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| Suspended Animation, 8/7/2004 |
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Table for One
pp. 86
9.95
Main Spring Comics
Written and drawn by Bosch Fawstin
Sold in comic stores or online
Almost
Table for One is a graphic novel about one evening in the life of the owner, staff and customers of a restaurant. No super-heroes, no super-villains, no spandex, no latex. Hurray!!
Almost
Will is the egotistic, handsome nephew of the restaurant's grossly overweight owner (Who looks much like the villain, The Kingpin, from Daredevil Comics) and the protagonist of the evening. You will almost like him. You will hate every other character. In fact, if this graphic novel is supposed to be a microcosm of life (and I believe it is), then it says, life stinks. Why?
Every character, including Will, is selfish, dishonest, miserable and profane. Theirs is an unrelentingly dark, nasty, physically and spiritually violent dog-eat-dog world. But there is some good in the real world. This story needs some of it.
Dialog in Fawstin's world comes close to ringing true, but almost every page is laced with profanity, and too many characters are too consciously clever in their conversations. Puns as figures of speech do exist in the real world. However, this story needs less of them and less profanity.
The artist's minimalistic art is almost excellent and reminiscent of master artist Alex Toth's style. Minimalism means no visual detail is included unless necessary to the story. Almost excellent means that some characters are barely doodles.
In addition, Fawstin's staging bears little resemblance to reality because he overworks clever angles and visual gimmicks meant to make mundane scenes visually interesting. As example, in one panel Will's angry expression is seen through a rectangle literally cut out of his uncle whose back is to the reader. Too much obvious staging destroys a reader's suspension of disbelief.
Almost every comment on every aspect of Table for One seems slightly negative. Does that mean that this graphic novel is not worth reading? No.
Table for One is almost recommended.
Shudder at Vance's Light's End horror short stories narrated by actor William Windom at www.plan9.org.
Questions? Comment? E-Mail Suspended Animation at vance@digitalwebbing.com
Any statements made, expressed or implied are solely those of columnists or persons interviewed and do not represent the editorial position of the administration, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. All characters and artwork shown are trademark and © of their respective owners.
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