Pussey!

by Daniel Clowes

This hilarious classic is a brutal, scathing peek into the insular, pathetic world of the comics industry. If you think Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons is pathetic (and hilarious), wait 'til you meet Dan Pussey! A vicious satire of pop culture and the commerce of art in a new edition, with a new cover and intro by Clowes! This hilarious classic from Dan Clowes is a brutal and scathing peek into the insular, pathetic world of the comic book industry, as seen through the eyes of antihero Dan Pussey (pronounced "Pooh-say"), creator of the smash superhero comic "Nauseator." From cradle to grave, Clowes presents the complete saga of Young Dan Pussey, mercilessly skewering the business and medium of comics, bouncing from art to commerce to culture high and low. Clowes not only parodies the superhero genre (notably Stan "The Man" Lee), but also his own peers, from his publishers and fellow authors at Fantagraphics to artistic heavyweights like Art Spiegelman (seen here as "Gummo Bubbleman"). Through it all, Pussey dreams endlessly about having sex with a woman, but even those fantasies degenerate into superhero scenarios. 64 pages of black-and-white comics

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

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Daniel Clowes is an American cartoonist, graphic novelist, illustrator, and screenwriter whose work helped define the landscape of alternative comics and bring the medium into mainstream literary conversation. Rising to prominence through his long-running anthology Eightball, he used its pages to blend acidic humor, social observation, surrealism, and character-driven storytelling, producing serials that later became acclaimed graphic novels including Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, Ghost World, David Boring, Ice Haven, and Patience. His illustrations have appeared in major publications such as The New Yorker, Vogue, and The Village Voice, while his collaborations with filmmaker Terry Zwigoff resulted in the films Ghost World and Art School Confidential, the former earning widespread praise and an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay. Clowes began honing his voice in the 1980s with contributions to Cracked and with his Lloyd Llewellyn stories for Fantagraphics, but it was Eightball, launched in 1989, that showcased the full range of his interests, from deadpan satire to psychological drama. Known for blending kitsch, grotesquerie, and a deep love of mid-century American pop culture, he helped shape the sensibilities of a generation of cartoonists and became a central figure in the shift toward graphic novels being treated as serious literature. His post-Eightball books continued this evolution, with works like Wilson, Mister Wonderful, The Death-Ray, and the recent Monica exploring aging, identity, longing, and the complexities of relationships, often through inventive visual structures that echo the history of newspaper comics. Clowes has also been active in music and design, creating artwork for Sub Pop bands, the Ramones, and other artists, and contributing to film posters, New Yorker covers, and Criterion Collection releases. His work has earned dozens of honors, including multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards, a Pen Award for Outstanding Body of Work in Graphic Literature, an Inkpot Award, and the prestigious Fauve d’Or at Angoulême. Exhibitions of his original art have appeared across the United States and internationally, with a major retrospective, Modern Cartoonist: The Art of Daniel Clowes, touring museums beginning in 2012. His screenplay work extended beyond Ghost World to projects like Art School Confidential and Wilson, and he has long been a touchstone for discussions about Generation X culture, alternative comics, and the shifting boundaries between the literary and graphic arts.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh out of high school, Dan Pussey goes to work for Infinity Comics Group. Will Dan earn the fame and fortune he so sorely wants?

As far as I know, other than Ghost World, the only other Daniel Clowes stuff I've read was in issues of Cracked in the late 1980s. Since I'm trying to branch out into more and more non-super hero comics, I picked this up.

This was serialized in Eightball initially and I have to think the beginning is at least partially an autobiographical account of Daniel Clowes breaking into comics. Pussey, pronounced Poo-Say, gets a job at Infinity Comics Group and works for slave wages and no credit, with the Stan Lee-esque Doctor Infinity hogging the lion's share of the glory. Pussey branches out and achieves some fame in comics and eventually dies alone.

The story is part biography, part fantasy, part utter disdain at the comic industry at the early to mid 1990s. There are shots taken at Stan Lee, the image guys, and maybe a jealous barb in the direction of the Hernandez brothers when Affection and Torpedos is mentioned a couple times.

