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Cartoon Clouds
In this graphic novel debut, a young man struggles to maintain his ideals and friends after art school. Joseph Remnant’s first original graphic novel Cartoon Clouds follows the recent art school graduate Seth Fallon and his three friends as they try to navigate that anxiety-fueled time between finishing school and trying to figure out what the hell they’re going to do with the rest of their lives. With a mountain of debt and no clear path to financial or emotional stability, Seth struggles to find a creative direction that won’t leave him homeless. In this world of fashion-conscious art snobs, talentless social media “gurus,” and drug addled, trust fund hipsters, he tries to hold on to the few meaningful relationships he has when the institution that held them together is no longer a part of their lives. Told through a series of engaging conversations among the characters that uncannily capture the preoccupations, fears, and ambitions of twentysomethings embarking upon their life, Cartoon Clouds is philosophically reminiscent of the films of Eric Rohmer or Noah Baumbach. Remnant has been a prominent presence in the cartooning scene over the last decade, self-publishing his own comic book Blindspot , illustrating Harvey Pekar’s acclaimed Cleveland , and appearing in such magazines as The Believer . Black & white illustrations throughout.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2016
3 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Remnant
8 books6 followersJoseph Remnant is an American illustrator and cartoonist based in Los Angeles.
He is best known for his comic book series Blindspot, and for illustrating Harvery Pekar's Cleveland.
His illustration work has appeared in such publications as The Believer, Vice, and Juxtapoz.
He is best known for his comic book series Blindspot, and for illustrating Harvery Pekar's Cleveland.
His illustration work has appeared in such publications as The Believer, Vice, and Juxtapoz.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 24, 2017
“To know what one ought to do is certainly the hardest thing in life. ‘Doing’ is comparatively easy.”--Maria Mitchell
In general you don't want to read the memoirs of thirty-something art school graduates, by comics artists or not. One thing, it will make you both cynical about the art world (sure, probably justified, to some extent, maybe) and cynical about the cynics about the art world. Who comes to mind that became cartoonists after hating art school: Jeffrey Brown (who now TEACHES cartooning at the Chicago Art Institute!), Daniel Clowes (Art School Confidential), and I'm sure there are others. And now this, by the guy who does the series Blind Spot.
The story focuses on a bunch of people who just graduated from Art School and face dead-end jobs or pretentious know-nothing art world cretins. One guy, Seth, is our decidedly anti-hero, bitter and depressed, working a burrito job, drinking a lot of beer and pot and a fading relationship with a really nice friend, Allison, who could be his girlfriend if he wasn't such an asshole about everything.
Sound fun to read so far? Well, you're right, it's not. Not really, and I can't recommend it to everyone. And it lacks the sense of humor of his buddy Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski) and Brown. All these people are miserable, trust me. But do I put it down? No, I do not. Who cares about these people? But I like Brown, Clowes and Van Sciver for their hopeless loser stories, and I do not put this down, I like it for its honesty about the main character, and read on to see if the clueless manage to find a clue somewhere lying in the gutter.
What happens? I begin to care for these people, lost as they all are. I forgot sometimes that graduation is not really a time for celebration for everyone. It means living in the real world, growing up, making your future. And basically none of these folks are yet in a good place.
One central issue in the story here is that Seth really does admire an artist, John Pollard, who is featured in a retrospective his ex gives him tix for. He chooses not to go, but then meets Pollard in a bar, where they have a great talk. This is The Turning Point, or one of them.
The drawing is not Brown or Van Sciver (deliberately) sketchy; this is very good drawing and cartooning. It's not slick, that wouldn't fit the vibe, but it is really good. And the story is solid, the dialogue is often very impressive, the characters are really engaging in their way. You get the feeling things will change for Seth, if he actually takes the advice of Pollard to focus on maybe cartooning and to get the hell out of town. There's an ambivalent ending with Allison, whom we are rooting for even more than the (at present) pretty assholic Seth.
So I get the feeling Cartoon Clouds could be the first in a series, and I would encourage Remnant to consider this avenue. I want to know what happens to Seth! And as a romantic, I wonder if he will hook up with Allison again at some point in the future. Oh, and "cartoon clouds" is just an example of a thing Seth draws well, in his sketchbook; as it turns out he really does have some talent that Allison and Pollard recognizes. And we are pulling for him, too.
