Production Narrative

by J. Drucker

Looks like the original images were made in scratchboard and then printed offset (smells like ink and doesn't feel like xerox).

Critical Analysis

by E. Rettberg

Design Features

imagery: The protagonist's size and shape changes throughout the book as he downspirals into a tiny stick figure..

graphical: The number of panels on each page increases as the book closes, contributing to a sense of diffusion, dissolution, and confusion.

Critical Discussion

The bleak graphical narrative offered in this book, which traces a man's journey from a horrifying primal scene through job loss, drug addiction, prostitution, and failure, paints a pessimistic picture of modernity and urban life.

Critical Analysis

by J. Drucker

Design Features

openings: These are used in various ways, with continuity of imagery across the gutter or with repetition or contrast of scale and design.

turnings: Strong sense of narrative momentum and continuity structred in the forward movement of the character from left to right on the pages in a way that accentuates the front to back structure of the book.

development: Narrative arc is successfully followed and brought to resolution with the final sequence of images strikingly vivid as a way to show diminishment of spirit and self by their shrinking size.

sequence: Many strong sequences occur in this book, but the final sequence uses graphical means to make the narrative point in a unique way through the fading figure's diminiahsing scale and increased frequency of tinier and tinier drawings in a grid of alienation.

Critical Discussion

A gem of a book, the work of a graphical artist with a real sense of story-telling, character and mood, but also, a very instructive insight into the way a book form can be used to emphasize drama and narrative. Visually charming, and intellectually in the range of underground comix, with real world alienation threaded throughout.

Home

Agents

Eric Drooker

type: initiating

role:
artist

note: The scale and scope of Drooker's work is enormous, and this litle book is just a footnote to a large career, but it is a charming piece of lively and imaginative work. [J.Drucker]

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: Communicomix

place: New York City, NY

dates:
publication: 1986-00-00

edition size: unkown

note: This edition sold for $5 a copy. [J. Drucker]

Measurements

horizontal: 4 3/8 inches closed

vertical: 5 5/8 inches closed

Production Information

production means:
unknown

binding: saddle stitching (AAT)

substrate:
bookBlock: paper

media:
ink (local)

other materials: none

Appearance

general description: A slim, compact volume in simple paper covers.

format: codex (AAT)

cover: Black paper, with the word "HOME" toward the top in a graffiti spray-paint style. "Communicomix #3" in stylized print at the bottom.

color: no A single red blotch on the last patch contrasts with the rest of the book's start black and white.

devices: none

Content

pagination: unpaginated 40 unnumbered pages

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned

Colophon

none