This is the third time I've offered up praise for Damon Hurd and My Uncle Jeff. I read this story before in its original mini-comic incarnation in late 2002, and I'm pleased to see it return in a more widely available form in 2003. Now, I named the mini-comic as the Best Single Issue of last year, and that recommendation still stands. It was a treat to revisit the book in a new format. This thoroughly personal, honest is so much more than just a slice-of-life comic. Its philosophical approach to life and family is the sort of thing that everyone should read.
A family gathers for a long-awaited reunion in Philadelphia, and among those in attendance is Jeff, the writer's uncle whom he hasn't seen in a decade. He's the black sheep of the family, but still adored. The real purpose of the reunion is for Jeff and his siblings to decide what to do about their father, hindered by age and a degenerative mental condition. It's a sad time, but even moreso for Jeff, who feels powerless to help his father.
Camello's artwork reminds me a great deal of the work of Tim Levins. Now, Levins may be better known for his pencils on Batman: Gotham Adventures, but My Uncle Jeff puts me in mind of his efforts on the slice-of-life title, The Copybook Tales. Camello's style is similar cartoony and simple, but it's expressive. He uses darkness and shadow to great effect here as well. To a lesser extent, his artwork is reminiscent of the styles of Philip (Vertigo Pop! London) Bond and Darwyn (Catwoman: Selina's Big Score) Cooke as well.
The most striking thing about Hurd's scripting is its unflinching honesty. His story reminds me of the thoroughly genuine tone of Tom Beland's wonderful True Story Swear to God series. But Hurd examines some thoroughly dark territory. This isn't about the quirks of everyday life, but about the challenges alone. The opening look at part of Hurd's family tree and the harshness to be found along its limbs is blunt and shocking, but he also points out that even the most corrupt or sick person in the world represents some kind of a happy memory for someone else.
Though some readers may not realize it, Hurd offers up an unfortunately universal story. Facing the illness of a elder family member is an ordeal that just about everyone has faced or will face. Mind you, the unusual aunt or uncle is a staple of just about every family as well, and celebrating the special nature of that person's differences is heartening.
What surprised me the most about this new edition of the book was that it's still an unconventional format. This larger edition still has more in common with the mini-comic than with the regular, mainstream comic format. And that's fine. I just don't want any potential new readers to dismiss this book because of its cheaper, unusual format. This is a case in which one does not want to judge a book by its cover stock.
Note: Some of the comments in this review were reproduced from a previous feature on the website.