Here's a great interview with Remnant by the Comics Alternative:
http://comicsalternative.com/comics-a...
In general you don't want to read the memoirs of thirty-something art school graduates, by comics artists or not. One thing, it will make you both cynical about the art world (sure, probably justified, to some extent, maybe) and cynical about the cynics about the art world. Who comes to mind that became cartoonists after hating art school: Jeffrey Brown (who now TEACHES cartooning at the Chicago Art Institute!), Daniel Clowes (Art School Confidential), and I'm sure there are others. And now this, by the guy who does the series Blind Spot.
The story focuses on a bunch of people who just graduated from Art School and face dead-end jobs or pretentious know-nothing art world cretins. One guy, Seth, is our decidedly anti-hero, bitter and depressed, working a burrito job, drinking a lot of beer and pot and a fading relationship with a really nice friend, Allison, who could be his girlfriend if he wasn't such an asshole about everything.
Sound fun to read so far? Well, you're right, it's not. Not really, and I can't recommend it to everyone. And it lacks the sense of humor of his buddy Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski) and Brown. All these people are miserable, trust me. But do I put it down? No, I do not. Who cares about these people? But I like Brown, Clowes and Van Sciver for their hopeless loser stories, and I do not put this down, I like it for its honesty about the main character, and read on to see if the clueless manage to find a clue somewhere lying in the gutter.
What happens? I begin to care for these people, lost as they all are. I forgot sometimes that graduation is not really a time for celebration for everyone. It means living in the real world, growing up, making your future. And basically none of these folks are yet in a good place.
One central issue in the story here is that Seth really does admire an artist, John Pollard, who is featured in a retrospective his ex gives him tix for. He chooses not to go, but then meets Pollard in a bar, where they have a great talk. This is The Turning Point, or one of them.
The drawing is not Brown or Van Sciver (deliberately) sketchy; this is very good drawing and cartooning. It's not slick, that wouldn't fit the vibe, but it is really good. And the story is solid, the dialogue is often very impressive, the characters are really engaging in their way. You get the feeling things will change for Seth, if he actually takes the advice of Pollard to focus on maybe cartooning and to get the hell out of town. There's an ambivalent ending with Allison, whom we are rooting for even more than the (at present) pretty assholic Seth.
So I get the feeling Cartoon Clouds could be the first in a series, and I would encourage Remnant to consider this avenue. I want to know what happens to Seth! And as a romantic, I wonder if he will hook up with Allison again at some point in the future. Oh, and "cartoon clouds" is just an example of a thing Seth draws well, in his sketchbook; as it turns out he really does have some talent that Allison and Pollard recognizes. And we are pulling for him, too.
Here's a great interview with Remnant by the Comics Alternative:
http://comicsalternative.com/comics-a...
December 29, 2017
I’ve lost count of how many comics I've read dealing with art school and early adulthood over the years. It's a recurring theme, especially with alternative comics. Write what you know, and all that …
Cartoon Clouds centers around a group of friends, recent art school graduates all. The main focus is Seth Fallon, a young man uncertain of his next move. Fairly close friends in college, the group gradually begins to drift apart as some find their direction while others flounder.
This is some nice writing. There's some depth to the characters. Remnant resists easy caricatures. Most characters have a chance to display more sides than just what we see in their initial scenes. The narrative flows nicely. The artwork is lovely, reminding me a bit of people like Bill Griffith and Bob Fingerman. I’ve previously seen Remnant’s work on one of Harvey Pekar’s books. It's nice to see that he can write as well. Recommended!
Cartoon Clouds centers around a group of friends, recent art school graduates all. The main focus is Seth Fallon, a young man uncertain of his next move. Fairly close friends in college, the group gradually begins to drift apart as some find their direction while others flounder.
This is some nice writing. There's some depth to the characters. Remnant resists easy caricatures. Most characters have a chance to display more sides than just what we see in their initial scenes. The narrative flows nicely. The artwork is lovely, reminding me a bit of people like Bill Griffith and Bob Fingerman. I’ve previously seen Remnant’s work on one of Harvey Pekar’s books. It's nice to see that he can write as well. Recommended!