The art is more grotesque, less refined, more raw than in Ghost World, which was done years later. This is closer to his Cracked work. I'd like to see a list of who Clowes mentions as his influences. I see a lot of Basil Wolverton and Harvey Kurtzman in this.

Pussey is a fun yet sat portrait of all the shitty things that go on behind the scenes in comics. Four out of five stars.

[J. Gonzalez- Blitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scathing roast of the comics world and in some instances, the "lowbrow" pop art world. Though the hero, Dan Pussey, works in the world of mainstream comics and seems to be the epitome of the socially imept fanboy stereotype, his forays into the worlds of art/alternative comics and the pop art gallery scene are equally amusing, and despite Clowes' alignment with the alternative camp, the subcultural types are not spared. In fact, Dr. Infinity, Gummo Bubbleman, and the gallery owner(his name escapes me) seem to be scamming peas in a pod with only slight variations on their lines of bullshit. Infinity rhapsodizes about being a "mythmaker" and offering a new and different visions to the comic world while selling the same old formulaic garbage. Gummo insists that paying his artists would be "prostitution" yet unblinkingly charges $200 for a copy of RAW(it wasn't called RAW here, I forget what he renamed it). The gallery owner is the most upfront about his sleaziness. He has no pretensions about curating shows in accordance with fads and demanding female artists sleep with him in order to be included in shows. I'm not sure if he was based on anyone specific, but it doesn't really matter. These exist in droves (though they're just as likely to be demanding sexual favors of their male artists as well.)

One interesting thing about the book is that it was written in a time where there was far more of a disconnect between the mainstream and alternative artist camps--Pussey is portrayed as clearly confused and out of his element both in the gallery scene and in the art comix gulag. These days the line seems more blurred, with young indy comix artists waxing nostalgic about their geeky pasts and pursuits. One can be an "alternative" cartoonist today and be more likely to boast about your highest score on Super Mario Bros than your heroin addiction, as one "art" comicker in a grubby black sweater does in the book. However, it's another of these art cartoonist caricatures that utters the one line of the book that seems to apply to 90% of the comic scene, no matter what their pursuit:

"I'm not interested in anything beyond my own insular little world."

Indeed.

[Sooraya Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lousy font choice made it hard to read.
Story not funny at all.

[Michele Monteleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dovrebbe essere un testo propedeutico e obbligatorio per chiunque voglia intraprendere la carriera del fumettista. Avremmo meno fumetti, ma anche più gente felice.

[Bob Comparda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comic about what it's like to make comics for a living. It was lighthearted and funny, but definitely more serious than the other works from Clowes that I've read. Does not glamourize the career as a comic artist, infact makes it seem pretty soul sucking and awful. If you're new to Clowes don't start here, but make your way here gradually.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

While bitter and acerbic to a fault, Pussey! retains Daniel Clowes' familiar strains of humor and pathos, and in the end it all comes together well. You almost have to be fascinated by the world of comics creators to get into this one, but the reward is there if you were a high school nerd (or any other type of youthful misfit), so the potential audience for Pussey! may not be as narrow as it seems at first blush. The narrative arc takes our hero from teenage wannabe to world-class success, and then on to geriatric anonymity, and even if the overall story is a bit cliched, Clowes infuses it all with enough of his acerbic wit and exaggerated, cartoony art to deliver a worthwhile experience for the reader.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the short tales in Eightball, nearly the 3rd graphic novel. Although I hesitate to call this a novel, more just a series of short silly stories of the adventures of Dan Pussey. A nerdy comic book illustrator who becomes quite good as in the bullpen. In a few tales he tries to go off and make money in different scenes, alt comix (a fun parody of RAW) and the fine art world.

[Conor Mcvarnock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biting satire of the Boom-Era of comics in the early 90s. Oddly quite a lot is still relevant today. omic Kayfabe has a good video on this on YouTube.

[Owen Townend · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the best kind of Daniel Clowes book is a short one. While his eye for awkward human behaviour is keen and can be outwardly funny, it does wear me down overtime. At 54 pages, Pussey! entertains with its caustic interpretation of the comic book industry but not for too long.

