is found, and he goes to the Lost Property office and finds his letter opener, as well as everything else he has lost over the years.
Sweet story about loss, and finding things again. Seems like a simple story at first, and then you get the deeper meaning.
March 23, 2020
THIS IS PERFECTION. So cute and well-executed!
The art style is amazing and the panels were original in their layouts and design! THE PAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHINGGG! The story is so heart-warming and really well-rounded for 24 pages.
One of my faves from Nobrow's 17x23 series. Actually, I think this one might be my favorite thus far. :D
The art style is amazing and the panels were original in their layouts and design! THE PAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHINGGG! The story is so heart-warming and really well-rounded for 24 pages.
One of my faves from Nobrow's 17x23 series. Actually, I think this one might be my favorite thus far. :D
February 28, 2019
I love how he really didn't freak out that this store had all the things he had lost since he was a kid but instead created works of art. Truly a really cool story.
June 16, 2017
I like the art style and colour scheme - I believe it compliments the sentiments of the main character very well.
It's a charming little story that encourages one to pursue your dreams, no matter how late, but I do wish there was a little more plot development. Still, I guess with the length that was given (as these are meant to be very short one-shots) this is probably as good as it is.
Glad to have this added to my library of books.
It's a charming little story that encourages one to pursue your dreams, no matter how late, but I do wish there was a little more plot development. Still, I guess with the length that was given (as these are meant to be very short one-shots) this is probably as good as it is.
Glad to have this added to my library of books.
May 25, 2018
I liked this comic. Short and sweet. Lost and found. Art and re-purposing. Sort of reminded me in a way of The Night Bookmobile, but without being heavy and dark. While I was reading it I actually started to get the feeling that it might take a dark turn, but I was glad that it ended on a bright note.
March 8, 2018
I loved this so much! I happened to pick this up from my local comic shop and I have no regrets.
The story is about a man who finds a number of the items he lost throughout his life in the "Lost Property" shop in town.
The story is about a man who finds a number of the items he lost throughout his life in the "Lost Property" shop in town.
February 22, 2019
It's such a simple low key story. Nothing bombastic. It's the sort of thing you read quietly over tea during a rainy afternoon. At least it was to me. Fast, comforting, and calming. Plus the art is used as a storytelling element, instead of things feeling stilted or over-explained. I highly recommend.
July 23, 2023
Man, I'm so glad I decided to get the rest of these, these are so great ! I keep forgetting how good Nobrow's output has been over the years. This one's about a man who loses his letter opener, and ends up finding so much more. It's a story about how life often finds a way. It's a little corny, but also extremely sweet.
February 20, 2018
Lost Property is a short and sweet magical realism story about a postman who always loses things, and then one day, finds them all at once. A heartwarming story of lost dreams and finding them again.
February 20, 2018
I wish it were longer.
I liked the idea, I liked the story, but the lack of length kind of let it down a little. A quick 2 minute read that feels like it would have better belonged in a collection. But thinking of the story, maybe that was the point.
I liked the idea, I liked the story, but the lack of length kind of let it down a little. A quick 2 minute read that feels like it would have better belonged in a collection. But thinking of the story, maybe that was the point.
June 27, 2020
I received an eARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story, it's short and nostalgic. The paneling and the muted colors used in the art also very reflective of the mood the story evoked.
I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story, it's short and nostalgic. The paneling and the muted colors used in the art also very reflective of the mood the story evoked.
December 30, 2017
3.5 stars.
This was so cute, a simple but touching little story about losing things but also maybe getting a few back.
This was so cute, a simple but touching little story about losing things but also maybe getting a few back.
May 6, 2017
just for fun...
August 25, 2018
Dette var en kort og kjempesøt tegneserie. Likte tegningene, fargene og stemningen så godt, og handlingen var fin.
April 7, 2019
Charming, lovely story. Simple and sweet this beautifully illustrated graphic short story is a little treasure. Another brilliant publication from Nobrow Books.
May 13, 2022
Stapled with 2.25" flaps
April 29, 2017
Charming, eerie, sweet
April 23, 2015
I really love the 17x23 collection that Nobrow has. On the back flap of the book it says, "17x23 is a graphic short story project designed to help talented young graphic novelists tell their stories in a manageable and economic format. The hope is that, while the series encourages artists to write one-off stories, 17x23 can act as a springboard for more ambitious projects." I just think that is an amazing idea for a publishing company to do since it allows people who are not professionals or completely comfortable in the publishing world to publish their stories.
Now that I've rambled about my undying love for Nobrow, I will talk about the actual story.
I liked this story. It was not the best book I've read from Nobrow, but that's understandable because this is just a short story. For being as short as it was, this was a very well done story. I do wish, however, there were a few more pages in this about something. I don't know exactly what, but this story was missing something. I am not hating, though. I appreciate this story so much.
There was not really any characterization. Okay, there was a tad of characterization. But for a 24 page story, you cannot really understand all the idiosyncrasies of the characters. It was just a nice little story about losing everything and being who you want to be.
I did really like the art. The style that the artist chose to adopt was very beautiful, and worked very well with the story. Everything was very clear and there were no points in the story where I was confused as to what was happening.
If you're looking for a short, cute story, I would highly recommend checking this out.
Now that I've rambled about my undying love for Nobrow, I will talk about the actual story.
