Derek Kirk Kim

Pays homage to cartooning -- particularly Gran'pa Greenbax, with nods to Disney and his Scrooge McDuck plus Daddy Warbucks -- while engaging in an intricate exploration of the intersections of dreams and reality.

Each of the three stories in the book employs a different visual style, yet each revolves around the use of fantasy as a door out of -- and back into -- an unbearable world.

Remarkably free of sentimentality and rich in intellectual content, it employs many of the tropes of fiction show more to make something wholly original. show less

Summary: Simon and Nancy are twentysomethings living in California, still in that phase in their lives where they're trying to figure out who they are and who they're going to be, even when it seems like others around them are growing up and moving on. They both have secrets - not big, earth-shattering secrets - but smaller things, things they've done of which they're ashamed. For Simon, it was turning down a date with a blind girl for the wrong reasons, and for Nancy, it's the fact that show more she's been answering love letters sent to a previous tenant of her apartment. Then a trip to Simon's hometown gives both of them the chance to come clean - not only to the people they've wronged, but maybe more importantly, to themselves.

Review: I've seen people complain that there's not enough book to this book. And, from one way of looking at things, they're not wrong: it's short, less than 100 pages, and is more of an extended slice-of-life vignette than an intricately plotted novel. It also doesn't involve life-or-death situations or any grand themes, and represents maybe 36 hours in the lives of two fairly self-absorbed young people. But even though it is short, and even though it is fairly simple, it's also one of the most emotionally honest graphic novels I've read. It is simultaneously funny and touching and honest, and the dialogue sounds like they way real people talk (at one point, Simon and Nancy are bantering about what "Oriental Flavor" Ramen tastes like, if "Chicken Flavor" tastes like chicken and "Beef Flavor" tastes like beef, and she leans over and bites him to taste; and I can absolutely see that exact same conversation happening between me and my friends at that age.) The story feels very real; not everything wraps up neatly, but yet it's still satisfying. And let's be honest; most of us are not dealing with epic events on a regular basis, but I'd bet that everyone has some things they've done in the past that they're not proud of, and can relate to the protagonists' confrontation with their own less-than-exemplary behavior. I liked the artwork as well. A few of the panels were a little bit busy for my tastes, but Kim has a real talent for capturing an incredible range of subtle emotions in the faces of his characters... and a lot of the heart of the story plays out through the drawings just as much as through the words. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Slight, but very good, and packs more of a punch than you might expect. Definitely recommended to anyone who likes contemporary graphic novels. show less

Andy crash-lands in the real world after dropping out of art school, but when his parents demand that he get a job--NOW--his search for employment leads him to both his long-time art school crush and to aliens who want to pay him to be a year-long exhibit in an interdimensional zoo. For excellent pay and benefits. What's a starving artist to do?

This second volume is the series picks up right where the first one left off. Andy, the average guy, who is disillusioned with the lack of jobs, can't seem to get his art going, and can't work up the courage to ask out his art school crush has finally found that perfect job. He's going to work at a zoo!...as an exhibit in an alien dimension. And while all seems great upon signing the contract, he quickly discovers there's no way home and all of that money he's making is useless in this show more dimension. And worst of all the aliens messed up on bringing Yumi, his art school crush, to him so he could say goodbye! Instead, he faces Yumi for an alternate reality...where things are a bit different. What's a guy to do?

I’ve been following Tune since it came out in webcomic format and it’s quickly become one of my favorite webcomics to keep up with...although it's on hiatus now pending sales of this book. So people...go buy this book so we can continue the story!!! Seriously. Ahem.... What I like about this book is that for the most part, Andy is your average guy. He makes mistakes (dropping out of school, not reading the contract that he signs with the aliens), but all in all he means well. And I can see elements of myself in his story, which of course makes me cringe at times (especially when he realizes that Yumi might actually like him) because I’ve made some of the same choices, the same decisions, and my life mirrors Andy in some ways. And that’s what makes this such a great story, that it is easy to relate to Andy. We’ve all mapped out our life and had it veer off into different directions (hopefully no one is an exhibit in a zoo though.) I like the sense of humanity and humility that Derek brings to the characters and I can’t wait to see where he takes them next.

Les McClaine took over the artwork in this volume so that Derek was able to put out the story more often. He has a similar style to Derek's but he really makes the characters his own and brings a different style to them. For me the characters come to life more with Les than Derek. For one Les has a lighter touch, less of the dark heavy lines that typify Derek's work and more of a sketch quality that loosely captures the characters movements and the shading that give them a bit of extra vitality. There's also more of a rounded quality the faces, which does create a bit of sameness to the characters, but at the same time does away with some of the harshness of the earlier versions. Don't get me wrong I love Derek's art, but Les brings his own touches to this work and it adds a great deal to it.

This story has a nice blending of sci-fi and real life, which makes it easy for folks to dive into and read. It’s a story that I highly recommend and I can’t wait to see what happens next. So go buy this book so it will continue! 4 out of 5 stars.

ARC provided by Gina at FirstSecond show less