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Comic Review: Alec: How to Be an Artist (Campbell)

A strange combination of autobiographical storytelling and a more general history of the late 80's/early 90's comics industry. It was very readable, though - I went through it in one day, which is pretty good for me. Some of the stories may have been more enjoyable if I was more familiar with some of the people and the work that was being commented on, but it was still interesting to get more of an insider's view of how the indie comic scene progressed during this time. The book seemed to have a general tone of disappointment with how things worked out, which is a little surprising to me, since it seems to me like things are reasonably interesting in the indie comics scene these days. But maybe I only think that because I don't know what it used to be like. Or maybe it is a natural disappointment over not having that youthful enthusiam anymore. Boy, I can't wait for that to set in. The art style is Eddie's usual black and white line drawings, kind of scratchy and quirky, but good at conveying the essence of what is being represented without being super-realistic. I like it, although that may be more because it seems simpler, like something I could learn to do, even though that isn't true. It also includes lots of panels from other comics of the time, which was interesting. I'm also very glad he decided to use the real names of the people involved, which he said in the intro he originally questioned. It makes me wonder if he got any push-back after the other people saw it. Anyways, it was very interesting, although I think you need to have an interest in the comics industry somewhat to really get in to it. I guess he felt like he needed that context for explaining his story, although I wonder if I would have connected to it more emotionally if the story had been kept more personal.