Time Zone J by Julie Doucet [in Shelf Awareness]
Julie Doucet is a legendary alternative comics pioneer, especially in an arena dominated by men. Her fame was further elevated by her frustrated abandonment of the industry in 2006. Her semi-autobiographical Dirty Plotte (quite the double entendre: “plotte” is Québécois slang for the c-word) began as a “photocopied fanzine” in the 1980s; it was published in the 1990s by graphics indie Drawn & Quarterly, which then released a fantastic double-volume boxed compilation in 2018.
Welcome now to Time Zone J – as in Julie, most likely – another intense, electrifying, diary-inspired autobiographical title. “This book was drawn from bottom to top. Please read accordingly,” Doucet directs. Already, her work is unpredictable – rarely are comics viewed so unconventionally. Even more striking is Doucet’s flowing presentation, originally created in an accordion-style notebook: the result is that every panel-less, borderless page overlaps into the next so that if the pages could be lined up, long edge to long edge, the effect would be that of a continuous scroll.
Multiple images of Doucet immediately greet audiences, with the lower-most bubble announcing “me.” On the page, Doucet reminds readers (and herself?), “I had vowed to never ever draw myself again.” Despite hurting eyes and a migraine (as if her body is literally getting in her way), she quickly fills pages with random dreams: visiting a friend, meeting a cigar-smoking girl, a bulldog-driven sports car. In between, she hints at her past – “it’s me, at 12,” her 52-year-old-self says, pointing at another version of herself; then “it’s me at 16” – until a small head pops up from Doucet’s hair, rather Athena-esque, demanding “c’mon, tell us a story!” Not yet settled on which story, Doucet continues visually to age her past selves – “that’s me, at 19,” “that’s me at 22” – while her text bubbles consider potential writing intentions, from a novel to film adaptation to a return to her old diaries. Her art, meanwhile, is a riotous collage of past works – including images from and covers of Dirty Plotte – overlaid with a dominating narrative that eventually captures a youthful affair, which begins as an epistolary exchange and leads to a complicated transatlantic liaison.
Thirty-one years ago, Doucet won the 1991 Harvey Award for Best New Talent. Her reemergence makes her new all over again to another generation of comics fans. Savvy, knowing enthusiasts will have a field day reliving her past comics here. Both audiences can expect exceptional discoveries – equally disturbing and delightful.
Shelf Talker: Pioneering comics maker Julie Doucet returns with another electrifying, multi-layered graphic creation.
Review: Shelf Awareness Pro, March 11, 2022
Readers: Adult
Published: 2022
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