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Chiaroscuro
Steven's busy living the introspective, angst-ridden life of your average 20-something; drinking too much and complaining about his situation while doing little to improve it. A case of mistaken identity pushes Steven into a flow of events that bring him places he'd never imagined and forces him to make a choice between art and mere existence.
Chiaroscuro is the story of Steven Patch, an unemployed artist with a single blank canvas.
Chiaroscuro is the story of Steven Patch, an unemployed artist with a single blank canvas.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 22, 2007
Years ago, before there was such a thing as Homeland Security, I used to visit my local comic shop every Wednesday to pick up any new comics that might have come in. Wednesday was important because it was new comics day, but there was a more important reason. My local would make an effort to get interesting works by indie publishers, little known pieces of particular wonder and delight. But not a big effort. It would typically get one of each of these books. So I would get there at lunch on Wednesday so that I would be the one to scoop up all the cool books.
That was where I encountered Troy Little's Chiaroscuro. And loved it.
The only problem was that either it stopped being produced or I wasn't getting there early enough. In any case, I had the first seven issues (save for #2 - which I was evidently too late to get). Still, even after six years or so, the memory of the book lingered and I would very occasionally check Amazon on the off chance that somehow the series survived and would be collected for me to purchase. And lo, the fruit of my diligence has paid off at last.
Last night, I blew through the 234-page hardcover in a single sitting (it was easier maybe because I had already read half the book in its periodical form). It was worth it, but now I want more and hope I don't have to wait another six years.
Chiaroscuro tells of a young man haunted. By ghosts, by mystery, by his inability to fill a canvas. Steve is a painter. Or so he says. He never actually does much to his canvas save stare at it in that understated horror that unlimited potential barters and trades in on a natural and daily basis. Along the way he hangs out with friends, gets drunk a lot, meets a girl, gets the crap kicked out of him, and mocks the artistry elite for their pretentious sanctimony.
It's better than it sounds. A lot better. And the art is gorgeous. Little's lines are confident and well-placed. I know this review cannot be wholly unbiased as I approached the work with that kind of sentimental taste in my mouth that presents the kind of experience in which Little would have to suck pretty bad for me to give him a negative review here. Still, I hope to think that I really did enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed it.
I only had one quibble: the story is not complete. At least I presume it isn't. It says "Book I" on the cover, which leads me to believe that this is merely Act I in a great story. Otherwise, I would have to reevaluate the story as some kind of experimental narrative. It would probably still succeed, but not as greatly. In any case, I can't wait for Book 2.
That was where I encountered Troy Little's Chiaroscuro. And loved it.
The only problem was that either it stopped being produced or I wasn't getting there early enough. In any case, I had the first seven issues (save for #2 - which I was evidently too late to get). Still, even after six years or so, the memory of the book lingered and I would very occasionally check Amazon on the off chance that somehow the series survived and would be collected for me to purchase. And lo, the fruit of my diligence has paid off at last.
Last night, I blew through the 234-page hardcover in a single sitting (it was easier maybe because I had already read half the book in its periodical form). It was worth it, but now I want more and hope I don't have to wait another six years.
Chiaroscuro tells of a young man haunted. By ghosts, by mystery, by his inability to fill a canvas. Steve is a painter. Or so he says. He never actually does much to his canvas save stare at it in that understated horror that unlimited potential barters and trades in on a natural and daily basis. Along the way he hangs out with friends, gets drunk a lot, meets a girl, gets the crap kicked out of him, and mocks the artistry elite for their pretentious sanctimony.
It's better than it sounds. A lot better. And the art is gorgeous. Little's lines are confident and well-placed. I know this review cannot be wholly unbiased as I approached the work with that kind of sentimental taste in my mouth that presents the kind of experience in which Little would have to suck pretty bad for me to give him a negative review here. Still, I hope to think that I really did enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed it.
I only had one quibble: the story is not complete. At least I presume it isn't. It says "Book I" on the cover, which leads me to believe that this is merely Act I in a great story. Otherwise, I would have to reevaluate the story as some kind of experimental narrative. It would probably still succeed, but not as greatly. In any case, I can't wait for Book 2.
February 6, 2008
I enjoyed this - great use of black and white, engagingly "realistic" dialogue, a nice if loose drawing style - but it feels too slight to pass any real judgment on the story. It's the first third of a serialized tale and man, does it ever feel like it. Still, there's enough good stuff here to make me want to check out Book 2 when it is released.
December 28, 2017
Decent art, decent storyline. Not a lot happens over the course of the book. Little if any character development in the life of the main character happens. The mystery of his lodgings is not revealed. The mystery of the former tenant is not revealed.
