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Product Description
Synopsis
The author's biggest target for ridicule is himself in this autobiographical comic that chronicles his existence for close to twenty years as he wears his neuroses and fetishes on his sleeve.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Joe Matt is a great cartoonist and a terrific autobiographical storyteller - to the extent that if his readers were to encounter him in person, they would feel as if they already knew him.
Following an enjoyable excursion into his childhood year in Fair Weather, this - the third collection drawn from Matt's Peepshow comic series - marks a welcome return to the sordid reality of his adulthood.
Matt's friends and fellow comic writer-artists Chester Brown and Seth once again feature as characters, but the highlight for me was Matt's unflinchingly candid and funny dissection of his addiction to pornography. Matt's approach to the subject is one that I haven't seen from anyone else - simply because few people have the stones to be that honest.
Like everything else Matt has produced, this book is well worth your time and money.
Following an enjoyable excursion into his childhood year in Fair Weather, this - the third collection drawn from Matt's Peepshow comic series - marks a welcome return to the sordid reality of his adulthood.
Matt's friends and fellow comic writer-artists Chester Brown and Seth once again feature as characters, but the highlight for me was Matt's unflinchingly candid and funny dissection of his addiction to pornography. Matt's approach to the subject is one that I haven't seen from anyone else - simply because few people have the stones to be that honest.
Like everything else Matt has produced, this book is well worth your time and money.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Spent" is basically a graphic novel about masturbation. Masturbation about himself, about money, about comics, and literally. The book divides itself into 3 sections. The first is about a trip to a comics store Joe has with Seth, the author of "Clyde Fans" and the "Palookaville" comics, which ends with Joe and Seth quarrelling over an obscure comic and Joe purchasing porn in a cafe, then worrying over the girls in the videos.
The second is about a lunch between Joe, Seth, and Chester Brown, the author of the "Little Man" strips and "Louis Riel", and a discussion over comics awards, their work, and then the gentle ribbing of Joe by the other two.
The third is a monologue Joe has with the reader as he potters about his house, giving us a brutally honest view of his life. The small rooms, the porn addiction, the lack of drive to create comics - his true love, and finally a reveal on his previous "autobiographical" books where he reveals the ending of "The Poor Bastard" is fictional, and "Fair Weather" is largely made up as well.
The book contains Joe Matt's best work, both written and drawn, and the book was very readable. It's not a book that's going to change the world as it's a book concerned solely with the author's world view only. That said, the fascination Joe has with his life translates into an engrossing book, despite the disgust you might feel toward the author's habits. Also, being a big fan of Seth and Chester Brown, it's great to see them depicted by one of their friends and to see what they're like.
The book is also brilliantly produced, high quality hardback, quality paper used, another great D&Q production. It's not a graphic novel on the scale of "Maus" or "Blankets" but it's a great read from a likeable guy. Let's hope he puts down the tissue box long enough to put together another book soon.
The second is about a lunch between Joe, Seth, and Chester Brown, the author of the "Little Man" strips and "Louis Riel", and a discussion over comics awards, their work, and then the gentle ribbing of Joe by the other two.
The third is a monologue Joe has with the reader as he potters about his house, giving us a brutally honest view of his life. The small rooms, the porn addiction, the lack of drive to create comics - his true love, and finally a reveal on his previous "autobiographical" books where he reveals the ending of "The Poor Bastard" is fictional, and "Fair Weather" is largely made up as well.
The book contains Joe Matt's best work, both written and drawn, and the book was very readable. It's not a book that's going to change the world as it's a book concerned solely with the author's world view only. That said, the fascination Joe has with his life translates into an engrossing book, despite the disgust you might feel toward the author's habits. Also, being a big fan of Seth and Chester Brown, it's great to see them depicted by one of their friends and to see what they're like.
