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papernihilist's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
Minor: Pedophilia and Medical content
The story is about specifically the type of exploitation that child actors are subject to– The content isn’t particularly graphic, but the themes of abuse are consistent throughout.ljrinaldi's review
4.0
Although the author says this is a compilation of child stars that have been chewed up and spit out by the Hollywood machine, it very heavily leans on the life of Gary Coleman, who was stunted in his growth and so could play a child much longer than most children.
In the fictionalized version, Owen Eugene has something that also caused his growth to be stunted, and so can pass for much younger than he really is.
The story is told in a series of interviews with his co-stars, his parents, his agents, and all the people who knew him. There are also "scenes" from some of the shows, where we get to see what the plots of the shows were like. It is very 1980s.
It gives a well rounded background for this fictional child actor, and you can picture what his life must have been like.
Very well done.
In the fictionalized version, Owen Eugene has something that also caused his growth to be stunted, and so can pass for much younger than he really is.
The story is told in a series of interviews with his co-stars, his parents, his agents, and all the people who knew him. There are also "scenes" from some of the shows, where we get to see what the plots of the shows were like. It is very 1980s.
It gives a well rounded background for this fictional child actor, and you can picture what his life must have been like.
Very well done.
meredithmc's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the format used to tell the story of this fictional 80s child star who, like many real life ones, sadly crashed and burned. Presenting it in a very documentary, told-by-those-who-knew-him made it more engrossing than telling the story straightforward. The last few pages really get you.
libraryrobin's review
2.0
Depressingly similar to the lives of child stars of the 80s, with Wimpy Kid-esque graphics.
literacyedprof's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
n8duke's review
4.0
Box Brown is great. This one didn’t hit as hard as some of his other stuff, but I still enjoyed it.
jesswaitaminute's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bengibbreid's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
p0tat0's review
3.0
I think it was interesting how expertly Brown nailed the whole documentary format in this graphic novel. In the author's note, Brown explains that this story is intended to be an amalgam of the experiences of many child actors and a tribute to that struggle. I think he was so successful in capturing that familiar story that it resulted in a pretty predictable and boring read.
sophicat's review
2.0
Eh. Seemed an interesting concept, but given that Brian Brown already had written a few graphic novel biographies he really should have just written about Gary Coleman rather than writing a very bland story about a fictionalized white version of Gary Coleman. Nothing stands out about this book and after a while the art style becomes very, very dull.