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Review: Ego & Hubris - The Michael Malice Story
Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story
Written by Harvey Pekar and Michael Malice
Art by Gary Dumm
Published by Ballantine Books. $19.95 USD
Escaping the notice of most of the comics press, this curious graphic autobio (it's Malice's story in his own words, Pekar adapting it to comic script) is one of the best books of 2006. As with American Splendor: Unsung Hero, this one isn't about Pekar, but unlike that Vietnam memoir, this one has everything one likes about Pekar's autobio comics and then some.
It's easy to see why Malice's story might appeal to Pekar--Malice is a younger, more extreme version of Harvey. Not in the slovenly sense but in his firm sense of self and stubborn refusal to compromise. The difference is that Pekar doesn't seem to take much pleasure in his conflicts with people, whereas Malice is, well, malicious at times, cruelly undoing those who attempt to stifle or corrupt him or insist that their way is the right one. Malice's fierceness appears to come from stupid parents and the childhood torments visited upon him as an immigrant in uncool clothes. And everyone is paying for these torments now.
The thing is, I liked the guy. Not that I would necessarily want to hang out with him, but his stories are tremendously entertaining, even the meanest, pettiest and vainest ones. Other readers may not like him--may even despise him--but they'll admire his sticking to his guns and taking the stupid and arrogant down a peg or three, and they'll read the book to the end. Pekar doesn't editorialize but appears to just present the most interesting stories of Malice's life, even if they present Malice unfavorably, and it's the right approach. Malice is an unstoppable force. For his part, Dumm is one of Pekar's least collaborators, but he's right on for this book, with a clean, plain style that's efficient and doesn't glamorize Malice. I think Dumm would probably have been a better choice on The Quitter for this reason.
Written by Harvey Pekar and Michael Malice
Art by Gary Dumm
Published by Ballantine Books. $19.95 USD
Escaping the notice of most of the comics press, this curious graphic autobio (it's Malice's story in his own words, Pekar adapting it to comic script) is one of the best books of 2006. As with American Splendor: Unsung Hero, this one isn't about Pekar, but unlike that Vietnam memoir, this one has everything one likes about Pekar's autobio comics and then some.
It's easy to see why Malice's story might appeal to Pekar--Malice is a younger, more extreme version of Harvey. Not in the slovenly sense but in his firm sense of self and stubborn refusal to compromise. The difference is that Pekar doesn't seem to take much pleasure in his conflicts with people, whereas Malice is, well, malicious at times, cruelly undoing those who attempt to stifle or corrupt him or insist that their way is the right one. Malice's fierceness appears to come from stupid parents and the childhood torments visited upon him as an immigrant in uncool clothes. And everyone is paying for these torments now.
The thing is, I liked the guy. Not that I would necessarily want to hang out with him, but his stories are tremendously entertaining, even the meanest, pettiest and vainest ones. Other readers may not like him--may even despise him--but they'll admire his sticking to his guns and taking the stupid and arrogant down a peg or three, and they'll read the book to the end. Pekar doesn't editorialize but appears to just present the most interesting stories of Malice's life, even if they present Malice unfavorably, and it's the right approach. Malice is an unstoppable force. For his part, Dumm is one of Pekar's least collaborators, but he's right on for this book, with a clean, plain style that's efficient and doesn't glamorize Malice. I think Dumm would probably have been a better choice on The Quitter for this reason.
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