The book is also brilliantly produced, high quality hardback, quality paper used, another great D&Q production. It's not a graphic novel on the scale of "Maus" or "Blankets" but it's a great read from a likeable guy. Let's hope he puts down the tissue box long enough to put together another book soon.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
aptly named
23 Oct 2007
Format:Hardcover
Having been a big fan of Joe Matt for many years, this collection came as a big disappointment to me. After reading it I've been forced to reluctantly conclude that in his last work he's taking the reader for a ride. Unlike his other exuberant, imaginative efforts, this is a claustrophobic, abrasive work that consists entirely of tight facial closeups and repetitive dialog that is all-too-familiar from his previous efforts. Matt's character has already been long-established, and he takes it in no new directions in this volume. On the contrary, his close introspection on his inability to form intimacy and his addiction to pornography have no counterpoint in drama, dialog, or action. The result is solipsistic and boring.
This is a shame because as a long-time reader I have really enjoyed his previous work. The most emotion Spent got out of me was when Matt reflects on his previous efforts and confesses that he abandoned his planned ending to the "Fair Weather" arc of Peepshow. It would have involved a trip to the fair, but he gave it up because he was "too lazy to draw the crowd scenes." Looking back on that storyline (the name, they were building the fairgrounds throughout) I have to accept this, and it's simply depressing.
In this book Matt communicates to his readers in no uncertain terms that he has given up on his craft. He has become for this reader like the old friend whose destructive tendencies finally overcome your loyalty, and I feel something of that kind of disappointment reading this depressing work. After this read, Matt would have to completely reinvent himself to get my attention again.
This is a shame because as a long-time reader I have really enjoyed his previous work. The most emotion Spent got out of me was when Matt reflects on his previous efforts and confesses that he abandoned his planned ending to the "Fair Weather" arc of Peepshow. It would have involved a trip to the fair, but he gave it up because he was "too lazy to draw the crowd scenes." Looking back on that storyline (the name, they were building the fairgrounds throughout) I have to accept this, and it's simply depressing.
In this book Matt communicates to his readers in no uncertain terms that he has given up on his craft. He has become for this reader like the old friend whose destructive tendencies finally overcome your loyalty, and I feel something of that kind of disappointment reading this depressing work. After this read, Matt would have to completely reinvent himself to get my attention again.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Exceptional cartooning, but to what end?
2 Sep 2007
Format:Hardcover
Joe Matt's work is truly dark. That word conjures images of the Crow or ... what's that really stupid one? Johnny the HOmicidal Maniac. But in fact it would be pretty cool to be the Crow: you look cool and you're either getting vengeance or laid. Spent is about the true dark moments of the soul, which are usually alone and in dingy settings. Knowing the history of how he got here makes this all the more effective: he couldn't appreciate Trish (who is now, incidentally, married and a successful animator) while he had her, always lusting after someone not interested in him. Now Trish is gone and nothing's sprung up to take her place except the porn they so often fight about. That scene where he's about to make the Crumb shirt his new ... errr... rag... that's so powerful. Reading though, I asked myself: isn't he afraid of Trish reading this?
Anyway, Matt is such a great cartoonist. His characters are fluid and alive he somehow makes thirty pages of a three guys in a diner or a guy wandering around his tiny bedroom interesting and compelling. And frankly, without Matt's talented, (deceptively?) simple cartooning, it would be difficult to make it through this very sad story.
It's a good thing he ended the story where he did, since approximately the next day he gets a call to turn his cartoon show into an HBO tv show and moves out to LA where young girls fawn over his 45 year-old carcass (don't believe me? Check out his MySpace page). What an unbelievable Deus Ex Machina: what hack dreamed up that illogical end to this pathetic character's story? Luckily Matt ends it where it 'll end for most losers: in their porn-cluttered boardinghouse bedroom.
My one negative thought on this was that I'd read the excerpt he did of Spent in the McSweeney's compendium a few years ago. It's like 6 pages: Matt edits his tape, finds the t-shirt, flashes back about Trish, tries to cheer himself up by planning on buying a slice of pizza, only to get seduced by the porn into not leaving his bedroom. Don't those six or so pages tell his story much better than this large graphic novel? WHat we get from the rest, though buoyed by his excellent cartooning, only takes away from that concision: do you care that Seth bullies Joe? I sure don't. Still, it's a pleasure to read in the hands of this virtuoso--you just don't want to *shake* those hands.
