My Favorite Thing Is Monsters

Imagine (if you can) someone taking David Lynch's "Blue Velvet", and gene-splicing it with the classic movie monsters of Universal Studios, the seedy underbelly of Chicago, and a pre-teen's gorgeous biro-pen-rendered journal. That's about the best summary I can come up with for "My Favourite Thing is Monsters" by Emil Ferris. Emil has constructed a story world like no other, written from the perspective of 10-year-old Karen Reyes, who is thrown into a deviously twisted mystery involving the murder of her upstairs neighbour. Karen's investigation leads her to the taped journals of Anka (her beautiful neighbour) and her harrowing past. This is one hugely thick and immensely satisfying book to get wrapped up in. Laid out against the backdrop of a foolscap-lined spiral bound journal, Emil's artwork will grab you by the throat and shake you. Exquisite ballpen drawings intermixed with garishly coloured (but again gorgeous) pulp horror comic book covers and scratchier pen drawings, if nothing else it's a visual feast (and I've become completely obsessed with drawing and mimicking this style myself in my own art). Beyond that though it's a gripping read as the story darts between Karen's observations of her dying mother, her louche brother and of course deeper digs into Anka's life. It took a bit of getting hold of this in the UK but you can find copies (I highly recommend Speedy Kitty as a reseller if you want a copy pronto in great condition btw). It's probably one of the best graphic novels I've ever read (and I've read a lot), and I'm overjoyed to hear a sequel is on the way. You need this in your life, simple as.

When the first time I saw it I wasn’t to sure but I thought I’ll give it a try, I was blow away by the art style it reminded me of when I was at school and would draw random pictures in pen, It tells a interesting story, and the bond between Karen and her brother is refreshing would recommend, I’ve already preordered the second book

I am so in love with this book. I honestly feel as though the work that has gone into it deserves a higher price-tag. It's rare that I stare at the art work in a graphic novel, literally examining every pen-stroke. It's amazing. So the story is a bit clunky, the characters are a bit extreme, there is a 'Grave of the Fireflies' feel of, 'This can't get any worse, can it? Surely they're not going to make it worse? Can't I have a break for five minutes. Oh God, they're going to go there... Yep, they went there.' It's a bit much. And the book starts with one mystery, introduces at least two others, and only solves one of them. Or maybe solves it, because the solution is revealed in an art-infused vision. If that hasn't put you off, you will probably love this book as much as I did. Spiegelman, Bechdel, you have a new peer. Although appropriately (given the 60s setting), the graphic style made me think of Robert Crumb - ugly-beautiful. I could go on, and on, about the psychological depth, about the most shocking and beautiful image in the whole thing being a drawing of a girl's face in a mirror, about the intrusion of 60s politics in a little girl's tough, tough life, about the encroachment of the bad monsters, who hate the good monsters and how much a memoir about a distant childhood is now about America, TODAY. Just read it.

A fictional graphic diary employing the iconography of B-movie horror imagery and pulp monster magazines. Dark, sometimes tragic, and incredibly compelling. The art is really everything. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book (Publication date 22 Sep 2022).

A very competant illustrative artist creates a wonderful art work. The story line grabs and has interesting twists and turns down dark alleys. Very nicely done. The seller sent quicker than expected so five stars for them as well.

This is a work of art. A wonderful read. Beautiful drawings. So good I bought a second copy before I had finished reading the first one.

A good decent story - it takes its time and it is not thrill a minute. You have to be patient. However you will be kept gripped by the artwork as it is outstanding. The layers and complexity is mind blowing and it is kept up throughout the entirety of this heavyweight book. I cannot wait for part two (which is on order)...!

Weird, beautiful and wonderful!

This book has 'a must read' written all over it. Fantastic debut by Emil Ferris. Inventive, beautiful and sincere, the work presented as a diary entries of a 10-year-old Chicago girl Karen Reyes who lives in the world of monsters but that is only part of the story.

If you haven't already read this, and love illustration and sketchy drawings dont hesitate on this. It's an absolute masterpiece. The Graphic novel is massive (in thickness) and the drawings mostly done in ball point pen, are incredible. It really demonstrates that great work has nothing to do with the tools used to create it. The story is also really compelling! I have also purchased the second book - brilliant work!

Non ci sono parole per descrivere la bellezza di questo libro. Ogni pagina è meritevole di attenzione sin nei minimi dettagli. Imperdibile.

Tem tudo para dar errado: desenhos estranhos, uma história meio desconexa... uma certa sensualidade meio perversa... e poxa, essa mulher aí da capa, o que é isso? Desenho à caneta esferográfica? Bom, é isso mesmo. A ilustradora teve um problema gravíssimo de saúde o que lhe custou toda a mobilidade nas mãos. Quando retornou, é isso o que ela conseguiu... antes que tenha pena, é uma verdadeira obra de arte! Um ambiente meio mafioso, tipo década de 1940... e uma menina monstra, literalmente no cio... hesitei em baixar a amostra, quando cheguei ao final... bom, eu realmente queria mais!