This guy's other book is terrific and i think my fondness for it carried over into this one a little, because i suspect i would not have really dug this without already thinking well of the author going in. This is kind of that classic narrative of picked on weirdo proves everyone else sucks and really he totally ruled underneath the whole time. Which is a great narrative, fine. Only not really because we have kind of heard that narrative fifty billion times at this point and our whole lives are crammed to the gills with fucking idiots who think people don't like them because they're special, having digested aforesaid fifty billion narratives via looking at clips and memes on the Internet or watching revenge of the nerds or reading catcher in the rye or whatever the hell your damage is and that is basically unbearable because realistically a lot of the time if people do not like you it is due to a very simple reason, that being that you suck. Anyway. This book is fun and Otto is genuinely weird and i like Derf's grody art style so three stars. But when the fuck is this dumb narrative going to find its grave because sheesh. Stop feeding the deeply misplaced narcissism of dumbasses, books, it's not getting anyone anywhere anymore those times are behind us now. Okay, I’ll admit that this isn’t exactly one of those books that I’d normally pick up. I have been out of high school over forty years and my interest in ‘punk’ probably lasted only a couple of years during the late ‘70s. Even then I probably only had a few compilation albums or cassettes I bought, while attending college back in Connecticut. Those are long gone and I don’t even remember listening to them once I graduated. I also don’t recall ever seeing any work by the artist “Derf”, although it is possible I may have seen samples or a cover someplace. However, I have read reviews of the book by several folks, whose opinions I trust, so when I saw the TPB at San Diego, for about 50% off I figured I would give it a try. I’ glad I did.The self-named “The Baron” is a tall, geeky high school senior growing up in Akron, OH in the late 70s. Like many of his contemporaries he is going through hard times, being picked on both for his appearance, non-violent personality and just being a band “nerd”. He lives in a local trailer park, being raised by his uncle, a retired union organizer, who lost his driver’s license so much now go to the bar on his riding mower. The Baron, loves the then emerging ‘punk rock’ scene and believes he is destined to be a part of it. Getting a job in the local club, as bouncer and general clean up guy he finds himself in close contact with a number of the bands and individuals who are helping to make punk the driving force it would be for several years. Bands such as The Clash, The Ramones, The Plasmatics (specifically singer Wendy O. Williams) and others appear briefly and interact with The Baron, often giving him advice or just making his life more interesting. There is a great sequence with the late, rock critic Lester Bangs that shows a lot of respect for him and demonstrates just what a good writer Derf can be. The book ends with a page memorializing some of the real life personalities who appear in the story, who are no longer with us. It’s sad to realize how many of these very creative folks died at such a young age.Certainly NOT a book for kids or those offended by language, sexual situations or violence, I still have to recommend the book for those with a sense of humor. You would not have had to have much or any experience with ‘sex & drugs & rock ‘n roll’ but it couldn’t hurt! One of the best TPB’s I’ve read this year!
Do You like book Punk Rock And Trailer Parks (2008)?
It's "Please Kill Me" as a comic set in early 80's Akron, OH. (Who knew!) Amazing fun.
—andrea
Absolutely awesome! A lot of fun and great illustration to boot!
—Gibby59
Derf is now officially one of my fave authors. All around great.
—EspeyLovesBooks
Awesome. Peter Bagge for the mid-western punk corn crowd.
—marqthalles