Anyway, Matt is such a great cartoonist. His characters are fluid and alive he somehow makes thirty pages of a three guys in a diner or a guy wandering around his tiny bedroom interesting and compelling. And frankly, without Matt's talented, (deceptively?) simple cartooning, it would be difficult to make it through this very sad story.
It's a good thing he ended the story where he did, since approximately the next day he gets a call to turn his cartoon show into an HBO tv show and moves out to LA where young girls fawn over his 45 year-old carcass (don't believe me? Check out his MySpace page). What an unbelievable Deus Ex Machina: what hack dreamed up that illogical end to this pathetic character's story? Luckily Matt ends it where it 'll end for most losers: in their porn-cluttered boardinghouse bedroom.
My one negative thought on this was that I'd read the excerpt he did of Spent in the McSweeney's compendium a few years ago. It's like 6 pages: Matt edits his tape, finds the t-shirt, flashes back about Trish, tries to cheer himself up by planning on buying a slice of pizza, only to get seduced by the porn into not leaving his bedroom. Don't those six or so pages tell his story much better than this large graphic novel? WHat we get from the rest, though buoyed by his excellent cartooning, only takes away from that concision: do you care that Seth bullies Joe? I sure don't. Still, it's a pleasure to read in the hands of this virtuoso--you just don't want to *shake* those hands.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
GREAT.
26 Nov 2007
Format:Hardcover
This book put a smile on my face. The voyeur in me couldn't put it down until I turned the last of its 120 pages. It's a breeze to read, and funny to boot.
I think its one of the best things I've read this year. It's just very entertaining & enjoyable. If summed up, the book shows little more than Joe talking to himself in his 1-bedroom dwelling, watching porn, and a few (real-world) conversations with his 2 cartooning friends Seth & Chester Brown.
But the WAY it's done is something else!
If you like R.Crumb's self-loathing comics, then I daresay you'll get a kick out of this book. I sure did. Joe's first collection of `Peepshow' (Called `The Poor Bastard') collects his life with his ex-girlfriend, and as such shows a more gregarious lifestyle (Well... as gregarious as Joe can get). This collection (Spent), shows his life `after' the relationship is over. He's alone, and aside from brief chats with a friend or two, is largely introspective and contemplative.
Joe's art & writing are refreshingly clean & simple. Though blunt & honest, Joe doesn't just point at the world and say "You are to blame!" - (far from it) - In fact he's constantly pointing the finger at himself. He recognizes that he's the reason for his lot in life, but knows himself enough to accept it. You get the feeling that Joe is his own 'shrink', and getting it out on paper helps him makes sense of it all. (Though publishing it for the world to see took some balls!)
'Spent' really is like reading someone's diary. A beautifully drawn and funny diary. For the price, you really are getting a lot in a hard-bound and well made comicbook.
I can't recommend it enough.
Bobby.N
I think its one of the best things I've read this year. It's just very entertaining & enjoyable. If summed up, the book shows little more than Joe talking to himself in his 1-bedroom dwelling, watching porn, and a few (real-world) conversations with his 2 cartooning friends Seth & Chester Brown.
But the WAY it's done is something else!
If you like R.Crumb's self-loathing comics, then I daresay you'll get a kick out of this book. I sure did. Joe's first collection of `Peepshow' (Called `The Poor Bastard') collects his life with his ex-girlfriend, and as such shows a more gregarious lifestyle (Well... as gregarious as Joe can get). This collection (Spent), shows his life `after' the relationship is over. He's alone, and aside from brief chats with a friend or two, is largely introspective and contemplative.
Joe's art & writing are refreshingly clean & simple. Though blunt & honest, Joe doesn't just point at the world and say "You are to blame!" - (far from it) - In fact he's constantly pointing the finger at himself. He recognizes that he's the reason for his lot in life, but knows himself enough to accept it. You get the feeling that Joe is his own 'shrink', and getting it out on paper helps him makes sense of it all. (Though publishing it for the world to see took some balls!)
'Spent' really is like reading someone's diary. A beautifully drawn and funny diary. For the price, you really are getting a lot in a hard-bound and well made comicbook.
I can't recommend it enough.
Bobby.N
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