I'm Crazy

By Patrick Bérubé
July 20, 2009 - 06:00

Whenever I read an autobiography on the cover of a graphic novel, a warning light comes on in my mind. Many times in recent years, I have read and been disappointed by the story of individuals who honestly did not have enough to say or could not say it right. Fortunately that is not the case here.

I'm Crazy is Xeric Grant recipient Adam Bourret's first graphic novel. It is, as the back cover says, about "...love, humanity and mental illness". It recounts Bourret's struggle with his obsessive compulsive disorder and how he coped with it over the years. It is told through the perspective of his relationship with his boyfriend. I have to admit that I was, at first, a bit skeptical about the whole book, for reasons mentioned above. Autobiography is a hard "genre" and many have tried writing for it without success over the year. To say that I was happily surprised would be an understatement. Not only does I'm crazy have something to say, but it does it effectively. There is energy and emotion throughout the whole book. It feels like raw emotions were poured directly onto the pages, and there is something almost lyrical about the whole story. I just can't imagine how liberating the process of creating this graphic novel must

have been for the author.

Art-wise, aside from some of the characters being a bit static, it's everything you can expect from an Indie B&W title. The strongest point is probably how Bourret can "show" his emotion. It's one thing to explain them, but to be able to visually make someone understand your feelings is something not every artist can do. It definitely helps this graphic novel get it's own identity.

If you are interested in autobiography, B&W indie stuff or just good comic books that stand apart from the rest, you should consider buying I'm Crazy. It is currently available only directly from the artist on his website (www.im-crazy.com) Just be aware that it contains sexually explicit content and that it is not suitable for all ages.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

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