The Ciderview Project

    (Goodman, 2004)
™ and © Michael Goodman

OK, let’s be honest here: this book is poorly drawn, poorly lettered, and full of wooden dialogue. Anyone who picks up and leafs through a copy will probably put it down seconds later. Those who prize art over writing will find this about as palatable as a warm shot of Listerine.

Hidden behind this comic’s muddy greytones, however, is the promise of Goodman’s potential as a writer. While the writing needs work, Goodman’s way with character design, development, and interaction is impressive. The characters not only share a bond as friends and acquaintances, but also through an understated common thread: their various illnesses. From brain cancer to minor autism, these characters’ burdens are apparent, but are not the sole focus of the story. Instead, Goodman uses these illnesses as a catalyst, and lets the story develop from there. The result? A surprisingly captivating and often dramatic story arc that succeeds in offsetting some of the aforementioned shortcomings.

The appeal will come mostly to die-hard aficionados of human drama. Despite its warts, this book shows that Goodman is an ever-improving writer worth keeping an eye on.

— Jim Johnson
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