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haimson's review against another edition
3.0
I got this book for my dad for Christmas, but I couldn't help reading it during my visit to Fort Collins. In fact, as the clock struck 2009 I was sitting in bed in my childhood bedroom reading this book. This is a collection of Spiegelman's early work, mostly from the 1970s. Compared to Maus, this is not exceptional, but it's interesting to see more personal glimpses of Spiegelman's life, as well as an earlier short version of Maus. Some of the comics were not great, but the drawings and the aesthetics of each page are beautiful.
markfeltskog's review against another edition
Excoriating self-examination from a master of the act.
gfox3737's review against another edition
4.0
Trauma, Freudian analysis (comic representations of the superego and inner critic), literary theories, high and low art, neuroticism and a Jewish mother... dear reader, I married this collection.
"it's a manifesto, a diary, a crumpled suicide note and a still-relevant love letter to a medium I adore." - Spiegelman
"it's a manifesto, a diary, a crumpled suicide note and a still-relevant love letter to a medium I adore." - Spiegelman
jsjammersmith's review against another edition
5.0
It's easy to forget how important Spiegelman is to the medium of comics outside of Maus. As he so eloquently demonstrates in his comics preface, the shadow of that book will Spiegelman for the remainder of his life, and rightfully so. Still, it's these early works where one can see an artist willing to experiment and play with the form of comics.
"Prisoner of Hell Planet," "Little signs of passion," and an early version of "Maus" are just some of the wonderful stories in this collection, and the massive size of the book allows the reader to simply disappear into the linework and textures and worlds Spiegelman creates.
This book will obviously disappoint readers looking for plain or direct plots. This book isn't about that. These are stories interested in the form, with playing with the medium of comics. These early works show an artist finding a creative voice and seeing what is possible through comics and for that reason I took my time with every page just studying, or often drooling, at these layouts and the emotional register that was being conveyed.
Breakdowns is a really underappreciated book, and so if the reader is interested in exploring the medium, or else observing Spiegelman's early work then Breakdowns is absolutely a must-read. I will open this book for inspiration over and over again finding something new and wonderful and inspiring.
"Prisoner of Hell Planet," "Little signs of passion," and an early version of "Maus" are just some of the wonderful stories in this collection, and the massive size of the book allows the reader to simply disappear into the linework and textures and worlds Spiegelman creates.
This book will obviously disappoint readers looking for plain or direct plots. This book isn't about that. These are stories interested in the form, with playing with the medium of comics. These early works show an artist finding a creative voice and seeing what is possible through comics and for that reason I took my time with every page just studying, or often drooling, at these layouts and the emotional register that was being conveyed.
Breakdowns is a really underappreciated book, and so if the reader is interested in exploring the medium, or else observing Spiegelman's early work then Breakdowns is absolutely a must-read. I will open this book for inspiration over and over again finding something new and wonderful and inspiring.
sarahsponda's review against another edition
3.0
What most interested me about this was seeing the early version of Maus and comparing it to the final one--how did the lettering and wording change, the arrangement of the characters in the frames, angle of view, etc. Also nice to see Hell Planet in mondo-huge size.
pyrrhicspondee's review
4.0
This was so weird and excellent. Spiegelman is even more obsessed than I am with the idea that form IS meaning, and this collection provides example after example after weirdo example of that obsession. I kind of want to teach it alongside Maus, but that very graphic blow job is probably a reason not to. Lol.
iamwindomearle's review
4.0
Spiegelman's life was quite as interestng as his art. His drawings were fresh and creative; the way he combines different media is hella rad. He broke the bloody freakin' mold.
richard's review
Early Spiegelman comics with a long autobiographical comic intro. Spegielman seems to have absorbed everything there is to know about comics and in some ways this book reads like a lesson on the form. Plus it is cool to see him progress and work through his ideas. The intro was my favorite part.
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