Current:Home > MyGraphic novelist Daniel Clowes makes his otherworldly return in 'Monica' -AlphaFinance Experts
Graphic novelist Daniel Clowes makes his otherworldly return in 'Monica'
View
Date:2025-04-19 06:38:21
Daniel Clowes' newest work is a labor of love touching on birth, death and everything that might come after. How does he reckon with those themes in his own life?
Who is he? Clowes is a legend in the world of graphic novels and comics.
- From Lloyd Llewellyn to the original source material for the beloved cult classic film Ghost World, Clowes is lauded for his complex worlds and the detailed illustrations that accompany them.
What's the big deal? After a seven year hiatus, Clowes is back for the newest installment of his work, which was released last week.
- Monica is the summation of stories depicting the life and experiences of the eponymous protagonist, from being abandoned by her mother as a child to her mysterious connection to the afterlife.
- Clowes, whose own mother left him with his grandparents when he was 5, says that although he doesn't share life experiences with Monica, he feels that the process of writing her life was the result of trying to "create somebody who sort of shared the same emotional experience I had growing up."
Want more on books? Listen to Consider This on how the battle over book bans takes a toll on librarians and comes at a financial cost.
What's he saying? Clowes spoke with All Things Considered host Juana Summers to discuss the attachment and processing he experienced through creating this work.
On how much of the book is autobiographical:
There's not a single fact, I think, that lines up with my life. But the beats of her life, sort of the rhythm of her childhood and adulthood line up, you know, sort of algebraically exact with those of my life. In this story, Monica's mother runs a candle shop, and that's sort of her dream. And my mother ran an auto repair shop. That was her dream.
On his own relationship with Monica:
You know, I've created a lot of characters over the years, and some of them seem like they only exist in the pages of the book. But Monica feels — despite the ending of the book, which I won't reveal — she feels like she still exists out there somewhere, you know, and I might one day actually meet her. That happens sometimes, where characters just feel like they're out there living their own lives. And you'll meet readers who act that way. They act as though the characters are independent of my creation. They're just talking about them like they're people, and that's always very gratifying.
On the book's approach to straddling the line between belief and skepticism in the supernatural:
Well, the book is kind of an investigation of that — the things that we imbue onto life to give it some kind of meaning. And the structures we imagine — the idea of creating religions or cults or things like that. It's very similar to writing fiction, in a way, or creating characters, or creating worlds like in comics.
So, what now?
- Despite all of the critical praise, Clowes says he doesn't feel completely confident about having his work out in the world:
- "It's kind of like raising a child. And then releasing it to the world is like putting that child when they're not fully grown, alone on the subway or something. It's like, what am I doing?"
- Monica is available now.
Learn more:
- This Book Is Banned' introduces little kids to a big topic
- 'Brooklyn Crime Novel' explores relationships among the borough's cultures and races
- How did we come to live extremely online? Mommy bloggers, says one writer
veryGood! (173)
Related
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Wisconsin capital city sends up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots, leading to GOP concerns
- Jimmy Kimmel shows concern (jokingly?) as Mike Tyson details training regimen
- Two people killed, 5 injured in Texas home collapse
- NCAA hits former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh with suspension, show-cause for recruiting violations
- US company accuses Mexico of expropriating its property on the Caribbean coast
- Horoscopes Today, September 23, 2024
- Marley Brothers upholds father’s legacy with first tour in 2 decades
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Survivors of sex abuse at Illinois juvenile detention facilities hope for justice
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Melania Trump is telling her own story — and again breaking norms for American first ladies
- A city proud of its role in facing down hatred confronts a new wave of violence
- Michael Strahan Wants to Replace “Grandpa” Title With This Unique Name
- PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
- O&C Investment Alliance: A Union of Wisdom and Love in Wealth Creation
- This AI chatbot can help you get paid family leave in 9 states. Here's how.
- Marley Brothers upholds father’s legacy with first tour in 2 decades
Recommendation
Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Pennsylvania county must tell voters if it counted their mail-in ballot, court rules
Family of Black World War II combat medic will finally receive his medal for heroism
Police remove gator from pool in North Carolina town: Watch video of 'arrest'
Pac-12 files federal lawsuit against Mountain West over $43 million in ‘poaching’ penalties
Family of Black World War II combat medic will finally receive his medal for heroism
Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 4