When I read about this unconventional experiment in Previews a while back, I was immediately fascinated by the possibilities and potential in the concept. Two of comics most promienent and most lauded non-mainstream talents were joining forces to deliver a comic book about their craft. I didn't get quite what I expected when I found it in my pile of comics for this week, though. The limited size of the book restricts the depth of the conversation, but I'd be hard-pressed to call this experiment a failure. Kochalka and Thompson have fun poking fun at themselves and the sexual imagery that's elicited by an examination of the act of creation.
James Kochalka, in his usual elf-like form, and Craig Thompson, looking much like his melancholy, lithe self-portrayal from Blankets encounter one another along a shoreline and embark upon an adventure of imagination in the sea, a damp cave and a weather-beaten landscape leading to a divine idol. Along the way, they discuss their views on the meaning of art and how they, as artists, fit into the grand scheme of the universe.
Thompson and Kochalka's visual styles are radically different. Kochalka's is far simpler in tone than Thompson's slightly more realistic approach, but the two different styles converge almost seamlessly in this unusual book. The two artists' divergent attitudes -- Thompson's subject matter tends to be a bit sadder, while Kochalka boasts a more playful tone in his work -- is clear in the art as well. When Kochalka's comic self is naked, it's simple and unobstrusive. Thompson's nude avatar is an emaciated figure that only comes to smile after much convincing from Kochalka's character.
The opening half of the book is much more lofty in its tone and boasts a stream-of-consciousness storytelling approach that keeps the reader at something of a distance at first. Fortunately, a greater sense of clarity creeps in and takes hold later in the book even as the visuals grow more and more surreal. My favorite part of the script -- which I assume was ad=libbed to a certain degree, as there's definitely a truly conversational tone at play -- is how the artists, both in their own comments and those of cartoony little bystanders, mock themselves and the motifs that appear in the work. The sexual imagery is natural -- as artists, they conceive of and give birth to their work -- but they can't help but tease one another about the overt symbolism.
Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention to th Top Shelf soliciation copy, but I expected a volume with a little more meat to it. This comes off as a rather high-end mini-comic, but the format just isn't enough. It leaves the reader far too hungry for more and keeps the creators from getting too in depth. The price tag is a little high for something that might have worked better as a free online comic or a cheap giveaway at conventions.
