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TROPE 2: Evolutions
In this issue of TROPE, the monthly digest for fans of "Arthur Trope Presents: The Inscrutables", Picklefish Comics' intrepid in-house cartoonist Arthur Trope presents more 20 single-panel, black-and-white comics chronicling the birth and evolution of franchise characters - including Asparagus, the dissembling, condescending, alt-country cat from Cats (The Musical) and radioactive calendar papercut victim turned time-traveling superhero 'Ms. Fourth of July' - as well as the evolution of Picklefish Comics itself and the hapless staff that provides the magazine's accompanying editorial commentary.
62 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2020
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438 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Trope
7 books23 followersArthur Trope is the creator of numerous underground and experimental comics, which have influenced micro-generations of single-panel, black-and-white cartoonists. His most recent comic strip, "Arthur Trope Presents: The Inscrutables", is published and syndicated by Picklefish Comics, where he serves as The Marvin J. Pisch Distinguished Cartoonist-in-Residence and Creative Director for The Pickefish Review. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Sydney and Hank the Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 18, 2020
That was fun!
This a book of about 20 single-panel comics, which in and of themselves were funny, but with the added dimension of the panels' origins. Even funnier, perhaps, were the editor's notes on corporate-run small businesses and the turnstile at the front door. A very quick, half-hour read.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
This a book of about 20 single-panel comics, which in and of themselves were funny, but with the added dimension of the panels' origins. Even funnier, perhaps, were the editor's notes on corporate-run small businesses and the turnstile at the front door. A very quick, half-hour read.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 14, 2020
The comics were already funny but the explanations behind them made them great. I liked that it highlights the idiocy of the corporate world while still seeming independent and fresh. My only complaint would be that it wasn't longer.
March 14, 2020
I won this in a goodreads drawing.
Another collection of panels with captions voted on by a committee. Some of the panels have several captions.
Entertaining, in a Herman-esque sort of way.
Another collection of panels with captions voted on by a committee. Some of the panels have several captions.
Entertaining, in a Herman-esque sort of way.
May 11, 2020
Disclaimer - I won a Kindle version of this on Goodreads Giveaways.
I enjoyed this bit of underground comic come above ground and to the corner office. The tale was fun and funny, reading about the selling out, the button down minds, and the struggle to retain the very qualities of a single frame comic that won the audience that attracted the corporate behemoth. Whether details are true or not is irrelevant, it is a good ride with clever cartoons and a fun glimpse behind the curtain.
I enjoyed this bit of underground comic come above ground and to the corner office. The tale was fun and funny, reading about the selling out, the button down minds, and the struggle to retain the very qualities of a single frame comic that won the audience that attracted the corporate behemoth. Whether details are true or not is irrelevant, it is a good ride with clever cartoons and a fun glimpse behind the curtain.
March 15, 2020
Excellent. Equally funny and fun. Highly recommend!
April 12, 2020
I received a free copy of this ebook through a giveaway hosted on GoodReads.
While this issue of Trope has less of the historical information about comics as an art form, it does give incredible insight into the comic industry, especially the struggle between artists trying to create their vision as accurately and honestly as possible, and the companies that handle the business end and therefor strive to make the product as marketable as possible. Through Arthur Trope's one-panel comics and the editor's commentary that provides a week-by-week context into what was happening around the office to prompt many of the panels, captions, and rejections. It also shows the way that businesses often focus so much on mass-producing success down to an algorithm that it loses much of the charm that makes art enjoyable (hence how many of Trope's suggested captions, and even a complete nonsense caption, "scored" higher than the more marketable captions that ended up published), not to mention draining the artists' creative and emotional energy to the point of contemplating quitting. Through all the shop talk, though, Trope's personal voice shines through in each accompanying commentary just as well in this collection as it did in the former, and going forward to the third, and so far final issue, I am rooting for Trope and his editor in their push against SynerSyn.'s corporate ideas, as well as looking forward to more panels of the Inscrutables comic I have grown to love.
While this issue of Trope has less of the historical information about comics as an art form, it does give incredible insight into the comic industry, especially the struggle between artists trying to create their vision as accurately and honestly as possible, and the companies that handle the business end and therefor strive to make the product as marketable as possible. Through Arthur Trope's one-panel comics and the editor's commentary that provides a week-by-week context into what was happening around the office to prompt many of the panels, captions, and rejections. It also shows the way that businesses often focus so much on mass-producing success down to an algorithm that it loses much of the charm that makes art enjoyable (hence how many of Trope's suggested captions, and even a complete nonsense caption, "scored" higher than the more marketable captions that ended up published), not to mention draining the artists' creative and emotional energy to the point of contemplating quitting. Through all the shop talk, though, Trope's personal voice shines through in each accompanying commentary just as well in this collection as it did in the former, and going forward to the third, and so far final issue, I am rooting for Trope and his editor in their push against SynerSyn.'s corporate ideas, as well as looking forward to more panels of the Inscrutables comic I have grown to love.
July 23, 2020
I won a Kindle version of this novella/book/comic book/editorial synopsis read....whatever you want to call it.
It's a brilliant, entertaining mishmash from Arthur Trope's illustrations/single-panel cartoons and backstory by the editor of Picklefish Comics. I'm not sure whether I enjoy the cartoons and insight into Artie's mind, or the humorous writings of the editor more, but it's a crazy, symbiotic relationship that has left me looking forward to the next issue.
I'd love to hang out with these people. They make me laugh and smile in a world that needs more laughs and smiles.
It's a brilliant, entertaining mishmash from Arthur Trope's illustrations/single-panel cartoons and backstory by the editor of Picklefish Comics. I'm not sure whether I enjoy the cartoons and insight into Artie's mind, or the humorous writings of the editor more, but it's a crazy, symbiotic relationship that has left me looking forward to the next issue.
I'd love to hang out with these people. They make me laugh and smile in a world that needs more laughs and smiles.
April 5, 2020
Loved it! Had a really stressful day and this was just what I needed to pick me up. The comics were great and the text was even better.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
April 13, 2020
Got this in a giveaway - pretty funny !
May 9, 2020
Excellent book!!!
August 22, 2020
Come for the comics, stay for the commentary.
March 16, 2020
I won this as a kindle giveaway. I don’t think this is for me. Some comics were a bit funny but there wasn’t enough for me to really enjoy this.
March 24, 2020
I received a free review copy of this book.
The comics and their captions are enjoyable enough, but the real meat is in the backstories for each comic, a series of short essays poking fun at overly cautious corporate culture!
The comics and their captions are enjoyable enough, but the real meat is in the backstories for each comic, a series of short essays poking fun at overly cautious corporate culture!
May 10, 2020
I received this as part of #goodreadsgiveaways . As with books 1 and 3, this is a very fun (and very funny) collection of one-panel cartoons with substantial "commentary".
August 17, 2020
Surprise delight!
After receiving an ARC of TROPE 2 I was wondering why I'd requested it but I'm VERY glad that I did! I enjoyed the comics immensely and moreso the text relating to a small indie company being vacuumed up by a large corporation. It was fresh to hear experiences I'd personally been through with just enough snarky to mask the pain. Delightfully surprised.
After receiving an ARC of TROPE 2 I was wondering why I'd requested it but I'm VERY glad that I did! I enjoyed the comics immensely and moreso the text relating to a small indie company being vacuumed up by a large corporation. It was fresh to hear experiences I'd personally been through with just enough snarky to mask the pain. Delightfully surprised.
April 1, 2020
I haven't read this book, because I have not received it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
When a entered to win this book I thought it would be a fun cartoon book. I was wrong. It has a cartoon but also nonsensical prose. I did not like it.
September 12, 2020
I won this in Goodreads giveaway.
Some of the comics are entertaining, all the explanations and stories behind the comics, I have decided, just aren't for me.
Some of the comics are entertaining, all the explanations and stories behind the comics, I have decided, just aren't for me.
October 20, 2020
Enjoyed the drawings and the magic/stories behind them.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews