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A review by otterno11
The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski by Noah Van Sciver
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
It was fun to revisit the farcical literary adventures of Kelly Perkins, aka Fante Bukowski, all in one convenient collection. Framed as a retrospective on Bukowski’s work, The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski includes all three of cartoonist Noah Van Sciver’s Bukowski trilogy, including its bonus materials, an interview with the author, and the complete edition of Bukowski’s debut zine (a rare collector’s item after he lost nearly all 20,000 copies in a Columbus hotel fire). Van Sciver’s affectionate skewering of artistic vanity and youthful delusions of grandeur, Fante Bukowski’s journey from the dive bars of Denver to the seedy hotels of Columbus attempting to live the life of an authentic writer despite his lack of originality is as funny as it is human.
Rereading it as a complete narrative really showcases Van Sciver’s talent for crafting a layered and satisfying narrative, full of twists and callbacks, from the literary quotes that introduce each chapter to the book of literary quotes that a young Perkins stumbled upon in his parents' attic. Despite the absurdist humor and over the top situations that abound in Bukowski’s story, there is an endearing heart too, that reading it all in sequence highlights. All in all, I think anyone who has ever had any thoughts (or pretensions) of being a writer can attest, there is a lot of Fante or Audrey in all of us, at least sometimes.
Rereading it as a complete narrative really showcases Van Sciver’s talent for crafting a layered and satisfying narrative, full of twists and callbacks, from the literary quotes that introduce each chapter to the book of literary quotes that a young Perkins stumbled upon in his parents' attic. Despite the absurdist humor and over the top situations that abound in Bukowski’s story, there is an endearing heart too, that reading it all in sequence highlights. All in all, I think anyone who has ever had any thoughts (or pretensions) of being a writer can attest, there is a lot of Fante or Audrey in all of us, at least sometimes.