Color and Brightness

The Acme Novelty Library

by Chris Ware

Pantheon, 108 pp., $27.50

Chicago comic artist/graphic designer/master storyteller and all-around genius Chris Ware got his start drawing the beloved Quimby the Mouse strip for UT's own humble Daily Texan and has gone on to delight readers with his many unique and exquisitely crafted comic strips, including perhaps the saddest strip of all time, Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth. Not to be confused with the utterly amazing long-running comic book series with the exact same title which is about to release its 16th edition, The Acme Novelty Library is a collection of one-pagers from the past decade that includes some of Ware's most popular characters. Keep an eye on Rusty Brown as he conspires to finagle his naive best friend out of his valuable G.I. Joe collectibles, take a peek into the overbearing loneliness that encompasses the life of Big Tex, and follow along with Quimby and all his mousey exploits. All of this as well as a beautifully illustrated (as is all of Ware's work) General Guide to the Structure of the Universe With Irradiating Map of the Heavens, a fully functional Build-Your-Own Paper Activity Section; fake advertisements; and the world's smallest comic strip are among the many comic and practical delights found within. This is all bound in a striking hardcover edition with all the full-color artistry and attention to detail his fans have come to expect. The overriding gloominess and deeply depressing nature of the majority of Ware's work could be a little much for casual readers looking for a quick chuckle, but the sheer artistry and storytelling skill overcome any potential suicidal tendencies that may accompany perusal. The compilation format is a little disappointing in that it lacks the cohesiveness of The Acme Novelty Library series, but the work contained herein is certainly top-notch and a must for all true Wareheads.