The Late Child And Other Animals

by Marguerite Van Cook, James Romberger

In this graphic memoir, a World War II survivor/single mother has a child out of wedlock, and the law threatens to take her children away from her. Hetty survives the bombing of Portsmouth by the Nazis in World War II, only to learn that her soldier husband has been killed on the way back home from North Africa. She must then complete the adoption of her young daughter June alone. A decade later, she gives birth to a bastard daughter, Marguerite. Now Hetty must go before a tribunal to prove that she will be a fit mother. What follows is the story of little Marguerite’s childhood in the recovering British naval port and the rural beauty of the Isle of Wight and in Normandy, France. The journeys and struggles over decades of this mother and daughter are linked in five episodes that veer between lyricism, wry wit, and harrowing suspense. The Late Child and Other Animals is an original graphic novel, a generational autobiography written by legendary punk diva and award-winning poet Marguerite Van Cook, adapted by artist James Romberger, the creator of the Eisner-nominated Post York. The team of Romberger and Van Cook is also responsible for the adaptation and art of 7 Miles a Second , their critically acclaimed graphic memoir collaboration with the late multimedia artist and AIDS activist, David Wojnarowicz. 2015 Ignatz Award Outstanding Story ("Nature Lessons") Full-color

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, War, Graphic Novels Comics, Memoir, Biography, Comic Book

180 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2014

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most original GN I have read; a dreamlike look at trauma and how coping with it can cause other issues. I am always looking for GN that explore issues that address trauma; I believe it might be one of the best mediums to examine such issues. Marguerite Van Cook does a fine job of addressing such issues under the shadow of war.

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

About how growing up is terrifying and wonderful and spooky and animal and wild -- beautifully, darkly richly illustrated -- good times and bad -- WWII bombings and post-ballet sexual assaults alongside country idylls and enormous and sensually overwhelming French feasts -- apparently Van Cook is a super-punk? So this is an interestingly pre-punk/proto-punk/if you didn't know it you wouldn't guess it but when you learn that it beautifully makes sense as a sort of origin story. I am really interested to check out more of her work - the subtle power of this makes me swoon a bit.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I had read the edgy and experimental Seven Miles a Second with partner James Romberger and David Wojnarowicz. This was written by Van Cook, drawn by Romberger, and colored by Van Cook, a series of loose memoir short stories. Van Cook was born in England, lives in Brooklyn, was in a punk band, won a poetry prize, makes films and so on. So given that funky experimental background I hadn't expected a multigenerational memoir series stretching back to to WWII, ranging from joyful growing up moments to dark and foreboding danger at the edges of that joy. Threats to joy are always there. A pederast follows her home when she is maybe eight; that story is emblematic of the adult world of terror and assault. Some of these are essentially linked to coming of age, moving from girlhood to adulthood. The sketchy watercolors are attractive and fit the dreamy/sometimes scary vibe. It's good, but not that memorable for me, a little vague and spacey at times.

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author’s attempts at profundity on every page were so tired and ridiculous. The writing is really clunky (not often that I criticize the writing in graphic novels). The vignettes are all really boring. Just an all around no for me.

[Allison Seyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful graphic novel, but requires some patience when following the main character. My favorites were the first and last stories.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful.

[Lula · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked each part of the story individually but they didn’t flow at all, felt like it was missing something to tie them all together

so beautifully illustrated

[Althea J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the large scale of the type and the images to be refreshing. The large, beautiful art and text creates snapshots of the life being described which serves the storytelling quite well. The author's choice of stories to share painted an interesting portrait of a life.

The graphic novel proves itself to be the perfect medium for telling the story of her mother's experience during war, and then the challenges she faced as a widow. The imagery is so nimble in evoking a feeling for the time and place. And the pictures say so much about her mother's inner states during a stressful situation - way more effective than what could be described by words alone!

As the daughter of older parents, left to her own devices, a day's adventure in the course of a summer in the country captures the independent spirit of the author as a little girl. I loved how simply the coloring and storytelling is able to convey a young girl's realization that she is not the center of the universe, that nature is a grand and wild thing that is to be respected.

I loved how the stories touched on that line between childhood and adulthood, and the events and relationships that push you one way or another. When describing a particularly transitional summer in France, I love the line: "Childhood slipped on and off me so easily that year."

The coloring is gorgeous!! And older eyes will particularly appreciate the large format of the images and text.

[Ozro Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five vignettes tell the story of author Marguerite Van Cook's childhood, beginning with her mother's time in World War II. The first two stories - before Marguerite is even really a character in the story - are probably the strongest. As the book shifts to her from her mother, we see a child resistant to the pull and control of the "adult world," facing the horrors of what that transition will mean. It's gut wrenching at times, and highly relatable, even when almost none of the experiences are mirrors of my own.

