Missouri Boy

by Leland Myrick

Firecrackers lighting up an ancient tree on a summer night. Twin boys born the same night their grandmother passes away. Teenagers hanging by their fingertips from the roof of a parking garage. These are the moments of quiet poetry that make up Leland Myrick's Missouri Boy. Happiness alternates with tragedy in these snapshots of Myrick's own Missouri childhood. Filled with startling and at times achingly beautiful images--from a perfect paper airplane flying in the autumn sky to a solitary cross-country motorcycle trip--Myrick's graphic poem brings together the experiences that formed his character, for better and for worse. Poignant, timeless, and gently evoked, Missouri Boy is a unique tribute to a small-town American childhood.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Memoir, Nonfiction, Coming Of Age, Slice Of Life

110 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2006

Reviews

[Matt Graupman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autobiographical comics generally fall into one of two categories: brutally honest tales of overcoming obstacles or gently nostalgic ruminations on the simple, innocent pleasures of life. The former style has yielded remarkable books like “Stitches” by David Small and “Fun Home” by Alison Bechdel while the latter has been perfected by John Porcellino with his influential “King-Cat Comix & Stories” zine. Though it often deals with some startling and difficult events, “Missouri Boy” by Leland Myrick falls much more on the gentle side of the autobiographical fence, metaphorically-speaking. Tender, poetic, and melancholy, “Missouri Boy” demonstrates that a whisper can be just as powerful as a scream.

Told in a series of very brief, almost haiku-like chapters, “Missouri Boy” deals with Myrick’s traumatic memories (an older brother sent to prison for his role in a bank robbery, being urinated on by a gang of so-called friends, etc.) in a remarkably sepia-toned manner. Not literally. His artwork is bright and lively, very reminiscent of Megan Kelso’s comics, but there’s a hazy warmth in his panels. His unfussy art occupies a very happy medium between the clean but highly detailed comics of an artist like Craig Thompson and the Zen pencils of a minimalist like the granddaddy himself, John Porcellino. Each story has a dreamy quality but Myrick has a great sense for including just the right details to keep his work grounded in reality.

Deeply personal in its stories but universal in its themes, “Missouri Boy” is a gem of a comic. Myrick’s work may not be as immediately recognizable as some of his peers but I highly recommend seeking out his comics. You won’t be sorry.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir could just as easily be for adults as young adults. Myrick has basically created a graphic memoir of memorable events from his childhood. What makes this novel charming is the way Myrick approaches the memoir - as a series of snapshots really. On first blush, a reader might have trouble connecting the events shared by Myrick, or figuring out why he selected to highlight these specific events. But then, memory is just that unpredictable. Looking back on our lives, it can sometimes be surprising what memories leave the strongest marks. For Myrick, such events include making paper airplanes from paper given by his grandfather, or swimming in a pond with childhood friends, or seeing his father's hands reach out to his older brother contained within a jail cell. I liked this graphic novel best for the genuine, honest way Myrick presented scenes from his own life.

[Tony Cafiso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missouri Boy is based off of Leland Myrick's own life. It starts off when he is being born and ends when he goes to California on a motorcycle trip to see a girl he met in college. It is written almost poetically but, being a graphic novel, the words have to work with the pictures. Having a poetic text to go with the story makes his story much more meaningful and emotional. I liked reading this because i could relate to some of it. For example, when he talks about his forth of july traditions, they are a lot like my own. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very good book. I enjoyed it a lot it is a short book and it is very interesting to read. This book is about two twin boys who like to do things together. But when they get older thay start to change.
I liked this book a lot i gave it a 4 star rateing because it was a good book and it kept my interist throughout the whole book. i reccomend this book to people who like to read a good story.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

A coming of age tale that simply could have been better.

[Ruth Covington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed bag of touching and sort of threatening. Something about this artist's style is a little unsettling to me. The people just looked a little undead-ish and I struggled to really understand them. I enjoyed the vignettes of life, but missed an overall stronger story or purpose or connection between all the stories.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short poetic vignettes of "Missouri Boy's" growth to adulthood. I quite like the art style, possibly due to the animations I have grown with and enjoyed since I was quite young giving me a sense of familiarity. As does being a tale of a time before technology and screens not being as pervasive in life as they are now.

[Sadie Gregg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the book it was very creepy and had strange graphics. I do not recommend.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moments in the author/illustrators life.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to like one main stories rather than snapshots that connect. For the most part, this didn't quite do it for me, although it was quick and the ending was sweet/done well. Interesting visuals.