March 23, 2021
Joseph Remnant is working some familiar territory here; from the first few pages, hell, the very first page, he displays the alternative cartoonist’s usual resistance to the art world, and to art school. Unsurprisingly, the book takes art world phonies to task for their pretentious, self-serving babble, and casts it protagonist as a bewildered, alienated young grad who, you know, just wants to paint, to draw, to make things, without buying into the hollow business of self-branding, scene-making, and hype. Cartoonists have often targeted art school as a kind of education in pretentiousness, instead championing the honest business of learning how to make images; Remnant’s hero is like that. His art school friends, OTOH, are so desperate to succeed in worldly terms that they accept various forms of compromise, and fall prey to the mendacity of art-scene hucksters and tastemakers. Lest we think our hero is too good to be true, though, Remnant shows his penchant for mistrust, aggression, and reflexive cynicism, and has him working the burrito assembly line at Burrito Dog as he struggles to make ends meet. The ending reminded me of Lucas’s “American Graffiti,” as the protagonist manages to, literally, get out of town, which in the context of this story — all about inertia, aimlessness, uncertainty — counts as a big accomplishment.
So, okay, familiar stuff, sort of Clowesian in its disaffected, acerbic ways. I was concerned, when I heard about this book, that the accomplished and very promising Remnant might get waylaid by semi-autobiographical navel-gazing and the alt-cartoonist’s usual self-reflexive alienation. But actually I quite enjoyed reading it. The protagonist is not an impossible caricature, the satirical impulse does not get over-nasty and does not smother the individuality of the characters, and, if the outcome is predictable, at least the journey is vivid. Remnant’s cartooning is excellent, working the grotty-and-textured organic tradition of Crumb, scratchy and alive, and full of well-observed details. And the ending soars a bit graphically, after the tight panel grids of most of the book. This is not fresh, revelatory material thematically, and finally it may amount simply to a cartoonist talking to himself, trying to explain his sense of vocation, trying to telling himself to buck up and think about the long term. But it’s lively, smartly written work that made me laugh out loud several times and had me investing in its hero. Remnant’s first solo graphic novel, this bodes well for him.
So, okay, familiar stuff, sort of Clowesian in its disaffected, acerbic ways. I was concerned, when I heard about this book, that the accomplished and very promising Remnant might get waylaid by semi-autobiographical navel-gazing and the alt-cartoonist’s usual self-reflexive alienation. But actually I quite enjoyed reading it. The protagonist is not an impossible caricature, the satirical impulse does not get over-nasty and does not smother the individuality of the characters, and, if the outcome is predictable, at least the journey is vivid. Remnant’s cartooning is excellent, working the grotty-and-textured organic tradition of Crumb, scratchy and alive, and full of well-observed details. And the ending soars a bit graphically, after the tight panel grids of most of the book. This is not fresh, revelatory material thematically, and finally it may amount simply to a cartoonist talking to himself, trying to explain his sense of vocation, trying to telling himself to buck up and think about the long term. But it’s lively, smartly written work that made me laugh out loud several times and had me investing in its hero. Remnant’s first solo graphic novel, this bodes well for him.
July 19, 2021
The stars this book earned were directly related to the illustrations in this book. I appreciate the attention to detail. Unfortunately, the stars lost were correlated to the niche perspective of the pretentious artsy white male. I've already been surrounded by far too many of these entitled men in artistic fields, I don't feel the need to recreationally read about their "struggles" even more.
November 5, 2017
I've read about art school angst in graphic novel format too many times, but just because a creator isn't breaking new ground doesn't mean their iteration isn't without worth. Writer/artist Joseph Remnant gradually won me over with his art and storytelling, especially the scene with the veteran professional artist near the end. I look forward to seeing what happens when Remnant uses his obvious talent to plow into some territory that hasn't been worked so much already.
March 17, 2018
One of the disaffected young person narratives that succeeds at being engaging - the balance in the mix of humor, griping, grimy driftlessness, and self-growth worked for me. The realistic art with its finely drawn lines and crosshatching gave the story weight and atmosphere and worked with the narrative to build the characters' personalities. Not as cynical as Art School Confidential, if I remember that one correctly.
May 1, 2018
This read more like a diary comic than a work of fiction, which (from me) is high praise. A recently graduated art student struggles to find his place in both the art world and the larger universe, without finding a ton of satisfaction. If you've ever wanted to pursue art as a career, done so, or known someone who does so, then an awful lot of this book will feel familiar.