Daniel Pussey is a classic underdog whose talent for pencilling superhero comics makes him famous for a time. While this certainly inflates his ego, it doesn't make him any more graceful in his interactions with colleagues and fans.

Pussey! is an indictment of the ego of comic book industry pros, how they make their money and often fade into obscurity. The only character who seems to reap full benefits is Dr Infinity, an eccentric comic book mogul who made his name by trampling on his employees and assuming their talent under his personal brand. As such Dr Infinity's Story is my favourite of the collection, mostly because of its use of grim flashbacks that juxtapose his 'kind' words at an award ceremony.

While it did not have the same emotional impact on me as Ghost World, Pussey! grants a stronger insight into Clowes's world view and approach to comic books. This will probably not appeal to most but, for those that it does appeal to, the book will prove suitably fascinating. I recommend Pussey! to aficionados of Clowes's back catalogue and those curious about the grottier side of the comic book industry.

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Clowes that I think I "get". I never have fully understood Ghost World, I barely remember David Boring and Ice Haven, and I thought that Patience was ok. But Pussey! is the first book by him that I can say I love and understand. Clowes is mad at the comics industry and, after reading this, I am too! From the beginning it's been a machine to exploit artists in the service of fast money from cheap labor. Clowes bites it in the ass in this book. Fuck Stan Lee! Fuck superheroes! Fuck collectors and speculators! Save the Dan Pusseys of the world, they are constantly being fucked over by the spirit of Stan the Man. Read this comic and get radicalized!

[Bill Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure this was better when it was new but now it feels worn out, bitter, and mean-spirited. After MONICA, I wanted to read the whole Clowes catalogue but I may rethink that.

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's something of a story involving the comics industry, but I think it's more a stance on art as a whole - high brow, low brow, acceptance, artist's self-esteem, business fairness, etc. My favorite part was when Dan Pussey tries for other areas of the art business but comes back to his original job. Doing a job will get boring and unfulfilling even if it's a job where you do what you dreamed of.

[Samuel Edme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: Daniel Clowes's Pussey! revolves around the life and times of the eponymous character, Dan Pussey, creator the popular comic Nauseator, as he wends he way through the comic book industry and deals with his peers and his own social awkwardness and internal fantasies and dispositions.

My Thoughts: Someone (like yours truly) who has read many of Daniel Clowes's oeuvre will likely already notice that his protagonists tend to echo each other in their social ineptitude or misanthropy. Likewise, Pussey! carries on this torch in the blazing flames of satire as the book takes on a candid, honest-to-hell jab at the risible inanity of superhero comics and pseudo-intellectual, vainglorious snobbishness of their indie counterparts as well as the underhanded sexism in the comic book industry in general around the era most of this story takes place in (80s and 90s). On the contrast, it is this book's satirical nature that sets it apart from Clowes's other works which usually lament the lonely life of their socially inept or misanthropic main characters which, despite empathizing or at least sympathizing with, can get a little repetitive after a while. My only complaint here would be that the prose could get a bit too wordy, making this 54-page story feel like over 100 at times.

Final Thoughts: Pussey! is a witty satire worth picking up whether you're a Daniel Clowes fan or a casual reader hungry for a few helpings of dry humor.

[Batmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://morethansuperhumans.blogspot.c...

Pussey! is a satirical send-up of comic book culture, written by Clowes during his "angry young man" phase (circa 1989-1994). Though the book loosely follows artist Dan Pussey (pronounced "Poo-SAY") from his childhood to his death, the book as a whole is more of a comment on the worst aspects of the superhero-dominated comics industry: its population of introverted and socially regressive geeks, its reliance on art over story, its perpetual exploitation of hardworking artists by moneygrubbing corporate goons, etcetera. Beyond superheroes, Clowes also attacks the more pretentious "art house" publishers (with excellent parodies of Art Spiegelman and Clowes's own publisher, Gary Groth), and the modern art world as well. Pussey himself, though not an entirely unsympathetic character, must take the lion's share of the blame for his ignominious fate (he reminds me of Peter Keating in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead). Ultimately, there are no true protagonists in this work, but it is pretty funny.

