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Jason Marcy is really excited to be creating
comics.
Not that this is a bad thing. In fact, although it has
its rough edges, Jay's Days, Marcy's debut
graphic novel, is a refreshingly blunt and honest
expression from a creator who comes off as pretty much
a regular guy who just really, really likes comics,
and decides to do one of his own.
Unlike a lot of people, though, Marcy takes this
inspiration and uses it to create a personal work
about his life, and the lives of the people around
him. Usually the desire to do comics is twisted and
marginalized until the once-enthusiastic young artist
is cranking out bland, generic superhero funnybooks
for an audience that neither cares or even much
notices. Maybe it helps that Marcy is Canadian, and it
almost certainly helps that he appears to be
opinionated and driven. You can't be doing this for
ten years (as Marcy says he has) without
something propelling you forward.
Jay's Days is a collection of short stories,
vignettes, that range from the comedic to the
near-tragic, and (thankfully) to the life-affirming. I
am reminded most of the work of Harvey Pekar, who
Marcy not only emulates but mentions in one story as
both an insipration and a cautionary example of where
all this may lead (read: the poorhouse).
Much as with Pekar's American Splendor, you're
reading these stories not for the cool artwork and
visceral excitement, but for the glimpse inside the
head of the creator. While Marcy has a bit of a road
to travel before he becomes as riveting as Pekar (who
is, after all, decades older, and perhaps a bit wiser,
not to say more cynical), he opens up many of the same
barriers to the soul, allowing us to see his fears,
joys, strengths and weaknesses.
The early stories here about working in a record store
quickly give way to more personal stories of concern
for a sick co-worker, and an estrangement from his
father. While both are ripe topics for
autobiographical comics, I would have liked more
detail, especially with the story about Jay's father.
Why were they estranged? We see much hand-wringing
over their eventual reunion, but once that occurs (at
a relative's funeral), all is suddenly well, all
awkwardness is gone. I don't buy that for a second.
There's a part of the story we're not getting here,
and I'm intrigued enough to want to know more.
The artwork is weak in spots, although sufficient to
tell the tale. Marcy should consider a finer line to
bring out the same sensitivity in his images that he
hints at in his words. In addition, his squinty-faced
depiction of himself often works at cross-purposes
with revealing the inner detail he obviously seeks to
bring out. Open those eyes, Jay, and tell us what
you're thinking!
Jay's Days Volume Two is on the slate for
February, 2002. I look forward not only to seeing
where the characters go from here, but to seeing what
progress Marcy has made in his development as an
artist by then. Grade: 4/5
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Jay's Days