The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8

I'm getting to like the works of Thomas Ott. I came across them at the library, and the stark artwork and sturdy binding of his books impressed me. Those that I've read--or viewed, as the books emphasize the "graphic" in the graphic novel--tell strange, supernatural stories with a just a dash of horror. You can read these in mere minutes if that's your thing, but the stories are well-paced and the art is worth lingering over. In this particular tale, a man finds a scrap of paper bearing a sequence of numbers, and soon those numbers appear to be directing--or maybe just reflecting--the course of his life. Odd, macabre fun.

I picked this up on a whim in the library, because the lack of "real" title (just a string of numbers) caught my attention. Then I noticed it had no text at all, and was even more curious, so I stood there and read it in the comics rack of the library.

The art was really great, and the pure black & white drawings give it a sense of darkness, even when things are going well. I enjoyed the story being portrayed. But I give 4 stars rather than 5 because I could tell from very early on how a few things were going to go. Even with knowing that, though, there was enough creative original content telling the story that I was still plenty curious about how exactly things would happen. I'm definitely interested in seeing more of Ott's work after show more reading this. show less

In the 1920s and 1930s, artists such as [author:Frans Masereel] (The Idea) and [author:Lynd Ward] (Gods' Man) used woodcuts to produce popular wordless novels which would go on to influence generations of illustrators. The Swiss artist Thomas Ott employs a similar style in his first novel-length work, The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8.

The creator of numerous short graphical stories, collected in [book:Cinema Panopticum], [book:Greetings From Hellville], and [book:Dead End], Ott relates here a powerful, Twilight Zone-styled tale of a series of numbers that grants desires to those who decipher the pattern. Following an execution, a prison guard finds a piece of paper with a sequence of numbers (the title's 73304-23-4153-6-96-8) left behind show more by the dead prisoner. The guard begins to see the numbers cropping up in his life (a clock, a phone number, cards, and even a dog's markings). As he follows the seemingly random numbers, the guard's luck begins to change. Previously a poor, lonely man, he soon comes into money, romance, and happiness, perhaps for the first time. Alas, all this fortune does not last, as the story veers off into surprisingly fantastical and creepy territory.

Ott employs a scratchboard process, a technique that uses sharp knives for etching into a thin layer of white china clay coated with black india ink (as opposed to the more labor-intensive woodcut method, where images are actually carved into a block of wood). His art has a warmth and depth of detail that forebears Masereel and Ward sometimes lacked. Without words, Ott artistically and expertly conveys feelings and clearly distinguishes every action. Text would only cloud the narrative.

From artistic, design, and narrative standpoints, Ott creates a masterpiece of contemporary graphic storytelling that knows no geographical or linguistic boundaries. Ushering in a major new talent, The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8 aptly demonstrates the power of Ott's creative vision, while leaving the reader hungry for more from this unique cartoonist.

This review originally appeared in The Austin Chronicle, July 11, 2008. show less

After an electrocution a slip of paper with a long number sequence is found on the floor. The executioner brings it home with him, and soon starts to see those numbers everywhere. The number sequence sets his life in completely new directions – wonderful at first, then more and more sinister.

Another wordless graphic novel, and an enjoyable one – if not up par with the total excellence of Shaun Tan’s book. Ott’s story is simple, yet chillingly strange and is told effectively is a crisp, realist style. I’d be happy to read more from this Swiss artist.

Another wordless from Ott; enjoyed, wanted "more".

Wow! Bello, crudo, molto particolare. Mi ha ricordato molto Dylan Dog ❤️☔

LIDO!