[Kate Seader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting pieces and premise. Felt as if it was intended to be a longer story and was published half written

[John Hornbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missouri boy is a graphic autobiography that follows well, the Missouri boy. Now its not a full autobiography but rather a collection of important memories and experiences that Leland Myrick has compiled. They don't include the pivotal moment that you would thick would shape a human being. Instead they are seemingly insignificant events that have apparently shaped his life. This includes things like traditions as children or dangerous activities as young adults, Love, fun, sadness and wonder as well. The story ends with him leaving his home place missouri. He ends the story on a high point by accounting that all his demons and gods seemed to fall away as he left Missouri. He connects to the idea of beginning again by reaching california and being filled with happiness. The book was enjoyable but did not connect its stories so well, there was no strong connection that i made by the end. The stories were original and made me excited to the next.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Began with promise, then tapered off into pleasant. There are better books waiting to claw their way out of this author's skull, or perhaps I'd find more to enjoy in one of his two earlier offerings. I'll certainly give them a look if I come across them. Maybe it's me, but once he started dealing with his early days working at a hospital, I stopped caring. No more hospital-based entertainment please, everyone. I don't care if it's based in fact or not. Anyway, much like Pia Zadora circa 1982, it's short, sweet, and pretty to look at.

[Loyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one sneaks up on you. It's a view of growing up in Missouri through the eyes of a boy who has an obvious but unexplainable yearning for bigger things. The story, told in "snapshots" over several years, is gentle and can easily be dismissed at first glance, but when you start deciphering the visual elements, it grows richer and more complex. I was not familiar with Myrick's work, but I love the publisher (:01 Second Books) and thought I would give it a try. I'm glad I did.

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my romp through First Second's graphic novel collection, I found this one entertaining but nothing to rave about. There is a set of wordless panels at the end where the protagonist rides through Eastern forest, out into the great open spaces of the Southwestern desert, through Las Vegas, across the Mojave and into Los Angeles that were particularly evocative for me.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Growing up in the Midwest is quaint.
Now give me $17 please."

That's essentially the content of this book. The art and "stories" (such as they are--they're more like mood pieces since nothing really happens in them) are atmospheric but a bit too overtly so. And the plot of this book is too thin (as is the page count) to justify the expense of this book, if you ask me.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some evocative aspects but overall this didn't strike me as being particularly well-crafted, either structurally or in terms of 'character'ization and relationships. Perhaps the oddest thing to me was that here's a twin who has virtually nothing to say about his twin, other than to recount some of their activities as kids and then to have him disappear 2/3 of the way through the book.

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the junk I was reading, this seems totally awesome. It's really unique, a little sad, lyrical, quick, yes, a bit disjointed, but it felt really personal and honest, and I am pro-that. It built a gentle tension and the end was a surprising breath of relief. I wouldn't say it's about the Midwestern life, it's ... about the spookiness of childhood. Nothing fantastic, but not bad at all.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odd. Disjointed stories of childhood. I didn't realize it was poetry until the end of the book, which helped some but not much. The problem is.. There is barely any way readers can connect to this story. I have a feeling it will collect dust on my shelves...

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Myrick's linework, the deceptively simple art, here. There are some incredible individual panels, too...that negative-reversal style panel in the chapter about the pond is masterful. Even if the story wasn't lovely, the art would still make this a 5-star novel.

[Susan Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel follows the main character as he grows up through brief glimpses of him at different points in his life. Its a good enough story however it just didn't leave any impression on me due to the glimpses of his life being too brief for me to get a grip on any of the characters.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay - i picked it up because one of my 8th grade boys was "reading" it. pretty sure that he would get nothing out of it because it about growing up in a world he can't relate too. i could because i was born the same year. some of his experiences i shared.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice. Cute drawings, cute musings. Nothing that's going to stick with you and never leave, but a nice porch read for the autumn days. A small collection of poetry with a small collection of well-drawn art.

Sad there wasn't anything about noodling, though.

[Liz Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slight graphic novel is a poetic reflection on childhood and the experiences that shape us into adults. It has a melancholy tone, though the ending is quite positive. It didn't take long to read, but now I can't stop thinking about it.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and evocative look at childhood, in graphic novel form.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming-of-age story told through brilliantly drawn and colored vignettes. Sharp writing and a unique art style.

[Rob · Rating 1 out of 5]

kind of weird. reinforces for me that i could write a book and get published quite easily.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my thing.

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. Sorta pretty. Exactly the sort of thing First Second publishes.