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kidclamp's review
5.0
I read these as fast as I possibly could as they had become well overdue, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them.
James Kochalka has really developed a gift for finding the magic moments of his day and making them relatable. I think these probably benefit from being in book form and being read in succession as you get a better picture of his life and his family, and it makes the 'what should I draw today?' comics feel more thought out than if you just encounter one on a page of print or on the website. The best side benefit of reading these all at once was that it made me step outside of myself to observe the little moments of my day and made it easy to laugh at myself. A+ sir!
James Kochalka has really developed a gift for finding the magic moments of his day and making them relatable. I think these probably benefit from being in book form and being read in succession as you get a better picture of his life and his family, and it makes the 'what should I draw today?' comics feel more thought out than if you just encounter one on a page of print or on the website. The best side benefit of reading these all at once was that it made me step outside of myself to observe the little moments of my day and made it easy to laugh at myself. A+ sir!
beththebookdragon's review
3.0
Amusing if uneven cartoon narrative of the real, quirky life of cartoonist/graphic novelist/rock musician James Kochalka. A lot about marriage and raising a young child in here. Some of the humor is bathroom humor and not appealing to me (or, I suspect, many adults) and some of the panels are in poor taste and/or dark humor (some of which I like, some I don't). The majority, though, is amusing and many panels are insightful or thought-provoking (as well as simply provoking!). Good read-alike for Life in Hell fans as well as fans of slice-of-life comics.
richard's review
American Elf is James Kochalka's daily diary comic. It has pretty much become "Kochalka's Kid Says the Darndest Things." Kochalka is pretty annoying in large doses, so it is best not to read these all at once. Still he is often funny and his huge level of creative output is impressive and inspiring.
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