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Mirror, Window: An Artbabe Collection
.html by Jessica Abel
Mirror, Window is the first book collection by Jessica Abel, one of the most exciting young cartoonists to emerge in the late 1990s. Collecting the first four issues of her Artbabe series from Fantagraphics and more, Mirror, Window proves Abel to be one of the brightest lights in comix to watch as we proceed into the next century. Abel's stories are peppered with hipsters, tattoos, piercings, trendy haircuts, and cutting-edge fashion, but don't let the generational trappings fool you. Her intuitive ear for dialogue and characterization has made Artbabe a hit amongst people of all ages, especially women. Mirror, Window collects several short stories focusing on the infinite ways that regret, insecurity, and euphoria manifest in relationships.
b&w, 6x10, 96pg
Mirror, Window is the first book collection by Jessica Abel, one of the most exciting young cartoonists to emerge in the late 1990s. Collecting the first four issues of her Artbabe series from Fantagraphics and more, Mirror, Window proves Abel to be one of the brightest lights in comix to watch as we proceed into the next century. Abel's stories are peppered with hipsters, tattoos, piercings, trendy haircuts, and cutting-edge fashion, but don't let the generational trappings fool you. Her intuitive ear for dialogue and characterization has made Artbabe a hit amongst people of all ages, especially women. Mirror, Window collects several short stories focusing on the infinite ways that regret, insecurity, and euphoria manifest in relationships.
b&w, 6x10, 96pg
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 1996
2 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Abel
52 books157 followersAuthor and coach Jessica Abel is the author of Growing Gills, Out on the Wire, La Perdida, and two textbooks about making comics, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures and Mastering Comics. Abel’s latest work of fiction is the Eisner-nominated Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 2, 2019
Autographed in marker on title page
The non-fiction comes at the end in the form of documenting union effects in Decatur IL, a Democratic National Convention and some art thing at Navy Pier.
Everything that is pure soap opera that's done very well but would get tiring at length.
The non-fiction comes at the end in the form of documenting union effects in Decatur IL, a Democratic National Convention and some art thing at Navy Pier.
Everything that is pure soap opera that's done very well but would get tiring at length.
April 12, 2022
Aventuras cotidianas de un grupo de treintañeros, algunas no están mal pero en general se dejan leer.
January 24, 2025
500 Essential Graphic Novels calls the characters in these stories unlikeable but. Seems like a pretty accurate depiction of being in your early 20s to us lol
January 31, 2016
This Jessica Abel/Artbabe collection is a much more sensible and coherent one than the other, Soundtrack: Short Stories '90-'96. Where that one just kind of picked and chose from the early parts of Abel's comics output, this one concisely collects the first four issues of the second volume of her Artbabe series and adds a few non-fiction bits and pieces to pad the back pages.
Abel had certainly found her niche by the time of these stories. Her art had solidified into a fluid, dense but still stylised look, retaining the sometimes stiff postures she'd always shown but leaning more heavily on her strengths for realistic dialogue, subtle expression and believable body language. Which is not to say that a great deal has changed in the stories themselves. These are still populated with attractive, painfully-hip 20-somethings, whose greatest struggles seem to involve which bar to go to or which partner to pair off with that night. Their problems are not anything too dire, and even when they are the people (though utterly believable) aren't sympathetic enough for readers to care how things play out.
However, in spite of these seeming weaknesses, this is a tight, engaging anthology, composed largely of longer (presumably issue-length) pieces that breeze by in a cool flow of realistic pace. Though I'm a bit old to really engage with these characters like I (and indeed Abel) might have at the time of the original publication of the stories, there is a wonderful voyeurism to watching these chapters unwind.
The stories contained are: 'As I Live and Breathe,' about a man and woman who nurture secret yens for each other; 'Chaîné' (a ballet turn), showing some of Abel's best art to date and watching a minor-league ballerina muddle through a possible turning-point in her life via a secret getaway with a friend, is followed by the addendum-tale '"He Said,"' a possible fantasy about the ballerina's boyfriend who seems to be a secret agent; next we get 'Point of Departure,' about a wannabe writer who is leaving town (the unnamed but safe-to-assume Chicago Abel often uses as backdrop) to move to New York, where he seems to believe he'll find his destiny, all of which is told largely through a series of he-said/she-said conversations among his friends; the final long piece is 'Goddamn Hollywood' and it focuses on a fairly sleazy ladykiller type as seen through the eyes of others, and on his effect on various relationships, most especially a pair of friends where the man is a complete ass; lastly is another very short piece which revisits the stars of 'As I Live...' for a few moments, which must have looked gorgeous painted but is reproduced here in an only-slightly-less impressive black and white.
The additional non-fiction items are: 'Decatur, IL' (the strongest of these offerings), about yet another town in the midlands of the US being ravaged by industry disappearing and decimating local employment; 'At the United Center We Stand: Scenes from the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, Aug 27, 1996,' a one-pager that is pretty much what the title says; 'Eyes Only' tells with very few words but across several pages about a bartender (presumably) being told off via note in front of a busy bar, with Abel and a journalist friend seemingly the only witnesses; and finally a pair of one-pagers in 'Looking at Art 1997 Chicago Navy Pier,' which seems like an offhand commentary on an art showing, and 'Beach Reads,' a review of what different people read during the summer.
As an introduction to Abel's abilities, this book works as an ideal primer, blending longer fictional works with various-length non-fiction and some of her more involved art with some of her simpler, speedier-looking stuff. For a better look at what she's ultimately capable of in comics, I'd recommend La Perdida, but as a starting place in her talents, one can't ask for better than Mirror, Window: Artbabe Coll..
