What do you think?
Rate this book
Why Are You Doing This?
Imagine a long-forgotten, never-produced Alfred Hitchcock "wrong man" thriller screenplay discovered, adapted and filmed by a modern minimalist like Jim Jarmusch and you'll have some idea of the unique flavor of Jason's latest graphic novel. The protagonist, a moody twenty-something wallowing in depression after a breakup with his long-time girlfriend, finds himself drawn into a paranoid's worst nightmare after his best friend is murdered and the blame is pinned on him. With the help of a single mother who spontaneously throws in her lot with him (not to mention her precocious daughter), he sets out to clear his name. Soon new relationships are forged, dark secrets from the past are revealed, and the real killer comes back into the picture... with a vengeance.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
7 people are currently reading
1455 people want to read
About the author
Jason
115 books706 followersJohn Arne Sæterøy, better known by the pen name Jason, is an internationally acclaimed Norwegian cartoonist. Jason's comics are known for their distinctive, stone-faced anthropomorphic characters as well as their pace reminiscent of classic films.
Jason was born in 1965 and debuted in the early 80's, when still a teenager, in the Norwegian comics magazine 'KonK'. His first graphic novel Pocket Full of Rain (1995) won the Sproing Award, one of the main national awards for cartoonist.
In 2001 Jason started a fruitful collaboration with the American publisher Fantagraphics, which helped him gain international notoriety. Besides Norway and the U.S., his comics have appeared in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil.
Jason's stories feature a peculiar mix of dry humour, surrealism and tropes from a variety of pulp genres, such as noir novels and monster movies. His most celebrated works include: Hey, Wait... (2001), a tale of childhood and trauma; You Can't Get There from Here (2004), a re-telling of the myth of Frankenstein; The Left Bank Gang (2007), featuring fictional versions of Hemingway and other writers living in Paris in the 1920s; I Killed Adolf Hitler (2008), a story that mixes romance and time travel; The Last Musketeer (2009), a love letter to old sci-fi imaginary featuring king's musketeer Athos; Low Moon (2010), one of his many collections of short stories; Werewolves of Montpellier (2010); Isle of 100,000 Graves (2011), a pirate story co-written with French cartoonist Fabien Vehlmann; Lost Cat (2013), a thriller with a surreal spin.
Jason won a Harvey Award for best new talent in 2002 and Eisner Awards in the category 'Best U.S. Edition of International Material' for three consecutive years (2007-2009).
He has lived in Denmark, Belgium, the U.S., eventually setting for Montpellier, France in 2007.
Jason was born in 1965 and debuted in the early 80's, when still a teenager, in the Norwegian comics magazine 'KonK'. His first graphic novel Pocket Full of Rain (1995) won the Sproing Award, one of the main national awards for cartoonist.
In 2001 Jason started a fruitful collaboration with the American publisher Fantagraphics, which helped him gain international notoriety. Besides Norway and the U.S., his comics have appeared in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil.
Jason's stories feature a peculiar mix of dry humour, surrealism and tropes from a variety of pulp genres, such as noir novels and monster movies. His most celebrated works include: Hey, Wait... (2001), a tale of childhood and trauma; You Can't Get There from Here (2004), a re-telling of the myth of Frankenstein; The Left Bank Gang (2007), featuring fictional versions of Hemingway and other writers living in Paris in the 1920s; I Killed Adolf Hitler (2008), a story that mixes romance and time travel; The Last Musketeer (2009), a love letter to old sci-fi imaginary featuring king's musketeer Athos; Low Moon (2010), one of his many collections of short stories; Werewolves of Montpellier (2010); Isle of 100,000 Graves (2011), a pirate story co-written with French cartoonist Fabien Vehlmann; Lost Cat (2013), a thriller with a surreal spin.
Jason won a Harvey Award for best new talent in 2002 and Eisner Awards in the category 'Best U.S. Edition of International Material' for three consecutive years (2007-2009).
He has lived in Denmark, Belgium, the U.S., eventually setting for Montpellier, France in 2007.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
December 13, 2024
Jason is one of the great comics masters. He plays with genre, so he’ll write about zombies and vampires; he’ll do horror, romance, science fiction. He’s like the Coen Brothers of film fame. He’ll do anything because he loves pop culture. In the Left Bank Gang he sends up literary twenties Paris, with Hemingway and Fitzgerald as graphic novelists forced to support themselves by robbing a bank. Hilarious.
In Why are You Doing This? Jason uses a little bit more dialogue than in many of his other works to conjure up Hitchcock in a suspenseful thriller as told by a minimalist. Sad and scary and touching, with playful twists and turns to satisfy any noir lover.
The protagonist, Alex, recently dumped by his girlfriend, finds his best friend murdered, followed by an attempt to set Alex up for the crime. He escapes to the apartment of a single mother, Geraldine, who lets him stay with them as he tries to clear his name. “Why are you doing this?” he asks her, and we can see it: Any good person would help him out. This is what good people do!
