FLOG! Entries tagged 'Mister Wonderful'

Down with OPP*: Mister Wonderful

janice

* Other People's Publications
** Yeah, You Know Me.

It's sub-titled "A Love Story," but somehow Mister Wonderful still managed to depress the heck outta me. Such is the power of the one and only Daniel Clowes!

Mister Wonderful was originally serialized in the New York Times Magazine back in 2007-8, and it was such an exhilirating weekly ride, that I'm glad someone collected it into a nice little hardbound book, complete with extra bonus material.

If you didn't read the online strips a few years ago (I can't even imagine...), the "Mister Wonderful" in question is Marshall, an unemployed divorcé, who's been fixed up with Natalie, a woman with some romantic baggage of her own.

I don't wanna give away the ending for anyone who didn't read it on the NYT website (Really? You didn't?? Sorry, I just...), but somehow, the open-ended conclusion just left me feeling bummed out. I guess we're meant to feel hope for this budding couple, but c'mon... This is Dan Clowes we're talking about.

Mister Wonderful, and tons of other Clowes titles and accessories, are currently in stock at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle's Georgetown district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone: (206) 658-0110. See you there!

Mister Wonderful, Chapter 18

Eric

Chapter 17 of Daniel Clowes' New York Times strip so masterfully built tension into such small space, and Chapter 18 is even more powerful and devastating. I'm actually sad this is ending in just a couple weeks, I don't think I've ever enjoyed a weekly comic more. We're pullin' for ya, Marshall.

Mister Wonderful, Part 16

mike

It's up for the reading.

Mister Wonderful, Part 15

Eric

Here it is (even though it still says "chapter 14" on the NYT site).

Mister Wonderful, Part 14

Eric

Merry Xmas, Mister Wonderful.

Mister Wonderful, Part 13

Eric

Go Marshall, go Marshall...

Mister Wonderful, Part 12

Eric

Read the latest chapter in Daniel Clowes' "Mister Wonderful" HERE.

Mister Wonderful, Part 11

Eric

Read it here.

Mister Wonderful, Part 10

Eric

While you wait for the Simpsons to air on Sunday night, enjoy the latest chapter of Daniel Clowes' Mister Wonderful.

Mister Wonderful, Part 9

Eric

Uh-oh, Marshall loses his cool -- and is subsequently cockblocked? -- by Randy the panhandler.

Mister Wonderful, Part 8

Eric

The new strip by Daniel Clowes. Read it here.

Meanwhile, it looks like the episode of the Simpsons that features appearances by Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman, and Alan Moore has been rescheduled yet again from Nov. 11 to Nov. 18, but check your local listings.

Mister Wonderful, Part 7

Eric

In Chapter 7 of Mister Wonderful, the action moves out of the cafe while Marshall just tries to hold on for dear life. I hope everyone is reading this strip, it's really been great. It's a slightly different strip for Clowes, and seems perfect for its NYT audience. The main character, Marshall, is already shaping into one of Clowes' most fully realized and endearing characters after a brief seven pages, and the subtle formal play between Marshall's interior monologue, the visual "action" (this week's simple "HA-HA"s hit like brick), and dialogue has been masterful and shows Clowes at the peak of his powers. I feel grateful that we're still only like a third of the way in.