{"id":2601,"date":"2008-11-23T09:59:09","date_gmt":"2008-11-23T09:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=2601"},"modified":"2008-11-23T09:59:09","modified_gmt":"2008-11-23T09:59:09","slug":"deitchs-pictorama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2008\/11\/23\/deitchs-pictorama\/","title":{"rendered":"Deitch’s Pictorama"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Deitch's<\/a>
Deitch's Pictorama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the Deitch Brothers<\/strong> (Fantagraphics)
\nISBN: 978-1-56097952-4<\/p>\n

There must be something to this DNA stuff. Gene Deitch is an Oscar winning animator and cartoonist, his first son Kim has been at the forefront of comics’ avant-garde since the days of the Counter Culture and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153underground commix\u00e2\u20ac\u009d scene whilst his other two, Simon and Seth Kallen, have both made their mark in the popular creative arts.<\/p>\n

In this bold new venture the Deitch boys have created a graphic narrative oddity that is both compelling and captivating. Combining heavily illustrated prose, comics, calligraphy, pictorial lettering, cartooning and plain old strips, the five tales blend into a tribute to the versatility of illustrated storytelling in all its variations.<\/p>\n

Beginning with a captivating paean to bottle caps and the collecting bug entitled ‘the Sunshine Girl’<\/em>, followed by an intriguing prose-ish fantasy, ‘The Golem’<\/em>, the full range of tale-telling is explored. This leads into the disturbing ‘Unlikely Hours’<\/em>, and a whimsical shaggy dog story ‘Children of Aruf’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Wisely leaving the very best ’til last, the Pictofictorial fun concludes with the superbly engaging and informative ‘The Cop on the Beat, the Man in the Moon and Me’<\/em>; an especial treat for anybody interested in the history of comics and music.<\/p>\n

Once again I’ve been as vague as I can be, because this is a book that rejoices in storytelling, and half the art and all the joy comes from reading it for yourself, so if you’re an older reader you should do just that.<\/p>\n