The prose throughout the book is a bit tough to follow at times, but the artwork more than makes up for it. James Romberger does a fantastic job crafting this world seen through a child's eyes, and Van Cook's watercolors are outstanding. The pair is at their strongest when buying fully into metaphor, such as the representation of an adoption panel as five crows looking down on a single mother. Even when the setting is more straightforward and less exciting - like the pages upon pages of detailed food at the end - it's a treat to look at.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Late Child and Other Animals is Marguerite Van Cook's generational memoir adapted and drawn by James Romberger. Containing five connected vignettes ranging from her mother's difficult life during the Second World War to her own childhood and later life, Romberger spins Van Cook's complex life into a fairly experimental project that is fairly captivating. Van Cook's own portions demonstrate a woman who had a diverse upbringing, ranging from dark to joyful to mundane. Her own history in the proto- (or pre-) punk era makes up a good chunk of The Late Child, and it's here that the book shines the most since it feels the most emotionally resonant. Romberger's scratchy lines and soothing watercolors add a nice temperament to the narrative, making this a fairly decent graphic memoir all around. I just don't really find this kind of comic all that engaging and this one felt fairly middle of the pack in terms of quality.

[Brandon L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mesmerizing series stories that tell the autobiography of Marguerite, beginning with her mother’s experience during WWII, before segueing into Marguerite’s childhood.

All of this rendered in beautiful, beautiful water colors by James Romberger. Together, the interplay is astoundingly effective, at time alternating between enormous splash panels with more sequential style art. The last story includes a feast that really almost becomes an assault on the senses. I’m now deeply curious for more of an autobiography, this is such a strong entry.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustration, especially the second story. The men shifting from crows and back was amazing. There is an odd division to me in the transition between stories 2 & 3 when the point of view shifts. I preferred the mother's point of view, but I understand why the book was done how it is. Also, I know I shouldn't ask, but I want to know, what happened to the older girl?

[Greg Bem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite clear how this book is structured. The several "short stories" within seem connected, but there is little to no introduction to the book and everything feels like a dream. Still, the writing and the art are incredible.

[Amy Faulhaber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork, but WAY verbose and scattered. You can feel the author's ego and pretentiousness throughout. This book is a victim of "show, don't tell."

[Shereen Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully told, and very advanced story - never loses its way nor gets convoluted. Thanks to the stunning artwork.

[Mark Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the art in this one and a number of the stories are very insightful into childhood in England during WW2. Others, a bit more cliche.

[Sundry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the combination of affection for childhood and honesty about the pitfalls and dangers. Beautifully drawn. I read it on Hoopla, but I am going to order a hardcopy to keep and share.

[William Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Late Child and Other Animals could easily defy category- a memoir of sorts for those familiar with it's author, an accessible and partially coming-of-age story for the bastard children that can relate, an inspirational and sometimes harrowing tale of societal structures and expectations as well as archaic cultural rituals from an earlier time. All of this is executed with somber and vibrant brilliance, as illustrated by James Romberger, one of the unsung comic art storytellers- his work has rarely been so fluid, his storytelling as precise and dramatic as ever. Truly, the colors (by Van Cook) add the "third voice" to this book, flooding Romberger's art in a new coat and bringing the hues and shades all the more closer to us on every page. Really, I cannot recommend this enough- buy it for your daughter, buy it for your son. Buy it for every third culture kid or late child in your life. You won't be sorry that you did.

I've read it three times now and it's been a fulfilling, emotional experience. The Late Child takes you on a journey along with the characters- and the end is satisfying, even if you want it to go on a little longer. Great, great, great book.

[Alex Onôv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los mejores cómics que he leido en los últimos tiempos, que desafía el propio concepto de narrativa tan propia de este medio, apostando por la memoria y el pensamiento poético como únicos vehículos. Prescindiendo completamente de trama o argumento, esta obra de Margarite Van Cook es un mosaico autobiográfico de recuerdos, impresiones y descripciones tan intensas y vívidas que se perciben como propias según se leen. Las sensaciones infantiles al experimentar en epifanías abrumadoras los secretos de la naturaleza (a veces aliada y a veces enemiga), las pulsiones y los descubrimientos del adolescente... todo se mezcla en un ensueño con reminiscencias de Proust, de Maupassant... Pero sobre todo, lo mejor de esta pequeña maravilla es su honestidad y su feminidad. Una joya que he descubierto con gran sorpresa.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing pictures of authors humanizes them so. It makes you realize there was someone who had an idea, and the will to see it through. Van Cook and her artist buddy James Romberger have crafted an almost great book. I say almost, because sometimes the purple prose swamps the elegaic imagery: there is much about the transcendence of the natural world that I felt needed some trimming. And the trip to France at the end (and this could mostly be tinged with the greenest envy on my part) tested my patience.
Having said that: 3 out of the 5 stories involving the Blitz, the tale of a mother's adoption bid told in a surreal manner, and an encounter with a pederast are beautifully rendered, jolting, honest. This is definitely one of those books that is perfect ammunition when trying to get someone who doesn't like comics to give them a try.

[Kristin]

The illustrations were GREAT in this, and there was nothing deficient about the story either, but unfortunately it was a fatality of other books and limited reading time, so I suppose it got the axe and I never finished it. Recommended though.

[Nick Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cold framing of the art prevents me from caring about these characters and their burning city.