September 16, 2025
really love Joseph's style and lettering. the story is a bit bleak but rightfully so, and ends on a bittersweet note
December 24, 2017
I am a Remnant fan. I think he is a bright light in the current comix scene. I loved his Blindspot (Kilgore) series and his book Harvey Pekar's Cleveland(Top Shelf). For me this one missed the mark. Don't get me wrong, Remnant is an amazing artist. What is lacking is the appeal of the storytelling. I just couldn't connect to any of the characters that populated the world of protagonist Seth Fallon. The exception was the snow blind love embrace on page 153. Here's a thought. I believe Remnant and Noah Van Sciver both live in Columbus and are friends. How about Van Sciver writes a story ( as evidenced by a story like Abbey Road) and Remnant illustrates it. It's not a stretch that this collaboration could be an amazing one. Or maybe Remnant just needs to explore new topics that haven't been mined before ( art school). I know that I will continue to support his work and I can't wait to see what he creates in the future. 3/5
January 3, 2018
They say “write what you know” so I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a lot of cartoonists tend to draw about twenty-somethings in art school. There’s Daniel Clowes’ seminal “Art School Confidential,” as well as “Art Schooled” by Jamie Coe, various Adrian Tomine stories, and the list goes on and on. Add Joseph Remnant’s “Cartoon Clouds” to the pile but - before you roll your eyes - know this: it’s the best of the bunch. Impeccably drawn, finely observed, and ruthlessly funny, “Cartoon Clouds” has the sharpness of a cautionary tale and the familiarity of a memoir. Remnant definitely knows what he’s writing about.
Seth and his friends have just graduated from art school and the “real world” is unimpressed; faced with student loans, rent, dismal job prospects, and severely less free time in which to pursue their art, they quickly realize that compromises and self-pity can snowball into apathy and resentment. “Cartoon Clouds” is full of characters that can be tough to like. They’re lazy, judgmental, drug-addled, and bitter but Remnant makes them honest; I know these characters, in real life I’ve been in classes with them and we’ve sat through critiques together. I’ve made some of the same bad decisions and borne the same grudges and, hopefully, taken similar steps to get back on track. I love this book because it feels real. Joseph Remnant is a going to be a force to be reckoned with in comics; he’s an astute writer, a talented artist (think a slightly more realistic-looking - but similarly old school comix-style - Noah Van Sciver), and a mature storyteller. And, as long as I’m heaping praise on him, I should mention that Remnant does my favorite thing in comics: he makes his characters look different, with individual body types, ages, and fashion styles. Thank you!
Some cartoonists mine art school for laughs; to be sure, there’s a lot of kooks and wackos that go there. Other cartoonists focus on the artistic drive of the students, the internal fire to create (and talk about and study and... everything) art. The genius of “Cartoon Clouds” and its depiction of art school is that it’s just about people trying to figure out how to live their lives; art school is almost an afterthought. You see, Seth and his friends aren’t art school students, they’re human beings who just happened to go to art school.
Seth and his friends have just graduated from art school and the “real world” is unimpressed; faced with student loans, rent, dismal job prospects, and severely less free time in which to pursue their art, they quickly realize that compromises and self-pity can snowball into apathy and resentment. “Cartoon Clouds” is full of characters that can be tough to like. They’re lazy, judgmental, drug-addled, and bitter but Remnant makes them honest; I know these characters, in real life I’ve been in classes with them and we’ve sat through critiques together. I’ve made some of the same bad decisions and borne the same grudges and, hopefully, taken similar steps to get back on track. I love this book because it feels real. Joseph Remnant is a going to be a force to be reckoned with in comics; he’s an astute writer, a talented artist (think a slightly more realistic-looking - but similarly old school comix-style - Noah Van Sciver), and a mature storyteller. And, as long as I’m heaping praise on him, I should mention that Remnant does my favorite thing in comics: he makes his characters look different, with individual body types, ages, and fashion styles. Thank you!
Some cartoonists mine art school for laughs; to be sure, there’s a lot of kooks and wackos that go there. Other cartoonists focus on the artistic drive of the students, the internal fire to create (and talk about and study and... everything) art. The genius of “Cartoon Clouds” and its depiction of art school is that it’s just about people trying to figure out how to live their lives; art school is almost an afterthought. You see, Seth and his friends aren’t art school students, they’re human beings who just happened to go to art school.
