Bird Parade

by Patrick Loehr, Nathan Ballingrud (Introduction)

A new graphic novel, Bird Parade by Patrick Loehr (with a fabulous introduction by Nathan Ballingrud) is a dark, coming of age narrative about two young boys and a gun. Set in rural Colorado, the story exposes a somber world wherein notions of strength and maturity are deeply intertwined with the mystique of firearms and family legend. The young narrator’s eagerness to grow up — to complete a rite of passage — compels him towards actions that ultimately shatter his childhood. The richly illustrated volume is awash in muted textures of brown and gray, a visually appropriate setting for this dark, thought provoking, and timely tale.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[Karl]

This hardcover is numbered 40 of 500 copies for sale, with an additional 20 copies for contributors.

Signed by Patrick Loehr and Nathan Ballingrud.

Introduction by Nathan Ballingrud.

Printed entirely on Mohawk Superfine paper.

Fully clothbound, with ribbon marker.

Book size is 8 × 10 inches.

http://www.centipedepress.com/art/bir...

[Conner Horak-Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous and haunting graphic novel. The images are a a black/ white polaroid and SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK collaboration: simply breathtaking. And the story, although brief, is nuanced and deeply layered. It's one of those inexplicable pieces where your heart breaks at every mundane detail and your spine shivers with haunts hidden in the spaces between the words. I will treasure and reread this for the rest of my life. If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on this rarity, don't ever let it go.

[Sean Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing grahic novel of American boyhood enhanced by poetic illustrations that make it linger like the best of short stories.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting graphic novel. Worth reading if you can find a copy as it had only 500 copies printed.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

What appears on its face to be a simple story of two boys playing with their pellet guns in rural Colorado is actually the story of a traumatic coming of age in realizing that innocent actions can have severe consequences. The artwork is sepia-toned/dark and deliberately vague and very effective in its storytelling. The introduction by Nathan Ballingrud (author of "North American Lake Monsters") adds tremendously to the experience and understanding of what is going on underneath; the introduction and text/art together make the book very thought-provoking; certainly the story is greatly enhanced by Ballingrud's exposition. I myself had a similar traumatic experience at the same age and it never leaves you.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 for art - some very engrossing imagery
3 for content

[Gabrielle Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly haunting graphic novel that felt like reading a short film. So vivid, so poignant. Just, wow.

[Sheena Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe that this story hasn’t gotten more attention this!

Rarely am I left as affected by a story as I was with this one; my heart felt heavy at the end of it. Poignant, equally horrific as it is sad and tackling the topic of boyhood and the way guns is often viewed as a part of growing up; a rite of passage, even.
This story hits hard and deals with loss; loss through death and killing as well as loss of innocence (or ignorance).
I’ve never read Loehr before but I will make it my mission to track down everything else he’s written after this. If there’s one criticism I have to give, it’s one directed at society and how it still makes this story so goddamn relevant. The story itself is great; Society not so much.