But where is the real killer?! When our sad hero finds him, he asks again, “Why are you doing this?” in a very different situation. I hadn’t read it in years, and now read it twice again, just to see the great tribute he makes to forties noir films. It’s really wonderful comics storytelling. Sad and beautiful. I glanced at one review that mentions him in the same breath as Ingmar Bergman, and I can see it. Compelling portrait of the darkness, accomplished with anthropomorphic animals!
In Why are You Doing This? Jason uses a little bit more dialogue than in many of his other works to conjure up Hitchcock in a suspenseful thriller as told by a minimalist. Sad and scary and touching, with playful twists and turns to satisfy any noir lover.
The protagonist, Alex, recently dumped by his girlfriend, finds his best friend murdered, followed by an attempt to set Alex up for the crime. He escapes to the apartment of a single mother, Geraldine, who lets him stay with them as he tries to clear his name. “Why are you doing this?” he asks her, and we can see it: Any good person would help him out. This is what good people do!
But where is the real killer?! When our sad hero finds him, he asks again, “Why are you doing this?” in a very different situation. I hadn’t read it in years, and now read it twice again, just to see the great tribute he makes to forties noir films. It’s really wonderful comics storytelling. Sad and beautiful. I glanced at one review that mentions him in the same breath as Ingmar Bergman, and I can see it. Compelling portrait of the darkness, accomplished with anthropomorphic animals!
November 10, 2017
Short, Hitchcockesque dark crime-story with an existential flavour.
Life is just generally crappy and bad things happen to us in order to become masters at telling anecdotal stories to our friends.
Life is just generally crappy and bad things happen to us in order to become masters at telling anecdotal stories to our friends.
June 15, 2018
Cuantos más títulos leo de este autor, cuanto más releo sus obras, más lo aprecio. Siempre sorprendente, siempre llegándote al fondo.
Me encantan los personajes, que casi no se distingan unos de otros (físicamente), todo lo que cuenta en tan pocas páginas, las emociones, la tensión que puede llegar a crear... los temas recurrentes, la soledad, el amor, la condición humana, lo intrigante de la trama, los pocos diálogos pero lo muchísimo que dicen, las referencias cinematográficas, lo surrealista de las historias... vaya, que me tiene totalmente enganchada.
Me ha encantado, y el final genial, como siempre.
Me encantan los personajes, que casi no se distingan unos de otros (físicamente), todo lo que cuenta en tan pocas páginas, las emociones, la tensión que puede llegar a crear... los temas recurrentes, la soledad, el amor, la condición humana, lo intrigante de la trama, los pocos diálogos pero lo muchísimo que dicen, las referencias cinematográficas, lo surrealista de las historias... vaya, que me tiene totalmente enganchada.
Me ha encantado, y el final genial, como siempre.
August 2, 2020
**2.5 stars**
You know that feeling, that you are reading something from your favorite genre, and you feel like "Oh, no, I would have loved this one if I hadn't read better stories...or had read it at first..."That's exactly what I felt when reading this one. It does have a slight Hitchcockesque edge to it...as told on cover, (which actually grabbed my attention to read this one), but not quite something to deserve mention. Just to analyze, we know the common elements of all Hitchcockesque movies, right? Let's say some of them: MacGuffin, Presence of a dominating female character (generally mother, as most popularly in Psycho), Voyeurism, A compromised hero( more likely a innocent man falsely accused with the crime). Here half of the elements (that I wrote) are present, and the others remain nowhere to be found(particularizing will act as spoiler). So, I don't know what the other readers are playing at.
Typical Jason-style art, but also not too good.For you simply will find more appealing artwork in his other works. Also, I don't know how it's a thriller. Like the most common way of defining a thriller is: "Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood they elicit: fearful excitement. In short, if it "thrills", it is a thriller" . But were you thrilled, anywhere? I wasn't. If anything just sympathetic, that's all.
But you may still like it. Like I said. Just not good enough to be boastful as it is.
You know that feeling, that you are reading something from your favorite genre, and you feel like "Oh, no, I would have loved this one if I hadn't read better stories...or had read it at first..."That's exactly what I felt when reading this one. It does have a slight Hitchcockesque edge to it...as told on cover, (which actually grabbed my attention to read this one), but not quite something to deserve mention. Just to analyze, we know the common elements of all Hitchcockesque movies, right? Let's say some of them: MacGuffin, Presence of a dominating female character (generally mother, as most popularly in Psycho), Voyeurism, A compromised hero( more likely a innocent man falsely accused with the crime). Here half of the elements (that I wrote) are present, and the others remain nowhere to be found(particularizing will act as spoiler). So, I don't know what the other readers are playing at.
Typical Jason-style art, but also not too good.For you simply will find more appealing artwork in his other works. Also, I don't know how it's a thriller. Like the most common way of defining a thriller is: "Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood they elicit: fearful excitement. In short, if it "thrills", it is a thriller" . But were you thrilled, anywhere? I wasn't. If anything just sympathetic, that's all.
But you may still like it. Like I said. Just not good enough to be boastful as it is.
