Fair Weather

(Drawn and Quarterly, 2003)
™ and © Drawn and Quarterly

Who says nostalgia has to be warm and fuzzy? Certainly not Matt, who gives readers an unabashedly honest look at his own childhood in 1970s Pennsylvania, and it ain’t always a pretty sight. Matt’s no stranger to self-deprecating stories; his Peepshow comic book has been giving fans an equally frank exposé of his adult life for the past several years. In fact, this hardcover collects the story that was originally serialized in Peepshow #7-#10.

If his story is to be believed, as a kid he was little more than a spoiled, whiny, selfish, and touchy little nerd who was in desperate need of an attitude adjustment. And, as despicable as the young Joe Matt sounds, this sampling of one weekend from his childhood is somehow likeable. If nothing else, this story is a guilty pleasure for the same reason the rest of Matt’s series is: It’s a voyeuristic look at this boy’s life, with all its imperfections. But he almost portrays himself as an amalgamation, with every potential negative stereotype that might be found in a typical 12-year-old boy. Like it or not, readers are likely to find this enticing, because there just might be a trait or two that they shared with Matt at that age.

This deep dive into Matt’s past might be a little too deep for some, and it’s read a little too quickly for what it costs. But it does give off a not-too-unpleasant scent of nostalgia, and those who can get past Matt’s self-indulgence will enjoy it.

— Jim Johnson

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#1 Hardcover (Hardcover Edition)

Cover Price: $26.95
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Joe Matt