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Ed Brubaker Reviews
May 2, 1997
Comics
Buyer's Guide
#1224
Publishers' Picks
Our
retailers recommend: At The Seams: A-
Phil Mateer: I assumed this new one-shot by Brubaker would be in the same style as Lowlife. Interestingly, it is and it isn't: There are three stories, all fiction and with different characters, but each approaches the breakup of the same basic relationship (girl leaves guy and starts going out with guy's friend) from the viewpoint of a different one of the principals. It's both strange and intriguing to see Brubaker moving from telling real-life stories (with a little fiction thrown in) to telling fictional stories based loosely on real-life events (or at least, what feels like one). Neat concept, and fans of Brubaker's earlier work should enjoy this. Grade: B+
S.A. Bennett: Linked by themes of betrayal, regret, and the search for meaning and morals in an ambiguous world, At The Seams' three stories are sparse, direct, and concise, bringing echoes of the fantastic to the seemingly mundane. Brubaker has a remarkable eye for nuance and detail that give his meticulously recorded character studies and urgent, authentic quality. This is Brubaker's finest work to date. Grade: A
Cliff Biggers: In the hands of some creators, comic books become an intensely personal medium. Brubaker is one such creator; his work reflects an amazingly intense personal quality. In At The Seams, no matter which persona is the focus of the story, Brubaker manages to bring depth of characterization that brings the tale to life, giving it an emotional strength. This is a great way for newcomers to find uot what makes Brubaker so popular -- and those already familiar with Brubaker know that this is a title they won't want to miss. Grade: A
Tom Lawton: Brubaker's version of Rashomon, except it's about breakups between lovers and friends, not about a murder. Also, it takes place in a modern U.S. high school and not in medieval Japan. OK, so it's not like Rashomon at all, but there was a Kurosawa festival at the Brattle recently, and I'm desperate to improve my cultural hipster quotient these days. If you're desperate to improve your cultural hipster quotient, you could do worse than to pick up At The Seams. Grade: A
Images, characters and likenesses © and TM Ed Brubaker