September 20, 2011
Jason, the superb writer/artist of such books as "I Killed Adolf Hitler" and "The Left Bank Gang" comes up with this book. The story about a man being forced on the run after being framed for murdering his friend and being chased by a mysterious hitman who did the killings. Why him? Why is he being chased? And why are they doing this?
Great artwork as always, Jason allows himself the use of dialogue in this book and so tension is built through the man on the run's interactions with members of the public and evading the police. It ends in a sort of Miller's Crossing type way with a final mystery causing you to flick back to the start and search for subtle clues Jason's placed along the way.
As always "subtle" is the word to describe Jason's storytelling. Minimal use of facial expressions in his animal headed characters and short bursts of dialogue all contribute to an unnerving but fascinating and totally engrossing read. I loved it like I love all of Jason's work, check this out!
Great artwork as always, Jason allows himself the use of dialogue in this book and so tension is built through the man on the run's interactions with members of the public and evading the police. It ends in a sort of Miller's Crossing type way with a final mystery causing you to flick back to the start and search for subtle clues Jason's placed along the way.
As always "subtle" is the word to describe Jason's storytelling. Minimal use of facial expressions in his animal headed characters and short bursts of dialogue all contribute to an unnerving but fascinating and totally engrossing read. I loved it like I love all of Jason's work, check this out!
September 29, 2009
Only after having read nearly all of Jason's books have I begun to see some of the themes that run, to some degree, through all of them. There's almost always an ordinary character who, by accident or design, finds himself in extraordinary circumstances that he may or may not survive. Jason's stories tend not to have traditional happy endings, yet
I think that his work is very positive. Positive because these characters are becoming active decision makers rather than passive ones, even if the decisions they make are bad ones. His message seems to be "do something, even if it's stupid" because it's better than doing nothing at all. And it's not that the decisions themselves are not important- Jason's characters very much suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. But Jason seems to think that there is less evil in that than in being a mindless depressed drone.
It's for that reason that I see the message of Why Are You Doing This to be a positive one. The protagonist, by the end of the story, seems to have no regrets about any of the decisions he's made. He faces his fate with a calm and resolute question. We never find out exactly what happens, but it's because that's not the point. Maybe the point is to get us to think about what stories we have to tell about our lives- whether they're bad or good, they're an indication about how we've lived. And Jason seems not to be pointing us in a particular direction; he just wants us to think about it. The mention of Hemingway's rich life and untimely end was a great way to disarm any potential accusations about preachiness or moralizing in the story- Jason doesn't want to tell his reader how to live his life, he just wants him to be deliberate in the way he is living it. Fantastic. Why don't I own all of his books?
I think that his work is very positive. Positive because these characters are becoming active decision makers rather than passive ones, even if the decisions they make are bad ones. His message seems to be "do something, even if it's stupid" because it's better than doing nothing at all. And it's not that the decisions themselves are not important- Jason's characters very much suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. But Jason seems to think that there is less evil in that than in being a mindless depressed drone.
It's for that reason that I see the message of Why Are You Doing This to be a positive one. The protagonist, by the end of the story, seems to have no regrets about any of the decisions he's made. He faces his fate with a calm and resolute question. We never find out exactly what happens, but it's because that's not the point. Maybe the point is to get us to think about what stories we have to tell about our lives- whether they're bad or good, they're an indication about how we've lived. And Jason seems not to be pointing us in a particular direction; he just wants us to think about it. The mention of Hemingway's rich life and untimely end was a great way to disarm any potential accusations about preachiness or moralizing in the story- Jason doesn't want to tell his reader how to live his life, he just wants him to be deliberate in the way he is living it. Fantastic. Why don't I own all of his books?
June 10, 2009
The back cover of Why Are You doing This? describes the work as Hitchcockian. I suppose that's fair, but only in the most overt sense. On the surface, the graphic novelette is about murder and mistaken identity and a kind of cat-and-mouse between victim and victor. But that's only on the surface.
If someone asked, I'd say Why Are You Doing This? is about what it means to live, what makes a live worthwhile.
Alex has just been dumped and is struggling to make sense of life. And he's having a hard time of it. Further compounding troubles, a reluctant-though-innocuous favour for a friend draws him into a world in which his existential troubles become far more literal. And like the rest of the story, though the book's title is reiterated overtly in the story's dialogue, it too holds layered meaning and, reasonably enough, is emblematic for Jason's thematic trajectory here.
Why Are You Doing This? is a solid short story that provides meat enough for thought after the act of reading is complete. Well worth the time.
If someone asked, I'd say Why Are You Doing This? is about what it means to live, what makes a live worthwhile.
Alex has just been dumped and is struggling to make sense of life. And he's having a hard time of it. Further compounding troubles, a reluctant-though-innocuous favour for a friend draws him into a world in which his existential troubles become far more literal. And like the rest of the story, though the book's title is reiterated overtly in the story's dialogue, it too holds layered meaning and, reasonably enough, is emblematic for Jason's thematic trajectory here.
Why Are You Doing This? is a solid short story that provides meat enough for thought after the act of reading is complete. Well worth the time.
