I Am A Number

by Rian Hughes

This wordless collection of strips by renowned artist/designer Rian Hughes reveals the lighter side of our obsession with social rankings.

When everyone has a number, everyone knows their place. Lower numbers are better, higher numbers are less important, and that's just the way it is. But what if that number could change? You might try to buck the system and assert your individuality... or you might end up with a big fat zero.

Big questions are explored and unexpected answers found in the first solo comics collection from award-winning designer & illustrator Rian Hughes. His whimsical, witty, and insightful strips will make you both smile and consider. Where do you stand in the pecking order? Is your number up?


2018 Pubwest Design Awards - Gold Winner for Graphic Album, New Material

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

125 pages, Hardcover

Published January 23, 2018

About the author

Rian Hughes is a designer, illustrator, comic book artist, type designer and writer. From his studio, Device, he has produced watches for Swatch, Hawaiian shirts, logo designs for Batman and Spiderman and an iconoclastic revamp of British comic hero Dan Dare. His first novel is 'XX'. He has an extensive collection of Thunderbirds memorabilia, a fridge full of vodka, and a stack of easy listening albums which he plays very quietly.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't understand the humor or story of this. The art wasn't engaging to me.

[Alex Sarll]

Wordless solo outing from Rian Hughes based around a single, simple idea: numbers on everyone's front define identity and status, with low outranking high, such that a missing digit can be enough to make 11 into 1 and thus the focus of a personality cult. Short strips like that alternate with single-image gags (eg 404's outfit, empty), and the whole thing could easily have got a bit B*nksy were it not for Hughes' reliable design eye, making the bright, retro backgrounds and the little round people feel like some wonderful classic cartoon you'd forgotten.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wordless "all ages" illustrated book and I am obviously much to dense to understand most of it other than the 1 page images and a few of the longer spreads. Oh, well, at least it was quick.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliance is being able to showcase culture by simple visuals, and no text: just numbers. Rian Hughes has done exactly that. In a beautifully simple way, Hughes has unpacked a lot of subtext, ideologies, and social theories to life.

The book introduces the guiding principles initially (based on the number you have been identified with, reflects your social role and privilege), and then brings the reader on a guided journey on the fun, scary, and whimsical. The conclusion: hopeful? Depending on how you read it.

Hughes has made this underrated masterpiece. Worth reading and rereading, and contemplating its’ truths.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

#!?
<10 :) ?
>10 :( !
!!!

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever little wordless vignettes from art/design genius Rian Hughes. Part of the fun is in puzzling out the stories and how they work.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book of short vignettes about numbers - but more about the social cues behind numbers in a group, such as ranks. Clever.

[Roxy_cine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta colección de tiras sin palabras del reconocido artista/diseñador Rian Hughes revela el lado más amable de nuestra obsesión por los rankings sociales.

Cuando todos tienen un número, todos conocen su lugar. Los números más bajos son mejores, los números más altos son menos importantes, y así son las cosas. Pero, ¿y si ese número pudiera cambiar? Puede intentar romper el sistema y afirmar su individualidad ... o puede terminar con un gran cero.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare wonderful wordless graphic novels. The action, story - or multiple stories- is tied directly the art - which is amazing. This book contains a number - no pun intended - of small stories set in a world where the number on one's clothing displays their rank in the world. It is a satirical look at our world and has fun commentary on status seeking, religion, sex, history, and a host of other topics. A great book to read and worth the cost.