Out just today is the newest book from Reza Farazmand, creator of one of my favorite webcomics, Poorly Drawn Lines. It’s called Comics for a Strange World: A Book of Poorly Drawn Lines. Continuing the square format from the original Poorly Drawn Lines book (which was a New York Times bestseller), this one focuses on life on our planet (or on one very similar to ours). If you’re a fan of the comic, you’ve probably been anticipating this book for a while. If you’re new to it, you’re in for a treat.
The comics at the Poorly Drawn Lines website are often a combination of humor and usually-not-overt social commentary. And I’m here to tell you, this second book collection doesn’t disappoint. It’s filled with more of the same wit and observational humor that we all enjoy thrice-weekly from the online comic. The book contains 50% new comics mixed in with some of the most popular ones from the past year.
Though the book’s organization isn’t necessary to enjoy the content, since there isn’t one storyline going through the whole thing, the comics are loosely organized into five topical chapters, with each one focusing on different aspects of our society, such as “The Human Experience” and “Thoughts on Things.” Some of the comics will resonate with you. Others will remind you of people you know. Either way, it’s a win. Here’s one spread that spoke to me, in particular:
As usual, it’s a mix of comics set in the future and the present filled with people and (my favorite) anthropomorphized animals who run the gamut from thoughtful and poignant to being jerks. The book is about 200 pages of awesomeness. You can read it in one sitting, but it is filled with comics that you’ll be sharing amongst your friends and family. “This one epitomizes my life.” “Doesn’t this one remind you of Uncle Harry?” “Hey, remember when we were kids and that one guy was a jerk? Yeah, look at this. This is him.”
You can check out a preview of the book below, or just go buy it. It’s one you’ll pick up to read and re-read regularly. Also, check out my review of the first Poorly Drawn Lines book here at GeekDad.
Note: I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