October 20, 2017
Βαθμολογία: 9/10
Αυτές τις μέρες έκατσα και έψαξα για διάφορα σημαντικά και ενδιαφέροντα έργα Ευρωπαίων σχεδιαστών/σεναριογράφων και αυτά του Jason μου τράβηξαν ιδιαίτερα την προσοχή. Διάβασα περιλήψεις των ιστοριών του, είδα τα σχέδια, έριξα μια προσεκτική ματιά σε διάφορες κριτικές των έργων του, και είπα ότι καλά θα έκανα να διαβάσω κάποιο κόμικ του. Αυτό βρήκα σχετικά φθηνά σήμερα (φθηνό γενικά, αλλά μάλλον ακριβό για το μέγεθός του), με αυτό είπα να έρθω για πρώτη φορά σε επαφή με το έργο του. Ε, δεν πιστεύω ότι θα μπορούσα να κάνω καλύτερη αρχή.
Το κόμικ ανήκει γενικά και αόριστα στο είδος των κλασικών αστυνομικών νουάρ, ένα είδος που με εξιτάρει αφάνταστα. Όμως θα έλεγα ότι ο Jason δεν ήθελε να γράψει απλά μια νουάρ ιστορία με στοιχεία των ταινιών του Χίτσκοκ και μυθιστορημάτων μεγάλων συγγραφέων του είδους, αλλά κάτι παραπάνω, κάτι με κοινωνιολογικές και... υπαρξιακές προεκτάσεις. Έτσι μου φάνηκε δηλαδή, με βάση αυτά που έζησε και τράβηξε ο πρωταγωνιστής της ιστορίας. Όσον αφορά την ιστορία, δεν θέλω να πω κάτι, γιατί όσα λιγότερα ξέρει κανείς, τόσο το καλύτερο. Είναι απλή μεν, αλλά τόσο μα τόσο εθιστική και εξαιρετικά δοσμένη, που κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη από την αρχή μέχρι το (δυνατό) τέλος. Επίσης το σχέδιο είναι μινιμαλιστικό και αρκετά ιδιαίτερο, σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα. Εδώ που τα λέμε, ούτε ο τρόπος αφήγησης και γραφής ίσως να μην είναι για όλα τα γούστα, με τους λίγους και τους απλώς απαραίτητους διαλόγους.
Με μια πρώτη ματιά, ίσως να είναι ένα κόμικ που δεν θα ενθουσιάσει και πολλούς. Ούτε εγώ ενθουσιάστηκα ακριβώς όταν το έπιασα στα χέρια μου, ένιωσα όμως ότι θα διάβαζα κάτι το διαφορετικό. Και για έναν περίεργο λόγο, να που τελικά το κόμικ με ξετρέλανε. Να είναι η όλη ιστορία και η παράξενη ατμόσφαιρά της; Να είναι το μινιμαλιστικό σχέδιο και ο τρόπος αφήγησης; Μάλλον όλα αυτά μαζί, θα έλεγα. Χάρη σ'αυτό το κόμικ έβαλα τον Jason στην λίστα με τους σχεδιαστές/συγγραφείς που θα εντρυφήσω για τα καλά στο έργο τους στο άμεσο μέλλον. Βέβαια, σε σχέση με άλλους, θα μου κοστίσει κάτι παραπάνω, αλλά χαλάλι του...
Αυτές τις μέρες έκατσα και έψαξα για διάφορα σημαντικά και ενδιαφέροντα έργα Ευρωπαίων σχεδιαστών/σεναριογράφων και αυτά του Jason μου τράβηξαν ιδιαίτερα την προσοχή. Διάβασα περιλήψεις των ιστοριών του, είδα τα σχέδια, έριξα μια προσεκτική ματιά σε διάφορες κριτικές των έργων του, και είπα ότι καλά θα έκανα να διαβάσω κάποιο κόμικ του. Αυτό βρήκα σχετικά φθηνά σήμερα (φθηνό γενικά, αλλά μάλλον ακριβό για το μέγεθός του), με αυτό είπα να έρθω για πρώτη φορά σε επαφή με το έργο του. Ε, δεν πιστεύω ότι θα μπορούσα να κάνω καλύτερη αρχή.
Το κόμικ ανήκει γενικά και αόριστα στο είδος των κλασικών αστυνομικών νουάρ, ένα είδος που με εξιτάρει αφάνταστα. Όμως θα έλεγα ότι ο Jason δεν ήθελε να γράψει απλά μια νουάρ ιστορία με στοιχεία των ταινιών του Χίτσκοκ και μυθιστορημάτων μεγάλων συγγραφέων του είδους, αλλά κάτι παραπάνω, κάτι με κοινωνιολογικές και... υπαρξιακές προεκτάσεις. Έτσι μου φάνηκε δηλαδή, με βάση αυτά που έζησε και τράβηξε ο πρωταγωνιστής της ιστορίας. Όσον αφορά την ιστορία, δεν θέλω να πω κάτι, γιατί όσα λιγότερα ξέρει κανείς, τόσο το καλύτερο. Είναι απλή μεν, αλλά τόσο μα τόσο εθιστική και εξαιρετικά δοσμένη, που κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη από την αρχή μέχρι το (δυνατό) τέλος. Επίσης το σχέδιο είναι μινιμαλιστικό και αρκετά ιδιαίτερο, σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα. Εδώ που τα λέμε, ούτε ο τρόπος αφήγησης και γραφής ίσως να μην είναι για όλα τα γούστα, με τους λίγους και τους απλώς απαραίτητους διαλόγους.
