One of my all-time favourite comic book stories is Ghost World by Daniel Clowes. Initially it was serialised in his own independent comic book 'Eightball', where it took almost 4 years (June 93 – March 97) and eight issues to tell the tale of Enid Coleslaw (the anoraks among you may be interested to note that Enid Coleslaw is an anagram of Daniel Clowes!) and her best friend Rebecca Doppelmeyer. Eventually it was pieced together as a graphic novel in the late 90s, where it found a much wider audience. This story is such a rare treat, and one I find I have to 'top up' on at regular intervals -- you know, like you have to do with those most favourite films…..
Although Dan Clowes writes and draws all his own stories, the real art of this piece is how the hell this middle-aged man managed to nail the thoughts and characterisations of these two teenagers so well! The dialogue is spot-on, and the relationship between the girls and their ‘friends’ is agonisingly real. Everyone goes through that awkward 'no longer a kid, not yet an adult' phase, and I guess that's why this book is so easy to relate to. It's one of those stories where, on the face of it, little happens, yet dig a little deeper and it's pretty much the whole of life, wrapped up in eighty odd pages.
High school friends Enid and Rebecca are two alienated and very opinionated girls, who know exactly what they don't like -- of course, like most teens, they are less sure what they do like, as the realisation of a directionless future hits them (ring any bells?!). The girls live in an un-named town, but you almost certainly live in it too (or at least very near it)… All the life has been sucked out, and all the character buildings, and things that used to personalise it and make it unique are being torn down, replaced with cinema complexes, theme diners and shopping malls. The girls seem to despair at the loss of their towns identity, and to me, this suggests where the stories title comes from - although Clowes has never really explained it, saying only that he once saw some graffiti on a wall containing the words. Enid and Rebecca’s dream had always been to quit school and achieve adulthood, yet when it finally comes, it slowly tears their friendship apart. The ending is left up to the reader to decide, but many believe there are enough signs in the last few pages to show that Enid commits suicide… I however like to go for the thought that Enid has gone in search of a new town that still has its soul.
It’s a thought provoking read – with a lot to say about throw-away society and the decay of our surroundings. The first whiff I caught of Ghost World being made into a film was sometime in the late 90’s, and I was mortified. Hollywood doesn't have a good track record of adapting comic books at the best of times, let alone subtle, underground titles like this. I had visions of it being rewritten as an ‘American Pie’ style teen flick… ugh. On its release in 2001, I somehow managed to find a cinema in Essex actually showing it (admittedly only for one day), so my partner and I nervously attended the first showing. But against all the odds, one of my top three comic books became one of my top three films! The film (starring Thora Birch as Enid and an at the time little known Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca) faithfully reproduced the book, and the additional storylines (all written by Clowes) added to and complemented the original perfectly - particularly the decision to expand the ‘Seymour’ character, played to painful perfection by Steve Buscemi – in fact it was nominated for an Academy Award for the ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’.
Lately I’ve seen the DVD kicking around in HMV at the crazy price of £3… which really is too cheap for this little gem. If you see it around at that price snap it up, you won’t regret it. However, do yourself a favour and make sure you read the book 1st.
I've managed to track down the original trailer for the film, which gives a good flavour of this underrated quirky flick:
I remember you recommending this years ago and criminally still haven't got round to having a peep. I've been on a comics Buzz for a while now, so may be the perfect time to catch up.
What'ja reckon - do the film or Graphic Nov' first?
I picked the film up for the recommended price of £3 and after reading the book sat down with the film. It's brilliant, how the film expands on the book and doesn't lose any of the books charm or take away from the charters is amazing. (This is Hollywood after all)
Thanks for putting me onto the book.
Enid: I think only stupid people have good relationships. Seymour: That's the spirit.
I agree entirely Piley. I came across the story via the excellent film first of all (not being a comic collector I did not know the story). Via a bloke who looks very similar to a blogger of some repute I discovered the graphic novel version and was blown away for the second time. I now read the odd and have still found little to rival 'Ghost World'.
While teaching physics at Princeton University in 1969, Gerard K. O'Neill asked his students to design large, theoretical structures suitable for space. Their proposals led him to publish the first concept for what came to be known as the "O'Neill cylinder" in 1974 in Physics Today and to revisit the idea in his book, The High Frontier. O'Neill's design incorporates areas for human habitation, farming, and manufacturing. What feature allows occupants to experience gravity?More...Discuss
The two-day Battle of Wagram signaled the end of the 1809 War of the Fifth Coalition between the kingdoms of Austria and France. Due to the battle's then-unprecedented use of artillery, both sides suffered tens of thousands of casualties. The Austrians were broken by the battle. Napoleon's victory forced Archduke Charles of Austria to accept unfavorable armistice conditions, stripping Austria of land and subjects. The battle might have ended differently if who had shown up in time?More...Discuss
Adopted by a naval officer as a child, Farragut began his naval career as a midshipman at age nine. During the US Civil War, he ran his ships past Confederate forts to capture New Orleans. The victory earned him a prominent place in the Union navy. He was again promoted in 1864, after leading a successful assault on a heavily mined Confederate port. Famously, upon losing a ship during the attack, he allegedly cried out "Damn the torpedoes–full speed ahead!" What naval rank was created for him?More...Discuss
6 comments:
i shall take your sterling advice and get me some.
x
I'v enot heard of that mate. Thanks for putting me onto it.
I remember you recommending this years ago and criminally still haven't got round to having a peep. I've been on a comics Buzz for a while now, so may be the perfect time to catch up.
What'ja reckon - do the film or Graphic Nov' first?
Hope you get round to reading\watching it guys... do let me know what you think...
Mondo - it is LAW that you read the book 1st!
Piley
I picked the film up for the recommended price of £3 and after reading the book sat down with the film. It's brilliant, how the film expands on the book and doesn't lose any of the books charm or take away from the charters is amazing. (This is Hollywood after all)
Thanks for putting me onto the book.
Enid: I think only stupid people have good relationships.
Seymour: That's the spirit.
I agree entirely Piley. I came across the story via the excellent film first of all (not being a comic collector I did not know the story). Via a bloke who looks very similar to a blogger of some repute I discovered the graphic novel version and was blown away for the second time. I now read the odd and have still found little to rival 'Ghost World'.
Post a Comment