On sale date: October 17, 2017
In this graphic novel debut, a young man struggles to maintain his ideals and friends after art school.
Joseph Remnant’s first original graphic novel Cartoon Clouds follows the recent art school graduate Seth Fallon and his three friends as they try to navigate that anxiety-fueled time between finishing school and trying to figure out what the hell they’re going to do with the rest of their lives. With a mountain of debt and no clear path to financial or emotional stability, Seth struggles to find a creative direction that won’t leave him homeless. In this world of fashion-conscious art snobs, talentless social media “gurus,” and drug addled, trust fund hipsters, he tries to hold on to the few meaningful relationships he has when the institution that held them together is no longer a part of their lives. Told through a series of engaging conversations among the characters that uncannily capture the preoccupations, fears, and ambitions of twentysomethings embarking upon their life, Cartoon Clouds is philosophically reminiscent of the films of Eric Rohmer or Noah Baumbach. Remnant has been a prominent presence in the cartooning scene over the last decade, self-publishing his own comic book Blindspot, illustrating Harvey Pekar’s acclaimed Cleveland, and appearing in such magazines as The Believer.
Praise
“Cartoon Clouds is an engrossing and beautiful riff on the venerable tradition of the modern bildungsroman. ... Remnant establishes himself here as an up-and-coming wizard of texture, chiaroscuro shading, and emotional figure-work.” — Vulture
“Whether these pages stress you out or offer a profound sense of familiarity, Cartoon Clouds stands as a treatise for dreamers constantly in fear of waking up.” — Paste
“Remnant has an acerbic sense of humor and a keen ear for dialogue.” — Publishers Weekly
“Remnant takes aim at the art world with dead-on satire: who sleeps with whom and why, living for art vs. for status, and the many ways one-upsmanship peeks out at studios, parties, faculty advising, and exhibits.” — Library Journal
“Remnant works in harmony with his keen sense of pacing and composition to create a work that has a pathos that stays with readers long after the last page is read.” — Comics Alternative
Specs
- Pages
- 164
- Format
- Hardback
- Color
- Black and white
- Dimensions
- 6.8" × 9.8"
- ISBN-13
- 9781606999394