Abel had certainly found her niche by the time of these stories. Her art had solidified into a fluid, dense but still stylised look, retaining the sometimes stiff postures she'd always shown but leaning more heavily on her strengths for realistic dialogue, subtle expression and believable body language. Which is not to say that a great deal has changed in the stories themselves. These are still populated with attractive, painfully-hip 20-somethings, whose greatest struggles seem to involve which bar to go to or which partner to pair off with that night. Their problems are not anything too dire, and even when they are the people (though utterly believable) aren't sympathetic enough for readers to care how things play out.
However, in spite of these seeming weaknesses, this is a tight, engaging anthology, composed largely of longer (presumably issue-length) pieces that breeze by in a cool flow of realistic pace. Though I'm a bit old to really engage with these characters like I (and indeed Abel) might have at the time of the original publication of the stories, there is a wonderful voyeurism to watching these chapters unwind.
The stories contained are: 'As I Live and Breathe,' about a man and woman who nurture secret yens for each other; 'Chaîné' (a ballet turn), showing some of Abel's best art to date and watching a minor-league ballerina muddle through a possible turning-point in her life via a secret getaway with a friend, is followed by the addendum-tale '"He Said,"' a possible fantasy about the ballerina's boyfriend who seems to be a secret agent; next we get 'Point of Departure,' about a wannabe writer who is leaving town (the unnamed but safe-to-assume Chicago Abel often uses as backdrop) to move to New York, where he seems to believe he'll find his destiny, all of which is told largely through a series of he-said/she-said conversations among his friends; the final long piece is 'Goddamn Hollywood' and it focuses on a fairly sleazy ladykiller type as seen through the eyes of others, and on his effect on various relationships, most especially a pair of friends where the man is a complete ass; lastly is another very short piece which revisits the stars of 'As I Live...' for a few moments, which must have looked gorgeous painted but is reproduced here in an only-slightly-less impressive black and white.
The additional non-fiction items are: 'Decatur, IL' (the strongest of these offerings), about yet another town in the midlands of the US being ravaged by industry disappearing and decimating local employment; 'At the United Center We Stand: Scenes from the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, Aug 27, 1996,' a one-pager that is pretty much what the title says; 'Eyes Only' tells with very few words but across several pages about a bartender (presumably) being told off via note in front of a busy bar, with Abel and a journalist friend seemingly the only witnesses; and finally a pair of one-pagers in 'Looking at Art 1997 Chicago Navy Pier,' which seems like an offhand commentary on an art showing, and 'Beach Reads,' a review of what different people read during the summer.
As an introduction to Abel's abilities, this book works as an ideal primer, blending longer fictional works with various-length non-fiction and some of her more involved art with some of her simpler, speedier-looking stuff. For a better look at what she's ultimately capable of in comics, I'd recommend La Perdida, but as a starting place in her talents, one can't ask for better than Mirror, Window: Artbabe Coll..
July 19, 2008
Well drawn short stories about people orbiting a bar called the Undertow. A well done story about an "old" ballerina, a flight of fancy about a side character, and a great deal of group drama (dating) features other stories. The endnotes include non-fiction work of the author with no real balance I'm afraid. Slightly Adrain Tomine-ish in nature but without the overwhelming alienation. Not my cup of tea really.
September 21, 2008
Jessica Abel is one of my favorite comic book artists, and this is a great collection of her work. it's nice to see a strong, 20 something female writing tales of life and love while living in the city. has a tendency to be slightly too "hip" for it's own good, but easy to overlook considering she is a great storyteller and artist.
September 15, 2014
I hadn't picked this book up in years. I love a good slice-of-life story. I must have liked this one at one time, or I wouldn't have hung on to it, but when tried to re-read it I couldn't even get through one story. I much prefer Adrian Tomine's or Dan Clowes' work. Their characters feel genuine; these feel like people you might meet in a club and can't wait to get away from.
May 17, 2016
"As I Live and Breathe" ★★★★1/2
"Châiné" ★★★★★
"Sweet Baby James O'Callahan, Secret Agent, in 'He Said'" ★★★★
"Point of Departure" ★★★★
"Goddamn Hollywood" ★★★1/2
[presumably] "As I Live and Breathe (reprise)" ★★★1/2
"Decatur, IL" ★★★★
"Eyes Only" ★★★
"Beach Reads" ★★★1/2
"Scenes from the DNC, Tuesday Aug 27 1996" & "Look at Art 1997 Chicago at Navy Pier" N/A
"Châiné" ★★★★★
"Sweet Baby James O'Callahan, Secret Agent, in 'He Said'" ★★★★
"Point of Departure" ★★★★
"Goddamn Hollywood" ★★★1/2
[presumably] "As I Live and Breathe (reprise)" ★★★1/2
"Decatur, IL" ★★★★
"Eyes Only" ★★★
"Beach Reads" ★★★1/2
"Scenes from the DNC, Tuesday Aug 27 1996" & "Look at Art 1997 Chicago at Navy Pier" N/A
June 16, 2012
A bunch of unconnected stories of hipsters and other twenty somethings ruminating about love, relationships and whatnot. Kind of navel-gazy, like the writers really thought their own personal lives were what readers would want to see on the page.
December 6, 2008
Always a fan, though I still prefer La Perdida to the Artbabe stuff.
November 20, 2014
Kellie claims my liking the artwork in this book is part of my "ghetto palate" but she's clearly just crazy.
July 13, 2013
The craft is solid but I swear, this lives up to just about every negative stereotype of indie comics there is.
November 13, 2014
Didn't like this collection as much as "Soundtrack" though there were some good stories in it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews