Twentieth Century Eightball is a mixed bag, reflecting as it does a cross-section of Daniel Clowes' early work. There are some brilliant pieces herein ("Art School Confidential", "On Sports") along with some completely mediocre pieces ("The Party", "I Hate You Deeply"). On some level, this book is really for the Clowes completist, since volumes like Ghost World or Ice Haven are better reflections of what the author is capable of creating with his considerable talents. ( )

A collection of early Eightball comic strips. Most of the stories are short excursions into an odd and anxious world of frenetic childhood cartoon characters and wandering loners lost in stream-of-consciousness thought. A number of my favorite Clowes short stories are included, such as Art School Confidential, Playful Obsession, The Sensual Santa, etc.