GRAPHIC NOVELS

How To Appear Normal at Social Events: And Other Essential Wisdom

by Lord Birthday
Andrews McMeel. Mar. 2018. 120p. ISBN 9781449487966. pap. $14.99. COMICS
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This minimalist, absurdist debut collection from Birthday, aka Chad Murphy, offers laughs aplenty. There's no overarching plot, aside from a light satire of a self-help book; the jokes are brief; and the art is simple. Based on the author's wildly popular webcomics, selections generally adhere to the same formula: a depiction of a strange situation followed by a list of sometimes connected, sometimes not, thoughts, actions, or observations about the uncomfortable encounter, often presented in a single-page panel. It works, even though it wears thin after some time.
VERDICT Recommended for anyone looking for a quick, easy set of gags in a webcomic style.
Reviewed by Lewis Parsons, Sawyer Free Lib., Gloucester, MA , May 25, 2018
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