The primary trouble with Pussey! is that most of the humor derives from Clowes's immersive knowledge of the comic book industry and its ills, but as a result the humor will fly right over the heads of people who are not also immersed in the knowledge of the comic book industry and its ills. In other words, you have to be one of the people Clowes is parodying in order to understand the parody. This limits the book's appeal, but perhaps this is Clowes's intention. In any case, I recommend it highly for people with a little understanding of the culture of comics, and a sinister desire to see it skewered.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

As funny as Clowes always is, the strips containing the life of Dan Pussey, superhero comic penciller, never really coheres into a complete story. Unlike the other Clowes volumes I've read that were collected material from 20th Century Eightball, (Ghost World, Like a Velvet Glove Cast In Iron, and Wilson although Wilson was an OGN) Pussey was just as funny but the story doesn't work as well as the others do as a complete narrative. Unlike Enid or Wilson, I never got as attached to Pussey throughout the story. Outside of the of the first two chapters of the trade, his character seemed to be more just a placeholder for Clowes' commentary on superhero comics of the Big Two, including the hilarious Stan Lee stand-in Dr. Infinity. Pussey! was still enjoyable all the way through and the majority of the strips were great so it's hard for me to be critical of it, but as a graphic novel it just doesn't work that well.

[Calvin Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this graphic novel is for adult who are interesting on the graphic novel industry and it is for the people who enjoy short reading. This graphic novel (fantagraphics) highlights the satirical story of a comic book artist named Dan Pussey, following him from his childhood years, through his successful career and into aged obscurity. The author often talks about the pop culture and commerce of art. Clowes presents the complete saga of Young Dan Pussey, mercilessly skewering the business and medium of comics, bouncing from art to commerce to culture high and low. He lampoons the comics industry as a whole, including direct satires of several creators, such as Art Spiegelman stand in character Gummo Bubbleman.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Clowes' best, people have been parodying comics for years but this may be the funniest and truest of them all. Dan Pussey was Infinity Comics' ubergeek, putting on his game face when he sharpens his pencils to prepare another exciting tale of libidinous superhero derring-do. The history of Doc Infinity, Pussey's boss, is a brilliant fictionalized version of the Stan Lee-Marvel Comics legend. Some of the funniest Dan Clowes material ever.

[Danny Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny so dumb so great, I love it

[Anne Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Pussey?

[Immigration Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pooh-say!" It is pronounced "Pooh-say!"

If you are at all familiar with the odd, strange world of superhero comics (and the people who read them), beginning with their humble origins at $0.12 a copy, and skyrocketing to the huge multimillion dollar commercial enterprise that they have become (action figures! Hardcover deluxe editions!blockbuster movies -- in theatres and for streaming -- that feature: Batman, Spiderman, Superman, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, and more!), and if that odd, strange world of superhero comics is of interest to you, then this graphic novel is an EXCELLENT CHOICE for your indulgence!

Daniel Clowes offers a sophisticated, satirical review of pop culture and the business of art through the lens of the comic book industry. The tale centers on Dan Pussey (did I mention that it is pronounced "Pooh-say?"), a creative force in the comics industry. He created the "Nauseator" hero series, for goodness sake!

By telling the life story of Dan Pussey, author Daniel Clowes eviscerates the business and medium of
comics, and slices away at themes ranging from the "high brow" and "low brow" of "art," to profit and commerce, to American culture. He mocks the likes of DC and Marvel Comics, industry titans. He demonstrates that these titans produce trite and mundane schlock. They shoot for the lowest common denominator and they hit the target. But if this is low brow art, is high brow art any better? Is it?

Clowes also finds the entire subculture of the "Comic Con" universe, and the nerdy kids and perpetually immature adults alike who orbit the comics universe (seeking solace in the fantasy world offered there) to be, quite frankly, sad.

This work is honest, funny, bittersweet, and satirical in a way that is also a bit celebratory. After all, the comics make the man, and Daniel Clowes is a man of the comics.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Clowes' "Pussey!" perfectly captures the 90's era of comics with its rampant speculation, multiple covers, inflated prices, and various cheesy sales gimmicks. It also manages to skewer both the creative and business aspects of the industry.