Με μια πρώτη ματιά, ίσως να είναι ένα κόμικ που δεν θα ενθουσιάσει και πολλούς. Ούτε εγώ ενθουσιάστηκα ακριβώς όταν το έπιασα στα χέρια μου, ένιωσα όμως ότι θα διάβαζα κάτι το διαφορετικό. Και για έναν περίεργο λόγο, να που τελικά το κόμικ με ξετρέλανε. Να είναι η όλη ιστορία και η παράξενη ατμόσφαιρά της; Να είναι το μινιμαλιστικό σχέδιο και ο τρόπος αφήγησης; Μάλλον όλα αυτά μαζί, θα έλεγα. Χάρη σ'αυτό το κόμικ έβαλα τον Jason στην λίστα με τους σχεδιαστές/συγγραφείς που θα εντρυφήσω για τα καλά στο έργο τους στο άμεσο μέλλον. Βέβαια, σε σχέση με άλλους, θα μου κοστίσει κάτι παραπάνω, αλλά χαλάλι του...
July 3, 2019
Ко��отка новела про смерть, як неперевірену чутку, та історії, що визначають та підсумовують усе життя. Депресивно? Ще й як. Добре? На всі 5*
Бляха, я б задонатив на видання Джейсона українською.
Бляха, я б задонатив на видання Джейсона українською.
December 18, 2019
“En otras palabras, lo que estás diciendo es que quienquiera que muera con más anécdotas gana. ¿Es eso?”
En la superficie, este cómic es una especie de thriller hitchcockiano; pero en realidad, me parece, no deja de ser la historia de una ruptura amorosa. El protagonista está pasando por una separación difícil. En una charla telefónica con su mejor amigo, que trata de levantarle el ánimo, hace una de esas reflexiones seudofilosóficas que acompañan inevitablemente a las rupturas. ¿Cuántas anécdotas emocionantes o interesantes tengo?, se pregunta. Historias, quiere decir, que pudiera contar en una reunión con amigos. Considera que son acaso cinco o seis. Recuerda que su novia era una de esas cazadoras constantes de experiencias; todo el tiempo haciendo cosas nuevas, viajando. En otras palabras, siente que ella lo está dejando atrás más rápido que él a ella. Al día siguiente, como para reforzar la impresión, se la cruza en un mercado. Él está precisamente hojeando unas revistas para adultos. Ella está con otro hombre, se lo presenta, y le dice que están yendo a ver una película; y precisamente esa película es la primera que ellos dos vieron juntos. Después de ese encuentro arranca el thriller y, como suele pasar con Jason, la historia cambia completamente de tempo y de tono. Sin embargo, y como suele también pasar con Jason, tras ese cambio se mantienen las tensiones iniciales. El protagonista vive por fin una historia digna de ser contada, pero, ¿para qué? O, ¿para quién? No quiero entrar mucho en lo que ocurre a continuación, pero sí voy a apuntar que quizás este deseo de vivir historias propias nace del horror por haberse convertido en la anécdota de alguien más.
June 24, 2012
A real departure from the sparse dialogue and simple slapstick that usually characterizes Jason's deadpan work. Instead we are greeted with a Noir-esque narrative, Hitchcock style; and a very well put together one at that. A case of mistaken identity and the immediacy of being in the wrong place in the wrong time. If you didn't enjoy Jason's previous work because you prefer more complex narratives- you will most likely dig this. Very enjoyable read, and highly recommended.
August 18, 2008
I think, from now on, my professional name under which I'll be publishing all my popular, classy and accomplished work will be: Melissa.
I've never read Jason before, even though- obviously- he is very famous and popular. But he is a genius! I started it and I was like, oh, a mopey indie comic about a sad boy, HOW FUCKIN DROLL. But then his friend got knifed and I was like, oh! I didn't expect that. Then a bunch of other things happened and even though I don't really know anything about Alfred Hitchcock, I got the impression that the blurber on the back who compared the plot to a Hitchcock one was correct to do so. So it was nice that it stayed sad while the plot got twisty, and also that people I didn't expect kept getting killed.
Also that they are all animal people. I like that.
I've never read Jason before, even though- obviously- he is very famous and popular. But he is a genius! I started it and I was like, oh, a mopey indie comic about a sad boy, HOW FUCKIN DROLL. But then his friend got knifed and I was like, oh! I didn't expect that. Then a bunch of other things happened and even though I don't really know anything about Alfred Hitchcock, I got the impression that the blurber on the back who compared the plot to a Hitchcock one was correct to do so. So it was nice that it stayed sad while the plot got twisty, and also that people I didn't expect kept getting killed.
