Refreshingly so much better than Wilson. Maybe because it had direction and plot and character development. And it was dark and self-depreciating and also quite funny at the same time. Phew. Art and story and history and "elements" like the monologue over the dialogue were all well done.

Quote: "I see you're wearing a $90,000 watch, but deep down, don't you secretly envy my grim, somewhat paranoid perspective on the human condition?"

Precise middle-aged love story elegantly told. Particularly enjoyed the composition of the ultra-wide spreads.

Not terribly meaty, but an enjoyable read (and way better than Wilson).

Too anxious to enjoy the anxiety

The Oscar-nominated Clowes, creator of [b:Ghost World|62953|Ghost World|Daniel Clowes|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170613516s/62953.jpg|43003], [b:Wilson|7074482|Wilson|Daniel Clowes|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1288022561s/7074482.jpg|7328391], and Eightball, crafts a bittersweet tale of a middle-aged man's search for companionship. Originally serialized in The New York Times Magazine, Mister Wonderful follows the neurotic, divorced Marshall on his first date in six years. In his typical fashion, Clowes relies on caricature as he expertly reveals complex emotional layers mixed within a heady collection of humorous and poignant scenes. This all-to-real vision incorporates many of our own fears, inadequacies, and hopes. Simultaneously simple/complex, beautiful/ugly, and romantic/cynical, the thin (77 pages) volume engages the reader, successfully lingering long after the last page.

Like reading a movie

but clowes eh

Such a cute little story. This is what happens to all the characters from Ghost World. They grow up, get divorced and then lead pathetic but kind of adorable lives.

I read this in about 15 minutes total. It was engaging, captivating, funny and super snarky. All things I happen to enjoy.

This book annoyed me, especially because I loved Clowes' other book, Patience. Conversely, I had NO patience with this book; it's basically a straight white dude's love story with a girl he thinks is too good for him when in reality she's a real human with some complex problems, including an ex that still makes her go to pieces when she sees him. Plus, the protagonist was a dick to a homeless person. PLUS MOST OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS' DIALOGUE IS OBSCURED BY THE PROTAGONIST'S INTERNAL MONOLOGUE. Which I get it, it's a rhetorical choice, but it just made me appreciate the "love story" even less.

I really enjoyed this particular Clowes book. It has his familiar style cynicism and simple line art and pastel-ish colors, but there's some hope in those long, extended pages, and it might be the most genuine thing he's ever written. Maybe. Very much worth a read.