Ultra Violet: 10 Years of Violet Days

by Chris Monroe

A collection of ten years of the comic strip Violet Days, created by Chris Monroe.

Genres: Comics

169 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2004

About the author

Chris Monroe's humor and intricate illustrations draw high praise from reviewers and bloggers alike. Chris is also the author and illustrator of Totally Uncool and the long-running comic strip Violet Days. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Chris Monroe is soooooo funny!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skulls Scare Us (Shitless): Draw What You Do (Best): On Ultra Violet by Chris Monroe

Santa mugs
(and spooky tales—
(employ what you draw
(best)))

Skulls scare us
(shitless,
(popping out
(of nooks)))

Once upon a time
(this place was fun;
(those days?
(long done)))

Our screen door-slamming
(ghosts cry,
(“you’re a rip-off,
(Merle Brown”)))

Mannequins collude
(with cops
(and organ grinder
(monkeys)))

Wayward rodents
(chew the fat,
(plot schemes
(with dolls)))

Steer well clear
(of toothless hags)

Bundle up,
(make crafts
(or brood))

Solidify your style

Smash a clock;
(fling drink
(in face))

Say it proud
(with rhinestones—
(chap my hide))

What to get
(those hard-to-shop-fors:
(sparkle marrow,
(tuna blob)))

Amnesiacs?—
(too sexy,
(troubled pasts))

Praise a decade’s labor,
(won;
(re-bite the hand
(that bleeds)))

To Minneapolis,
(Duluth,
(chapped lips,
(brisk Halloweens)))

Resurrect the glories;
(let the rest
(serve time
(as story)))

Mad Tootsie Rolls
(shall haunt
(our fitful dreams))

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultra Violet is a collection of favorite comics spanning a full decade of cartoonist Chris Monroe's newspaper comics, (The Invisible Fence and Violet Days). Published originally in various Minnesota alt weeklies in the Twin Cities and Duluth, before finding their way to the Star Tribune, where I was introduced to Monroe's quirky, elegant drawings and humor. After cataloging a few of her lovely picture books, I decided to check out her earlier work for adults. Focusing on droll autobiographical stories, humorous and spooky ideas and puns, and other miscellaneous fun, there were many times I found myself stifling giggles on the bus. Like Gary Larson, Monroe has her own favorite topics she likes to return to; in her case, skeletons and angry squirrels. I really love her lush illustrations and sense of humor!

Due to the limited space of the collection, though, the comics on occasion feel a bit incomplete as some reference earlier comics that don't appear. Also, many the comics collected here are extremely redolent of the '90s and early '00s they came from, which is extra fun if you're in a nostalgic mood. I have to say, I'd recommend Monroe's work as a good intro to Minnesota humor over, say, Garrison Keillor, any day!

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

In college, I worked at an import store in Minneapolis. The owner, who was my former ballet teacher, hired a local artist to do advertisements for the store. Chris Monroe was that artist. I fell in love with her art work and comic, "Violet Days", which was published in a local weekly newspaper. This book is an amazing collection of that comic. Her art makes me feel happy and sweet and nostalgic.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Chris Monroe's comics for years in newspapers. This book is a collection of some of her favorites. Some had me laughing out loud. It helps that I grew up near Duluth, went to college there and am about the same age as her.