AN
INSTANT CLASSIC:
GOOD-BYE, CHUNKY RICE
Top
Shelf Graphic Novel Review by: Troy
Brownfield
By: Craig Thompson
More information: www.topshelfcomix.com
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 Alternating
between unaffected sweetness, gentle humor, and heart-tugging
sadness, Craig Thompson's "Good-bye, Chunky Rice"
slowly draws us in with a touching examination of loss, distance,
and our moments of definition. It seems like a simple story,
but the narrative runs shockingly deep with a rare emotional
relevance. Although I've read many comics and graphic novels
that I've greatly enjoyed, very few strike me with an immediacy
of importance and true greatness; this one does so, and effortlessly.
Thompson's work carries an almost fable-like quality. He blends
human characters interacting with animals of both the realistic
and anthropomorphic varieties. In fact, our titular character
is a small, quiet-natured bipedal turtle; for reasons that
can be found only in his own heart, he's about to leave his
girlfriend (a mouse named Dandel) for a long journey. The
tender scenes of Chunky and Dandel interacting prior to the
trip unfold with an aching verisimilitude; anyone who has
ever sent a loved one to school, an extended trip or any kind
of separation knows those tentative and awkward moments.
As much as Chunky's journey (both inner and outer) compose
this story, I found myself even more enthralled by the story
of a man named Solomon and the injured bird Merle. Chunky's
neighbor and brother to a boat captain, Solomon tends for
the bird he found on the beach, anxiously waiting for it to
heal. Of course, we know the what's involved with a wild bird
regaining its powers of flight, and that inevitability outlines
certain moments with an understated power.
A work like "Chunky Rice" can only be classified
as an amazing creative feat. It's honestly accessible to all
ages, and it works with a complex layering of themes and ideas.
At times the air of wistfulness and the cute creatures (wonderfully
depicted in Thompson's fanciful art) prod your memory of exceptional
children's literature. Obviously though, there is much to
be gained by readers of every background.
Entering into its third printing, and hopefully readily available
everywhere, "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" arrives as that
most precious of endeavors: an indisputable classic, fully
formed. Readers who appreciate true achievement in graphic
storytelling will not only want it; they'll want to share
it. There really can be no higher praise.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. Ask
for "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" at your local retailer.
Email Troy at psikotyk@aol.com
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