June 22, 2016
Two stars might be harsh, but I am both frustrated and irritated by this book and ones like it. This is supposedly book one of three. It collects the first ten issues of the comics series. The comics were serialized from 2001-2005. This collection was first published in 2005. Nothing since. No evidence that any more is coming in the foreseeable future (Little is working on other projects and has even published other books since). So, that's over ten years since the first collected installment of this serialized narrative was published in book form. That first installment opens up various narrative threads and resolves none of them. I say, if you're not going to finish it, don't frickin' collect a volume of it. Not that I really care that much, to be honest. After all, despite some nice cartooning (and a remarkably visible Dave Sim influence), there isn't much to sink your teeth into here. Because Little's intent presumably was to serialize long-form and long-term (a la Cerebus), there's a lot of stuff in these first ten issues that really does not carry the narrative forward, as little things are teased and hinted, while the plot meanders like the feckless protagonist. Showing the aimless life of purposeless vapidity by giving us an aimless narrative might be an effective strategy, but it's also a risky one. It's fine if the serial is actually, you know, being serialized, and all the wandering eventually leads somewhere, but it makes for a pretty empty reading experience when you know that the breadcrumbs will never lead anywhere. Furthermore, the protagonist, who might charitably be described as a slacker Ii have seen him so described) might less charitably but far more accurately be described as a dick, or a loser, or a loser dick. so, really, it's hard to work up too much sympathy for him when mysterious strangers turn up at his apartment to beat him and question him (and then disappear from the narrarive), or not to recognize him as a pretentious hypocrite. Possibly worth reading to look at some decent cartooning, or to admire the various Sim tics he imitates, but pretty thoroughly unsatisfying on most narrative levels.
January 25, 2011
I really wanted to like this graphic novel, and it's certainly not bad, but...well, maybe frustrating is a proper description. From a story/plot perspective, not much happens over the 200+ pages of this pseudo-slice of life book. A lot of interesting and intriguing plot points are introduced, to be sure - a ghost only seen by the protagonist, the (possibly) haunted/mysterious apartment building he lives in, strange men accosting him over letters sent to a mysterious person who used to live in his apartment, etc. But the problem is, NOTHING ever comes of ANY of these elements. Heck, in the middle of the book, an entire issue (chapter) is devoted to the protagonist playing hoops with his best friend and shooting the breeze. So again, it's not that the writing is bad. Troy Little has a great ear for dialogue, and the banter between the slacker friends is very authentic and funny. But for such an apparently ambitious narrative, the pace is glacial and the non-ending extremely unsatisfying. Granted, this is listed as "Book 1" but it's fairly obvious the series is not going to be continued.
On the other hand, the artwork is gorgeous. The somewhat cartoony style used to depict the characters is juxtaposed against a very realistic chiaroscuro style used to depict the backgrounds and settings. Think Dave Sim (Cerebus) or Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison). Little is a master of crosshatching, and does amazing things with body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Too bad the narrative was almost non-existent. It's a matter of personal taste, to be sure, but for me story always comes first.
On the other hand, the artwork is gorgeous. The somewhat cartoony style used to depict the characters is juxtaposed against a very realistic chiaroscuro style used to depict the backgrounds and settings. Think Dave Sim (Cerebus) or Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison). Little is a master of crosshatching, and does amazing things with body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Too bad the narrative was almost non-existent. It's a matter of personal taste, to be sure, but for me story always comes first.
March 19, 2014
Walaupun most of the dialogue macam real conversation (slanga and stuff) dengan drawing yang aku kira amat superb (this dude can draw pretty well)-- aku a bit frustrated dengan jalan cerita yang agak lambat dan macam no point for maybe half of the book. But knowing that this is the first book-- mungkin jalan cerita yang lambat itu disengajakan jadi aku tabah sajalah baca sampai habis.
There's something wrong dengan apartment Steve. Dia patut dengar nasihat Kevin dan pindah. Menyampah pulak rasa bila ending Book 1 ni a bit confusing. Grr!
There's something wrong dengan apartment Steve. Dia patut dengar nasihat Kevin dan pindah. Menyampah pulak rasa bila ending Book 1 ni a bit confusing. Grr!
September 6, 2011
I'm teetering on a four and a three. As an artist myself, the story spoke to me, at first, but... some of the supernatural stuff confused me. I did like it though, I think I get it I don't know if many others will get it. I would recommend it though for a person with an opened mind. And not to slight the artwork, I really like the artist's style. The art was cool.
June 12, 2008
Enjoyable artwork, amusing and likable characters and story, but nothing particularly fascinating or original. I would like to read what comes next, but I wouldn't want to pay this much money for volume 2.
July 19, 2009
Engaging story and intensely atmospheric, kick-ass art. This guy can really draw.
August 28, 2009
I liked this one a lot.
Hopefully a "Book Two" is in the works.
Hopefully a "Book Two" is in the works.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews