Pageant

by Justin Gradin

Ponce Melee is a lonely clock-puncher working for Twin Labs in the cloning dept. When he uses a strand of hair to clone a companion; it’s successful, but she immediately leaves him for greener pastures. So, he clones another potential companion. And that one leaves. And again. And again. Soon, multiple clones begin causing confusion and havoc around town. Meanwhile, one of the errant clones makes a pact with the devil that goes awry and strands Satan in town, forcing him to get a job.Justin Gradin’s sophomore graphic novel (after 2023’s Mystic Debris) combines keen verbal and visual wit with a host of memorable characters — Mandrake the Soda Jerk, private investigator Butterfly Latté, pop superstar Attilla the Hunny, and many more—to create an anarchic, absurdist comedy about lonely souls and the lonely soulless. Gradin’s work has echoes of Gary Panter, Gary Leib, Marc Bell, and Mark Beyer (and even some other cartoonists who may or may not be named Gary or Mark) while remaining a singular, sui generis voice in contemporary comics.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels

180 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

an absurd lil story about cosmic loneliness, cloning, crime, and deals with the devil!

the graphic novel's art style is evocative and bright, but also pretty gross. i can't say i enjoyed it visually, yet it's visually clever - both the images and comedic timing made me laugh here and there.

it's a fast-paced farce - bizarre, lusty, and cartoonishly violent, yet the fundamental theme of loneliness secures it in reality. this isn't a new favorite, but i love the absurdity, so i'd definitely read more from gradin.

[Eaon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surreal, gross and absolutely nonsensical. I had a fun little time with this one. Really enjoy how the author listed the media consumed while creating this, too.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pageant is the sophomore graphic novel from Justin Gradin. A relatively simple premise - a scientist named Ponce Melee clones for himself a female companion, but the clone leaves Melee for the pizza guy. Not deterred, Melee continues to make more clones, though each one in turn goes onto reject him. The story spirals out from there - with the original woman returning to the picture, along with her husband. The pair are running an insurance scheme that ties into the woman's innumerable clones, whilst other subplots begin to ensue. The book is frantic chaos, rendered with a uniquely bizarre art style contained to a four-panel grid layout.

Transgressive and mystifying throughout, Gradin's book is compared to the likes of Gary Panter, Marc Bell and Mark Beyer. Though the artwork does match the strangeness of those cartoonists, the story is a little too coherent and linear to fall into their bucket, but the aesthetic comparison does stand. An art style reminiscent of adult animation, with character designs coming into with lumpy, odd and even grotesque designs. It's a uniquely weird looking comic, though the story isn't nearly as weird as the art makes it out to be. Still, it's a pretty fun time.

[Cail Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to like here. Bigger review coming soon.

[Möwgli Skräp · Rating 5 out of 5]

so fun + fucked
like an adult punk rocko’s modern life

[Chris Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very weird, twisted stuff. Couldn't tell you what happened in this for the life of me.