December 31, 2017
This was a really enjoyable read, the mood and tone of the story falls somewhere nicely between Adrian Tomine (though not in the style of drawing), and Bret Easton Ellis. There is an edge but there is also a softer side. We meet a group of recent art graduates, who possess all the clichés, baggage and expectations that come along with that. But Remnant manages to dig down deep beneath the surface of the characters, as we enter the darker realms watching these youngsters wonder over the dilemma of what to do next after art school.
We see how drink and drugs, sex and relationships and career paths throw each character into different places and spaces, as fate deals them their hands one by one. There were some really nice touches in here like the story of the discontinued Tin Man soda cans, that I really wanted to be true. I also really liked the idea of the artist John Pollard and his thoughts and wisdom on art.
If I had one minor gripe, it would be that one or two of the characters were drawn a little too similar to each other, but this wasn’t enough to detract from what was a really enjoyable story. The drawing was well done, creating a moody and unsettling feel. I had never heard of Remnant before, but I look forward to checking out more of his work in the near future. This was a story with real depth, balance and substance. It was a fine, coming of age story that left you with a hug, kiss and a wistful sigh.
July 31, 2019
CARTOON CLOUDS by Joseph Remnant - a good example of how expressive storytelling, featuring details drawn from life, presented in a way that highlights the author’s personal connection to the material can be compelling, even when many of the characters and situations are familiar from other stories of its type (namely, following what happens to a group of art school grad, with the main character being an obvious stand-in for the author). Which is to say this isn’t a comic that jumped out at me, and I don’t think anyone would mistake it for being innovative either in terms of form or content, but the well-observed and well-rendered details build up (sneak up, maybe) into a grounded and coherent thematic and psychological whole. Part of its charm, to me, is that it plays the story straight, and, in doing so, risks looking a little square, especially when placed next to more ironic/satirical takes on the subject. It ends up being quite affecting.
May 3, 2018
Art school graduate Seth is myopically focused on producing only art that sustains his vision, even though he's completely unwilling to investigate what that vision is. He quickly becomes shiftless and dull, accompanied by other drug-swilling art friends who follow the same path. One artist escapes to the big city, of course, but she's on the arm of a skeezy dealer who mostly seems to want her for her body, not her art.
Yes, yes, Seth learns his lesson at the bitter end, but it's a case of too little, too late here. The characters in Cartoon Clouds are almost all unlikable and ceaselessly make bad decisions. I understand that this is realism at play, but I'd prefer a few more ups and downs in the plot rather than a long, dull litany of Seth and pals being mediocre humans.
Yes, yes, Seth learns his lesson at the bitter end, but it's a case of too little, too late here. The characters in Cartoon Clouds are almost all unlikable and ceaselessly make bad decisions. I understand that this is realism at play, but I'd prefer a few more ups and downs in the plot rather than a long, dull litany of Seth and pals being mediocre humans.
November 3, 2017
This was gorgeously drawn and lettered, and definitely hit home a couple times as far as the whole post-college ennui the majority of us go through (and who's kidding, some of us still are...) I'm just not sure why it was classed under YA? There's no way I would give this to a middle schooler, and I'd be hesitant as far as high schoolers. Even as a senior, it just isn't something I'm sure I could have wrapped my head around completely.
April 1, 2024
The illustrations are what drew me in initially, but the story really hit home for me. I found this to be a very relatable read and an important one at that. I love this style and am eager to read more from Joseph Remnant!
November 26, 2017
3 1/2 stars.
March 3, 2018
This graphic novel chronicles the lives of a batch of freshly graduated art students. Good stuff, certainly good at provoking feels.
July 12, 2019
Excellent cartooning and storytelling.
August 13, 2019
This book blew me away on a personal level.
Having gone to art school in the same city that this takes place, I found this moody story
resonated with me deeply.
Having gone to art school in the same city that this takes place, I found this moody story
resonated with me deeply.
July 18, 2020
Amazing how invested I got in the short hours it took me to read this. Clever cartooning, and relatable messages about finding yourself when you leave uni.
July 16, 2021
“There is no template, so stop looking for one”
November 18, 2021
funny revealing and honest .
February 3, 2023
This was a nice quick read. Felt the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out and had a bit more of a back story, but that obviously would have made it much longer.
May 12, 2025
Fuck, how heartwrenching. If you're just about to start attending art college, maybe hold off on this book for a few years after graduation.
Wow.
Wow.
September 17, 2025
I adore the art style but the story is pretty generic and underwhelmingly told.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews