Straight Up
by Will
Straight up: I kinda don’t get Achewood.
But so many people that I like swear it’s awesome that I’m gonna keep reading it until my brain learns to love it. That’s what I did with Bob Dylan when I was in the 10th grade and it worked.
There was a line around the block for a book signing at Rocketship Comics recently. That’s what kicked this off.
Comments
ah jeez, I apologize if me making you read Cartilage Head was a burden. I meant it to be a pleasure.
No, I enjoyed it. I mean, kind of. Intrigued. And you’re far from the only one to have been like “Dude, you GOT to read Achewood.” So like I said, I’m gonna immerse.
I’ve read the 2001 and 2002 strips so far and I’m already kinda getting it.
This is like “learning” how to like Radiohead.
I don’t get it either.
It was printed in some free weekly for a while and it just seemed poorly drawn and baffling… I didn’t put it the effort though, that you’re about to undertake.
I mentally filed it away under “Family Guy” and “rap music” as something many people seem to enjoy that is not for me.
Why work at enjoying something?
I wouldn’t if I didn’t have a lot of people saying “Wow, I enjoy X, and you would too.” Then I don’t, and then someone else is like “Hey, you know what? You would enjoy X.” I start to get curious. That build and builds.
I still get bewildered looks when I tell people I’m not really into Radiohead.
I’m a big fan, but I agree that it is hard to enjoy a random Achewood strip out of context. I don’t think it’s a matter of learning to like it; it’s about getting to know the characters. The strip doesn’t offer much else to hang on to if you don’t already know the characters well.
On the other hand, having complex characters earns Onstad the ability to show a wedding in a strip consisting of 47 small panels and no dialogue.
I’ve had read some of the later ones and I have a hunch it just gets better later. Something about lolcats was *hilarious*.
In the latest Achewood strip, I did enjoy the “RE/MAX” joke at the end.
But I am with you on the “not getting why people love this.”
Also not into it.
I truly, deeply love it, find it hysterical, although I haven’t read it in about 3 months, for no reason.
I have been reading it for about four years and I agree with the above person who said it’s kind of about the very specific rhythms of the characters. I could definitely understand it being sort of elliptical if you hadn’t been reading it religiously for a long time.
I adore Achewood. But when I started reading three years ago or so, I was also sort of puzzled about what all the fuss is about. And I also tried to go back to the beginning only to find disappointment and additional bafflement, and even now find the early strips less, well, great.
I find people who appreciate Achewood most are the sort of people that read comics for the words more than the visuals.
If I were suggesting a starting point for a newbie, I’d start with the Great Outdoor Fight story arc (which I believe was just put into book form). Or the series of strips where Ray learns to be a breast man. I am digging the current line, with Cornelius and the stripper. But I can totally get how it isn’t for everyone. And although I find it hits way more often than not, it does sometimes miss.