I liked this story. It was not the best book I've read from Nobrow, but that's understandable because this is just a short story. For being as short as it was, this was a very well done story. I do wish, however, there were a few more pages in this about something. I don't know exactly what, but this story was missing something. I am not hating, though. I appreciate this story so much.
There was not really any characterization. Okay, there was a tad of characterization. But for a 24 page story, you cannot really understand all the idiosyncrasies of the characters. It was just a nice little story about losing everything and being who you want to be.
I did really like the art. The style that the artist chose to adopt was very beautiful, and worked very well with the story. Everything was very clear and there were no points in the story where I was confused as to what was happening.
If you're looking for a short, cute story, I would highly recommend checking this out.
October 7, 2016
I adored this little graphic novel! It is everything I look for in any piece of art ever - thoughtful, imaginative, compassionate, resourceful, and above all else, quirky. Stumbling across it during a book crawl through Manchester was one of the best things that could've happened to me. It reminded me why it is I enjoy graphic novels/ comic books and also why they are so important as a literary genre + art form.
Studying Kate Atkinson's behind the scenes at the museum (in which there is a large metaphor about death being one big lost property cupboard where all the things we have lost in our lives are reunited, down to the last hair clip) meant that when I stumbled across this I finally knew what that book was trying to express. The emotions are so clearly depicted in the illustrations that it is easy to empathise with the characters, to feel their ideas and struggles come to life. It's a very human thing which is captured which is perhaps what makes it so impressive as humanity is so fleeting in every of it's many features.
Sometimes, the simplest things express the big ideas better than some grand gesture would. It's why children's fiction, such as Harry Potter, is so successful - it speaks to people in a way a tome full of jargon would be unable to. I'll treasure the lesson taught to me by this enlightening short story.
Studying Kate Atkinson's behind the scenes at the museum (in which there is a large metaphor about death being one big lost property cupboard where all the things we have lost in our lives are reunited, down to the last hair clip) meant that when I stumbled across this I finally knew what that book was trying to express. The emotions are so clearly depicted in the illustrations that it is easy to empathise with the characters, to feel their ideas and struggles come to life. It's a very human thing which is captured which is perhaps what makes it so impressive as humanity is so fleeting in every of it's many features.
Sometimes, the simplest things express the big ideas better than some grand gesture would. It's why children's fiction, such as Harry Potter, is so successful - it speaks to people in a way a tome full of jargon would be unable to. I'll treasure the lesson taught to me by this enlightening short story.
May 24, 2015
"What's Past Is Prologue"
Oh, if only we could travel back to our early years to find the lost and broken pieces we need to reimagine, redirect and repair our futures. Well, Gerald gets to do just that in this mellow and knowing mood piece.
This is a 24 page comic, but presented in an elegant format. That works here, and enhances the vaguely distant, formal and just slightly melancholy tone of the work. Poyiadgi's drawings are colored in gentle pastels and feature crisp but not at all busy lines.
The figures are expressive, but often seem bemused and a bit overwhelmed by their own stories. There is a feeling of drift and indecision and lack of attachment that builds to a stronger than expected climax.
This is a sneaky and rewarding volume, and works as a nice introduction to Andy Poyiadgi's work. An intriguing find.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Oh, if only we could travel back to our early years to find the lost and broken pieces we need to reimagine, redirect and repair our futures. Well, Gerald gets to do just that in this mellow and knowing mood piece.
This is a 24 page comic, but presented in an elegant format. That works here, and enhances the vaguely distant, formal and just slightly melancholy tone of the work. Poyiadgi's drawings are colored in gentle pastels and feature crisp but not at all busy lines.
The figures are expressive, but often seem bemused and a bit overwhelmed by their own stories. There is a feeling of drift and indecision and lack of attachment that builds to a stronger than expected climax.
This is a sneaky and rewarding volume, and works as a nice introduction to Andy Poyiadgi's work. An intriguing find.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
May 5, 2015
Magnificent! Such a short pure story with a powerful impact that causes an emotional choke in the throat. I adore this book! Presented in the graphic novel format with simple, unpretentious illustrations this is an adult picture book about a man who gave up on his dream to become a sculptor and instead has spent his life as a mailman. Infused with a small dose of magical realism he walks into a Lost Property office to find it filled with all the misplaced, lost, broken and donated items of his past, even including the clerk, a former classmate. This head-on collision with his past brings his life full circle and he draws his former dreams into his current life. Beautiful, touching story that may have you thinking about your own life dreams that you let escape for the more practical aspects of life. Is it too late to realize them yet?
February 28, 2016
What if all of the seemingly inconsequential items you had as kid, teen, and young adult suddenly showed up somewhere in a huge collection when you least expected it? That's the plot of this slender yet resonant volume. Whimsical and sweet, this graphic novel in miniature transports the reader. The illustrations are beautiful and the writing spare yet elegant. If you like unassuming protagonists, then you'll enjoy Gerald and Agatha. One of my high school students introduced me to this series of short-story comics, and I'm glad she did. I read this slender paperback in one pleasant sitting, but it will definitely be one I'll hold into and reread again.
May 16, 2015
Gerald spends his days taking care of other people's possession and making sure they are delivered properly. When he loses an object, he gets a call that leads to a strange place where someone has been collecting all the things he cherished but lost or misplaced, and they are all waiting for hi. It turns out that Gerald has always wanted to be an artist, and now, using the objects that have been stored for him, he can do so. This was a very strange but oddly appealing concept for a graphic novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews