Daniel Clowes, who's ingenious surreal graphic novel A Velvet Glove Cast in Iron and Ghost World brought him fame and eternal adoration among the hip, came out with David Boring in 1998.
In 1998, we were worried about the dot bomb, and the idea of terrorists attacking our country seemed like science fiction, but such attacks occur in the novel, making it an eerie one to reread today.
Other bits of the extreme or surreality (as the apocalyptic attack was meant to be) are mysterious murders, a secret island, near fatal shootings, and more murders, but it would be wrong to classifying David Boring as a wholly unrealistic jaunt into the bizarre, because most of the novel deals with very familiar, true to life themes that young men struggle with.
Themes like strained family relationships, lost fathers, the need to leave a mark on the world, but having to overcome laziness to do anything about it, and especially obsessions with women and lots and lots of sex, sex, sex. Yeah, not a book you want to give to a young-in unless you want them to develop a large butt fetish.
It may not be the first Clowes graphic novel I'd try if I've never read his stuff before, it's jump cuts and scope can at times baffle, but it is a notable and inventive adult graphic novel worth a look, especially for fans of his other titles.
But what do you think?