The titular character is a prototypical introvert geek that grows up devouring comic books and drawing superheroes at the expense of developing social skills. Dan Pussey eventually breaks his way into the biz as an illustrator, and we follow his rise and fall as an artistic force in comicdom. An omnipresent, Svengali-like publisher influences and dominates Pussey's life, manipulating our hero until he's cast aside and supplanted by the next hungry, young, and trendy penciller.

There's plenty of humour in the author's dead-on portrayal of weird comic fans, egocentric artists, and industry tropes, but Mr. Clowes goes beyond this low-hanging fruit by showing the darker side of comic creation, most tellingly with the character of the elderly publisher, Dr. Infinity. We see creative types like Pussey used and abused over the years by Infinity, who takes credit for their accomplishments and pays them peanuts while collecting the lion's share of the accolades and profits.

Real-life incidents (though thinly disguised), such as the Siegel and Shuster Superman debacle are woven into Pussey's tragicomic story to demonstrate this shocking abuse of the creative folks, making me thankful that legendary comic artist Neal Adams is fighting so hard for creator's rights. Any comic reader or collector, particularly those who lived through the wacky excesses of the 1990's, will want to add "Pussey!" to their bookshelf (alongside Mr. Clowes' "Ghost World").

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This follows the professional trajectory of hapless penciller Dan Pussey, navigating the insular and manipulative world of comics production. This superhero obsessed auteur, utterly lacking in creativity, attempts to make a name for himself across the full spectrum of comics publishing; from derivative cape comics to unintelligible high brow art house works. After decades of toil he finds himself at the peak of his profession; penniless, alone, and largely forgotten. At least he still has his fantasies of finally having sex with a woman (even if they do still end up devolving into degenerate superhero scenarios).

This had some good laughs and is eminently memeable but is not anywhere near Clowes best work. While I appreciated the scathing, cynical portrayal of the comics industry and collector culture much of the humor is pretty low hanging fruit. There is also very little narrative heft which is understandable for what is intended to be a pathetic memoir of sorts but it also makes the end product feel more empty. That being said there are a lot of scenarios I got a kick out of, none moreso than Pussey's distracted masturbation fantasy, and quite enjoyed the depictions of exploitative executives / editors more than eager to chew the penciller up and spit him out. Clowes' art is impeccable as ever and perfectly expresses the brutally pitiful subject matter even if it doesn't shine as much as his better works.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny as hell, a bit tragic, and a sound reminder of the more absurd characteristics of mainstream super-hero comics. It's tragic because all comic book fans can see a little bit of Dan Pussey in them selves. What is this life for if at the end you die all alone in a nursing home & the old lady who takes your room throws your cherished "silly books" into the incinerator? Bleak stuff but I was still laughing out loud as I re-read the Dan Pussey story a couple of decades after I read it originally in Eightball comix in the 90's. Recommended for cynical bastards.

[Alberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia que versa sobre el mundo del cómic en el que aparecen retratados autores, lectores, editores, libreros y demás fauna. Se nos cuenta la historia de Dan Pussey el típico inadaptado sexual fanático de los cómics que acaba convertido en el dibujante estrella de Infinity Comics Group.
Me ha gustado bastante y lo recomiendo a cualquier seguidor de los cómics y en particular a los de superheroes.

[Shock Man · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty cruel and cynical look at the slimely side of the comic book industry. Complete with one of the most cruel caricatures of Stan Lee ever made. This isn't for everyone. You honestly have to really be interested in comic book creators to get into this. That being said, if you are into that you'll get some enjoyment from this.

[Mohamed Bary · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite Daniel Clowes book, maybe because i am not a fan of autobiographical literature or maybe it was too much about the comics industry, not sure, but it didnt have the variety of suburban charectars in Clowse’s books,

[Ernesto · Rating 5 out of 5]

El mejor que he leído de Daniel Clowes. Un humor ácido sobre la realidad de la industria del comic en EEUU y lo difícil de ser artista.

[Casillass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was really amazing.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope Stan Lee read these stories and cried

[Carlos Miguel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 estrellas y media.
Un montón de patadas en la cara de Satán Lee recopiladas en un sólo tomo.