LUNCH HOUR COMIX #1
by Robert Ullman
($4.95,
Alternative Comics,
Robert Ullman)
Reviewed by Tim O'NeilRobert Ullman presents himself as a capable, if only blandly interesting regular Joe: in other words, a fairly typical "normal" guy. Normalcy is the hallmark of diary comics, perhaps because a more interesting life would not lend itself to bite-size chunks. The challenge is to make the mundane interesting, either through humor or whimsy or profound observations borne out of the prosaic. Obviously, the reigning master of this type of intimate chronicle is James Kochalka, who has managed to turn his contributions to the genre into something of a profound statement. The accumulation of small incidents into large chunks of calendar space is a meaningful process in every life.
Ullman's
Lunch Hour Comix are exactly what they appear to be: diary observations recorded every day, with each strip taking no more than one hour to produce. He's a likeable cartoonist, with an attractive brushstroke and a good eye for faces. The trials and tribulations of his daily life are not particularly the stuff of high drama, but his endearing on-page persona manages to enliven what would be otherwise uninteresting subjects like buying coffee, walking the dog and commuting to work. Of course, "enliven" is a relative term, considering the subject matter and Ullman's generally pleasant attitude.
This is a nice enough booklet, and a good, if not great, example of an idiosyncratic genre. If the pamphlet were any logner or any more expensive, my opinion would probably be harsher, but as it is
Lunch Hour Comix is a perfectly packaged trifle which should satisfy anyone with an interest for the genre. Without any of the more ambitious conceptual leaps you might expect from a more experienced or foolhardy talent, Ullman proves himself a solicitous guide through the hazards of suburbia.
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