Reviews

Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Daniel Clowes

theredqueenlinnea's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Definitely a fun noir feel, but the novel moved too fast and didn’t have extremely consistent art enough to make it for easy reading. The art didn’t always portray things clearly. I enjoyed it simply because it was enjoyable subject matter and it was so absurd, definitely had several creative aspects, but the storytelling/art could have been done a little bit better I believe.

farthestfrom's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

dantastic's review against another edition

4.0

After seeing his ex-girlfriend in a bizarre film in a seedy theater, Clay Loudermilk goes looking for her and winds up ensnared in a conspiracy and runs afoul of some strange people.

I've been a fan of Dan Clowes since he did The Uggly Family in Cracked magazine about a thousand years ago. I grabbed this during the Fantagraphics sale last November.

This is one wild toboggan ride! Bizarre, unsettling, and lots of fun. Clay Loudermilk steps into a cowpie of strangeness, meeting a fish girl, a dog with no orifices, conspiracy nuts, a cult bent on bringing about a war between the sexes, and a creator of snuff films, among other things.

Clowes' art isn't as refined as it is these days but the groundwork is there. Clowes draws attractive women, homely women with droopy boobs, a fish girl, grotesque guys, and a lot of other weird shit with great skill. Lots of bad shit befalls Clay on his journey and the ending isn't all peaches and gravy.

I don't think I've conveyed just how strange this book is but it's better experienced anyway.

Live a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron is a nonstop parade of the strange. Four out of five stars.

jzaro's review

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

morgendorffer's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

eceaydin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

emub's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

kitten_nuisance's review against another edition

4.0

I reread this book today. I can't believe I even vaguely understood this when I first read it in high school, when I was really stupid. . . or that I was even exposed to something so cool and different! I can't be sure, but I'm relatively confident that I'm not just being sentimental, and I'd still enjoy this nugget of weirdness if I'd first read it as an adult.

gilldaniels's review against another edition

4.0

When I finish a book by Daniel Clowes, I always feel like the world around me has altered slightly when I put it down. Everything feels a little too bright or real. His art style, storytelling, and ideas make me feel like I'm one of his characters. This book is probably my favorite of his.

popgoesbitty's review against another edition

4.0

What a ride. I don’t think I totally understood the plot of this, but it didn’t really matter. The journey was bizarre and entertaining enough on its own. I love how some reviews refer to this book as a “nightmare,” because that’s exactly what it feels like—-in a good way.