Actors/Director/Anything Worth Mentioning Right Away: This is my first time taking what I normally call my “Horror Movie Review Template” and trying to apply it to the review of a graphic novel. Sure, I’ve strayed from the genre of horror already with my movie reviews (Though that point can be argued in some instances), but now to go to an entirely new medium? This could be interesting. This graphic novel is written by the writer of Ghost World.
Introduction: I checked this out from my local library and read it in one sitting.
Location: Though this point really doesn’t matter as much as, say, in a movie, this takes place primarily around the same city. It’s got enough of a background, but that isn’t the selling point of this book.
Plot: Wilson revolves around a character of the same name that, for intents and purposes, is kind of like Harvey Pekar except not real. The way the book is drawn is in panels of six to seven per page and each page is sort of a little in itself with a title. In this way, it very much resembles a comic strip collection rather than a graphic novel, but how am I to mince words? Wilson is basically a lonely older man who tries to get back with his ex-wife, who despite his claims was never a drug addict. The way the pages stand on their own while continuing an overall theme in the story just amazes me. This is truly a work of art- by my definition- because it is something that I wish I had done. Now if I decided to make something in this particular format, everyone would just say I was a copycat.
Though honest and moving at times, this is mostly a comedy. They even have it where from panel to panel it leads up to the last spot as being the punchline. It has a lot of emphasis on dogs, parents, family and why fat women are attractive even though society doesn’t see it. It’s a nice little story about a weird little guy who likes to swear a lot.
Acting: There isn’t really acting, but the characters have good development. I’d like to see more of them, possibly a sequel?
Production: It is very professionally done in full color and all that. What should be noted is that from page to page, the characters in Wilson can change appearance if only from an artist standpoint. There is a very serious looking version, which reminds me most of Harvey Pekar (This can be found in the first story “Fellowship”), while there is also a very cartoony/over exaggerated version as well (Such as with “Fat Chicks”). There are also versions in between this, as well as different shades and hues throughout as well (Some darker, some lighter, some black and white, etc.)
Sex/Nudity: There is a bedroom scene but no cartoon nudity. I would give this a “R” rating if it was a movie, though, simply because of how many f-bombs are dropped.
Special Effects: If this was to be turned into a movie, I’d cast Dave Attell as the main character, though the studios would probably give it to Philip Seymour Hoffman or Kevin James.
Overall Verdict: This is the first time I really felt compelled to write about something other than a movie in a review sense for my blog. That, in and of itself, has to say a lot about this particular graphic novel. Highly recommended.
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