Also that they are all animal people. I like that.
Read
August 1, 2024The last scene is glued to my mind. whether I like it or not, It will stay there for a long long while. (Well, I think that makes a one good story to tell).
December 28, 2016
Jason's "Why Are You Doing This?" is billed on the back as a Hitchockian fable. This is true, but throw into the mix Kafka and you may have some idea what this short story comic is about. An ordinary man framed for a murder and all the while being chased by the very hit man who committed the crime. His existential, morose mumbling amounts to much more when the supposed real world goes off kilter and sends our snout-faced protagonist into a wheel of uncertainty. While I really enjoyed this one, I still have yet to find the book of Jason's that would qualify him as this genius everyone seems assured he is. To me he's just a clever storyteller, Woody Allen wrote pretty much the same story as this in a play and two movies, and not that long ago, either. Nevertheless, fans of that type of comedy, of the absurd, and images that aren't overdone but still overtly stylistic, with a general feel of a neo-noir, will appreciate this work.
April 22, 2018
The oldest book on my goodreads to-do list crossed off... nice!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a graphic novel, and this was a nice one to come back to. Jason has a clean, minimalist artistic style that (if you don’t mind the cat-people) makes for an enjoyable aesthetic.
Why Are You Doing This? seems to focus on experiences. Why do we value the larger than life dinner with friends anecdotes over the quiet life? It’s a question worth pondering, and Jason delivers a complex answer through the graphic medium.
A very good read.
4.5 stars
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a graphic novel, and this was a nice one to come back to. Jason has a clean, minimalist artistic style that (if you don’t mind the cat-people) makes for an enjoyable aesthetic.
Why Are You Doing This? seems to focus on experiences. Why do we value the larger than life dinner with friends anecdotes over the quiet life? It’s a question worth pondering, and Jason delivers a complex answer through the graphic medium.
A very good read.
4.5 stars
January 23, 2015
The jacket copy and the description of this graphic novel give away too much of the plot, so I'd recommend skipping them and just reading the book. I picked this one up because I loved the cover art. This short story appears to be one thing on the surface, but is really about something else on a deeper level. I cannot say anything more without a spoiler warning, so all I'll say is that this a fun and quick read.
December 26, 2022
4,5/5
¿Por qué haces esto? es la segunda obra que leo de Jason y me ha parecido también muy buena. En ella, el protagonista es acusado de haber cometido un crimen del que en realidad no ha sido el autor. A partir de ahí, se convierte en la presa de una persecución con un final fantástico. El inexpresivo trazo consigue transmitir una melancolía propia de un mundo decadente. Los dibujos son hipnóticos. No puedes dejar de leer.
¿Por qué haces esto? es la segunda obra que leo de Jason y me ha parecido también muy buena. En ella, el protagonista es acusado de haber cometido un crimen del que en realidad no ha sido el autor. A partir de ahí, se convierte en la presa de una persecución con un final fantástico. El inexpresivo trazo consigue transmitir una melancolía propia de un mundo decadente. Los dibujos son hipnóticos. No puedes dejar de leer.
February 16, 2022
Vague sense throughout that I'd read this before. Maybe it's just that I've seen the art style cited in other places? Or maybe I have read it before. I dunno. Not giving this a high rating but there's nothing wrong with it. Will check out some more of Jason's work, I think.
September 30, 2020
I love this guy’s art work.
This story was a little weird though. Everyone just opens up 100% and lets random people into their lives.
The climax near the end just flies out of left field.
It moves too fast. That’s what it boils down to. It moves at breakneck speed and loses and as a result you have to suspend all disbelief and it hurts the story.
Still going to keep reading this dude’s work though.
This story was a little weird though. Everyone just opens up 100% and lets random people into their lives.
The climax near the end just flies out of left field.
It moves too fast. That’s what it boils down to. It moves at breakneck speed and loses and as a result you have to suspend all disbelief and it hurts the story.
Still going to keep reading this dude’s work though.
November 16, 2021
"How many stories do you have to tell?"
Maybe just one little story.
Drawn by a child's little hand and told by a child's little heart.
Maybe just one little story.
Drawn by a child's little hand and told by a child's little heart.
May 23, 2023
“¿Por qué haces esto?” es un thriller envuelto de un ambiente triste y reflexivo. Esta novela gráfica hace que empatices con su protagonista y hagas de su camino el tuyo.
La historia tiene en todo momento presente la percepción de lo considerado una vida plena y, por tanto, ese miedo propio al humano de no haber hecho suficiente cuando nos llega la hora de dejar este mundo. “¿Cuántas anécdotas entretenidas o emocionantes has vivido que pudieras relatar en una velada con amigos?”, una pregunta que deja poso y hace que te preguntes qué define tu existencia.
Todos los personajes tienen su función imprescindible, con un realismo y una naturalidad perfectas. Estos animales antropomórficos guían la trama con interacciones breves y veraces. Además, las ilustraciones son extraordinarias.
