Ganges #1

Ganges #1

by Kevin Huizenga

Kevin Huizenga introduces his everyman Glenn Ganges (previously seen in the acclaimed Drawn and Quarterly Showcase and Or Else ) to the "Ignatz" family with this suite of all-new stories. Ganges tries to decide what to do when confronted with "The Litterer"; gets into an argument with his wife Wendy about The Beatles' "She's Leaving Home"; indulges in some whimsical "Time Travelling" while on a walk around his neighborhood; and more! Huizenga's elegant neo-clear-line style brings a crispness and humor to these low-key slice-of-life stories, and the gray-blue duotone he has picked gives the art a new depth and complexity

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Kevin Huizenga was born in 1977 in Harvey, IL and spent most of his childhood in South Holland, IL, near Chicago. He attended college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved to St. Louis in 2000 where he lives and works.

He began drawing comics in high school, xeroxing his first issue (with friends) at the neighborhood Jewel Osco in 1993. Since that time he's made approximately 30 more. In 2001 the Comics Journal named him "Minimalism Cartoonist of the Year" and called #14 of his "Supermonster" mini-comic series "one of the best comics of any kind released in 2001."

In 2001 he also started the Catastrophe Shop http://www.usscatastrophe.com, an online shop for self-published mini-comics (now run by Dan Zettwoch http://www.usscatastrophe.com/zettwoch/).

Reviews

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel on the way to the library is a significant part of my life, and I can't imagine a better way to illustrate the experience than with comic panels arranged just as they are in the first story of this book. The mandala with "same story except in french" made me laugh out loud. Midway through the book there is another clever use of panels, illustrating the feeling of absorbing several media inputs with another person around, also a big part of my life. The last story, with another mandala, this one of sleeping lovers watching one another, was less touching than it should have been, maybe because I'm not in a relationship.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently my favorite comics author, Kevin is exploring comics in a way that no one else is. He experiments with the form while shifting from beautifully mundane moments to mind-twisting concepts to random science facts (explained in a very Radiolab-put-to-comics sort of way). All the while he draws in a way that looks effortless and inviting.

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely the kind of comic I like to read that sort of fills the hole where other people put superhero comics.
I'm such a little snob. But I liked this subtle reflection on time and change and things like that.

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good indie comic writer. See my review here: http://trebro.livejournal.com/275687....

[Saba · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending bit is so honest and tender. I loved it.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read. A great feel for the emotion of ordinary moments.

[snott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too cute for me. I'd like to see some of the ideas pushed past the living room.

[danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

keenly observational and imaginative nearly-monochromatic graphic novel packaged in a format whose material origins lie somewhere between a magazine and card-stock.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Huizenga is just the best.