Patience: Daniel Clowes

To say that 'Patience' is one of the most eagerly anticipated graphic novels of all time is no exaggeration. Daniel Clowes' degree of both commercial and critical success is just about unrivalled in modern times, especially when considering his background is firmly rooted in the underground side of the comic industry rather than the DC/Marvel thing. His last published original work was 'Wilson', back in 2010, and since then, we've seen little and heard almost nothing. But the long six-year wait is finally over, 'Patience' has arrived, and as Clowes fans across the world turn over the eye-catching front cover and submerge themselves in his new 178 page offering, there will be a collective wondering: 'has it been worth the wait?' My answer is an unequivocal 'YES!' - Clowes has once again proved that he is incapable of producing anything other than wonderful pieces of art.It's well known that this latest offering concerns time travel, and apart from one or two humorous shorts from the 'Eightball' era, Clowes has never attempted anything quite like this before. In fact, when it was first announced that his upcoming work would be a psychedelic science-fiction love story, it probably left a lot of Clowes fans caught between breathless excitement and mild confusion. Sounds...interesting, but...science fiction? Psychedelia? Time Travel? What is this, a lost Philip K. Dick novel? What of the wistful nostalgia? What of the empty, silent streets echoing life's regrets and missed opportunities? How will society's outsiders and their existential concerns fit into this?Well, have no fear, because 'Patience' is classic Clowes and possibly his most complete work to date. It certainly touches upon all of the above themes and lots, lots more. I'm not yet sure it's my favourite work of his - for me, 'Velvet Glove' and 'Ice Haven' are hard to beat - but it's certainly up there with not only his best but also the best of any cartoonists or writers currently working.I recently read a negative (but very articulate and informed) review of 'Patience' on Amazon.com, which states that commercial and critical success have not had a positive effect on Dan Clowes' work and that 'Patience' is 'sour, clunky and overwritten...flat characters...no suspense', and is a struggle to complete. Well, each to their own - it's obviously good to get different opinions - but I see absolutely no evidence of those complaints. I received the book yesterday, have read it twice already and loved it more on the second reading. I breezed through it and the taut narrative kept me hooked from page one right through to the end. Yes, I know, I'm the partisan crowd, but 'sour and clunky'? A lack of suspense? No, no, no! And the only nod I see towards commercialisation is that 'Patience' would clearly make a great movie. Don't be surprised if you see it on the big screen sometime soon.I don't want to write too much more for fear of spoiling it but let me say that 'Patience' may be best described as a cross between 'Mr Wonderful', Clowes' bittersweet love story, and the multi-layered time-folding of 'Predestination' or 'Back To The Future'. The vast majority of existing Clowes fans will absolutely gollop it down in one sitting, and for those who haven't read anything by him before, I would say this is possibly his most accessible work to date and a great place to start.

This is such a great book. Charles Burns meets sci-fi which Daniel Clowes's wonderful drawing in colour

just wonderful.... Tremendous art from a master of the craft. The colouring is out if this world. As an old time comics reader this was a delight, echoes of the likes of Ditko's weird and wonderful tales. A real treat...

Good adult graphic novel. While the story echoes ones you’ve basically heard before it is well written and drawings are classical for comic books. Would recommend

gifts that were enjoyed

Another Clowes classic.

great bookClowes delivers

Impeccable artwork.