El relato crece hasta hacer imposible detener su lectura, con el constante susurro de la muerte y la trascendencia como hilo subyacente. Las últimas viñetas resumen de forma irónica y mordaz toda la trama.
Si te gusta la novela gráfica o incluso si no estás acostumbrado a leer libros de este estilo, deberías adentrarte en este misterio.
La historia tiene en todo momento presente la percepción de lo considerado una vida plena y, por tanto, ese miedo propio al humano de no haber hecho suficiente cuando nos llega la hora de dejar este mundo. “¿Cuántas anécdotas entretenidas o emocionantes has vivido que pudieras relatar en una velada con amigos?”, una pregunta que deja poso y hace que te preguntes qué define tu existencia.
Todos los personajes tienen su función imprescindible, con un realismo y una naturalidad perfectas. Estos animales antropomórficos guían la trama con interacciones breves y veraces. Además, las ilustraciones son extraordinarias.
El relato crece hasta hacer imposible detener su lectura, con el constante susurro de la muerte y la trascendencia como hilo subyacente. Las últimas viñetas resumen de forma irónica y mordaz toda la trama.
Si te gusta la novela gráfica o incluso si no estás acostumbrado a leer libros de este estilo, deberías adentrarte en este misterio.
July 31, 2022
I loved it.
February 29, 2016
Stop reading anything about the plot, and sit still for a second.
This book is short and all blurbs on the back of the book or online give way too much away.
(As with all good experiences) enter blind.
This review will mention no plot content. This is as anti-spoiler as it comes.
------------------------
With this in mind, all I can write now is why you should read it without describing any plot events.
I have read no others by Jason, but a fair few other graphic novels recently. This is why I see this graphic novella as exceptional:
1. Concision and coherence
There is no extra baggage within the panel, allowing them to be read quickly without ambiguity. This also applies to the speech. Each panel also follows the next with ease, it becomes this 'moving thing'.
2. Pace
Some pages span seconds, others minutes, others hours, others years. That's a lot of modulation for a 48 page book, and this is good, because keeps your attention there hiding any breaks or slow which might let you put the book down before you finish it. The panel transitions between some of the faster-paced moments of this story are so perfect but simple, in that you can take them all in a single sweep of a glance across the page. I thought I saw the character moving between the panels sometimes (and I'm not even crazy).
3. Themes
For a small book this keeps a pretty solid central theme, but does so in a way which doesn't seem contrived (the plot events don't seem unreasonable, although they are enjoyably unpredictable). If this were an exercise in 'every story has a beginning, middle and end', it would be A+. The themes are adult, but understandable and relevant for all, even early teenagers.
4. Accessibility
I can almost guarantee anyone will enjoy this book: it is easy, it is fun, it is dark, it is serious—and will almost always be gobbled whole in the same seat. I have been reading a lot of graphic novels of late, some of which though I loved, I know I could not convince my relatives or friends to enjoy—they might call them too 'avant-garde/controversial/confusing/cynical/dense/erudite/emotional/pretentious/plotless'. At worst, you'll just see it as something that was like a fun experience: enjoyable, memorable, but too abrupt to be involved with. That still falls above average in my view.
So basically,
Order it into your library (or better buy it) when you want something short, but strong.
This book is short and all blurbs on the back of the book or online give way too much away.
(As with all good experiences) enter blind.
This review will mention no plot content. This is as anti-spoiler as it comes.
------------------------
With this in mind, all I can write now is why you should read it without describing any plot events.
I have read no others by Jason, but a fair few other graphic novels recently. This is why I see this graphic novella as exceptional:
1. Concision and coherence
There is no extra baggage within the panel, allowing them to be read quickly without ambiguity. This also applies to the speech. Each panel also follows the next with ease, it becomes this 'moving thing'.
2. Pace
Some pages span seconds, others minutes, others hours, others years. That's a lot of modulation for a 48 page book, and this is good, because keeps your attention there hiding any breaks or slow which might let you put the book down before you finish it. The panel transitions between some of the faster-paced moments of this story are so perfect but simple, in that you can take them all in a single sweep of a glance across the page. I thought I saw the character moving between the panels sometimes (and I'm not even crazy).
3. Themes
For a small book this keeps a pretty solid central theme, but does so in a way which doesn't seem contrived (the plot events don't seem unreasonable, although they are enjoyably unpredictable). If this were an exercise in 'every story has a beginning, middle and end', it would be A+. The themes are adult, but understandable and relevant for all, even early teenagers.
4. Accessibility
I can almost guarantee anyone will enjoy this book: it is easy, it is fun, it is dark, it is serious—and will almost always be gobbled whole in the same seat. I have been reading a lot of graphic novels of late, some of which though I loved, I know I could not convince my relatives or friends to enjoy—they might call them too 'avant-garde/controversial/confusing/cynical/dense/erudite/emotional/pretentious/plotless'. At worst, you'll just see it as something that was like a fun experience: enjoyable, memorable, but too abrupt to be involved with. That still falls above average in my view.
So basically,
Order it into your library (or better buy it) when you want something short, but strong.
