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| Suspended Animation, April 23, 2004 |
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The Crystal Ballroom
114 pgs.
$19.95 from Fantagraphics
Available at www.fantagraphics.com and at comics and bookstores
The Crystal Ballroom is not a comic book or strip, or a book about comics. It is a heavily illustrated, autobiographical novella by and about a comic book artist and writer, Frank Thorne.
So why is it in a review column on comics?
It is the story of a teenage boy in a small town in the 1940s who is discovering sex, and the Big Band music of Harry James and Artie Shaw, and Flash Gordon in the movies and in newspapers, and pulp magazines. It is about growing up.
So why are you breaking your own rule about what you review?
It is beautifully illustrated with more than 80 pencil drawings of men working in garages, magnificent old houses and movie theaters and cars, boys playing horns, and naked women.
Here it comes. He breaks his own reviewing rule and gives us the sermon on pornography again.
These naked women are pornographic, and necessary to honestly and accurately tell this poignant story of the painful, nasty, ugly, misguided, and ignorant first stirrings of sex in every boy I have ever known, including myself. Its revelation of those same sexual feeling in young girls is equally as disconcerting and truthful. Huh? Necessary?
It is a beautifully written and drawn memoir that stirred deep feelings of longing for my past in a small town in the 1950s, discovering girls, and the Rock and Roll of Elvis and The Four Seasons, and Alley Oop in comic strips, and Superman in comic books. Even as I wrote this review, I was overcome by hurtful and joyful nostalgia again.
This is simply a wonderful book, a 'must read' for adults who, if offended by blatant sex, can nevertheless set that aside for the non-exploitative truth about teenage, male sexuality.
How could you not buy it?
And I broke my own rule because I can.
Michael Vance
Shudder at Vance's Light's End horror short stories narrated by actor William Windom at www.plan9.org.
Questions? Comment? E-Mail Suspended Animation at vance@digitalwebbing.com
Any statements made, expressed or implied are solely those of columnists or persons interviewed and do not represent the editorial position of the administration, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. All characters and artwork shown are trademark and © of their respective owners.
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