October 11, 2015
Jason tries his hand on the 'Clear My Name' plot that has been hashed and rehashed to death.
Indulge yourself in this book's great, colorful artwork and crisp dialogue. Jason's not really prone to wasting any panels.
Some of his anthologies are a bit of a hit-and-miss but his other novellas are always worth reading.
Indulge yourself in this book's great, colorful artwork and crisp dialogue. Jason's not really prone to wasting any panels.
Some of his anthologies are a bit of a hit-and-miss but his other novellas are always worth reading.
May 15, 2015
Mmm... creo que sé de alguien que DEBERÍA estar terminando su tesis.
Acá discrepo con el juanchi. Este es el que más me gustó de todos los que leí hasta ahora. Tiene más escrito, pero la historia... el final...
Acá discrepo con el juanchi. Este es el que más me gustó de todos los que leí hasta ahora. Tiene más escrito, pero la historia... el final...
September 27, 2024
“Why Are You Doing This?” by Jason was recommended by a friend. I was not familiar with the artist or the book, so I had zero expectations.
The story feels like a Hitchcock movie. An anthropomorphic dog witnesses a murder and is himself is murdered. His friend, our protagonist, walks in on the crime scene and is framed for the murder.
The art style is minimalist. All of the characters are anthropomorphic animals (reminding me of Maus). The book is only 50 pages long.
There was nothing terribly wrong with the book, but it didn’t really move me.
The story feels like a Hitchcock movie. An anthropomorphic dog witnesses a murder and is himself is murdered. His friend, our protagonist, walks in on the crime scene and is framed for the murder.
The art style is minimalist. All of the characters are anthropomorphic animals (reminding me of Maus). The book is only 50 pages long.
There was nothing terribly wrong with the book, but it didn’t really move me.
April 6, 2013
The more and more of Jason's work I read, the more and more I like it. This book is so wonderful. It has the feel of being a Hitchcock thriller, dreamed up by Herge, but somehow drawn by Jason. It's that freaking good.
It was cool to see Jason working outside of a rigorous panel grid, as he seems to have done with the other works I've read. He has a good sense of how to break up a page. Also, because he was using more panels per page, to try and make it feel like Tintin, it's a much more dense story. If I had a recurring complaint about Jason, it would be that his stories are always so short. This book averages 12 panels a page, or so, and it helps to make the story feel more dense.
The cover is really amazing too. One of the best I've seen in a long time. It's always the really simple images that pull you in, and that's the brilliant part of this cover. It's just a guy looking out his window at what appears to be a neighbor, but you can tell by the neighbors face that he is up to no good.
Jason's work is wonderful, and has become one of my favorite cartoonist working today.
It was cool to see Jason working outside of a rigorous panel grid, as he seems to have done with the other works I've read. He has a good sense of how to break up a page. Also, because he was using more panels per page, to try and make it feel like Tintin, it's a much more dense story. If I had a recurring complaint about Jason, it would be that his stories are always so short. This book averages 12 panels a page, or so, and it helps to make the story feel more dense.
The cover is really amazing too. One of the best I've seen in a long time. It's always the really simple images that pull you in, and that's the brilliant part of this cover. It's just a guy looking out his window at what appears to be a neighbor, but you can tell by the neighbors face that he is up to no good.
Jason's work is wonderful, and has become one of my favorite cartoonist working today.
June 25, 2016
I didn't read the blurb before reading this. I also just finished reading Tell Me Something, which is presented as if someone took screen captures of a silent film and has like 7 lines of dialogue in the entire work.
I bring those two things up because as I started this story, I felt that it had a slow start. But I recognize that this is in part due to my actually having to read words instead of just look at pictures like in Tell Me Something, and being unsure if there was an action plot waiting to be unleashed, or if this was a slow character study. Shortly after thinking that things were going slowly, that all changed and we were off to the races.
Mostly what I am saying is to not read Tell Me Something directly before this one, and you might as well read the blurb before starting (at least the first sentence of the GR description). Once you get past that slow beginning that may or may not actually be slow, it's a well executed little story about a man framed for murder.
I bring those two things up because as I started this story, I felt that it had a slow start. But I recognize that this is in part due to my actually having to read words instead of just look at pictures like in Tell Me Something, and being unsure if there was an action plot waiting to be unleashed, or if this was a slow character study. Shortly after thinking that things were going slowly, that all changed and we were off to the races.
Mostly what I am saying is to not read Tell Me Something directly before this one, and you might as well read the blurb before starting (at least the first sentence of the GR description). Once you get past that slow beginning that may or may not actually be slow, it's a well executed little story about a man framed for murder.
December 13, 2024
Jason might be my new favourite comic artist!
As usual this is suspenseful. And the ending leaves you perplexed.
"How many amusing or exciting anecdotes have you lived that you'd be able to relate during an evening with friends?"
As usual this is suspenseful. And the ending leaves you perplexed.
"How many amusing or exciting anecdotes have you lived that you'd be able to relate during an evening with friends?"
December 29, 2010
Deceptively simple-looking, it’s a film noir- style murder mystery starring cartoon animals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews