It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken
Encyclopedia
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken is a graphic novel
(or "picture novella") by Canadian cartoonist
Seth
, published in collected form by Drawn and Quarterly
in 1996. It was originally serialized in issues four through nine of Seth's comic book series Palookaville
from December 1993 to June 1996. It made #52 of The Comics Journal
s "100 Best Comics of the 20th Century" list.
The story stars Seth himself, and features appearances of other figures in his life, like close friend and fellow cartoonist Chester Brown
. The book is presented as autobiographical
, and gained Seth a reputation for being part of the autobio comics trend in the 1990s, especially alongside fellow Drawn and Quarterly cartoonists such as Brown, Joe Matt
, Julie Doucet
and Adrian Tomine
. Seth later revealed that the story was fictional.
cartoonist
named Kalo, who once contributed to The New Yorker
. Seth's search leads him from Toronto, Ontario to the small town of Strathroy, Ontario, including many landmarks from each respective location. The book was #52 on the list of the "100 Best Comics of the 20th Century" compiled by The Comics Journal
.
drew the panel It's a Great Life If You Don't Weaken, which was syndicated by the New York Evening Telegram from 1915 to 1919, the phrase became a rallying cry for American soldiers during World War I
. Seth said his mother used the phrase when he was growing up, and the book was "Dedicated to my mother Violet, from whom I often heard the title of this book."
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
(or "picture novella") by Canadian cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
Seth
Seth (cartoonist)
Seth is the pen name of Gregory Gallant , a Canadian comic book artist and writer. He is best known for comics such as Palookaville.Born in Clinton, Ontario, Seth attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto...
, published in collected form by Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
in 1996. It was originally serialized in issues four through nine of Seth's comic book series Palookaville
Palookaville (comics)
Palookaville is a comic book written and drawn by cartoonist Gregory Gallant, better known as Seth, and published by Drawn & Quarterly. The first issue appeared in April 1991 and it has been irregularly published ever since...
from December 1993 to June 1996. It made #52 of The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
s "100 Best Comics of the 20th Century" list.
The story stars Seth himself, and features appearances of other figures in his life, like close friend and fellow cartoonist Chester Brown
Chester Brown
Chester William David Brown , is an award-winning, best-selling Canadian alternative cartoonist and, since 2008, the Libertarian Party of Canada's candidate for the riding of Trinity-Spadina in Toronto, Canada....
. The book is presented as autobiographical
Autobiographical comics
Autobiographical comics are autobiography in the form of comic books or comic strips. The form first became popular in the underground comics movement and has since become more widespread...
, and gained Seth a reputation for being part of the autobio comics trend in the 1990s, especially alongside fellow Drawn and Quarterly cartoonists such as Brown, Joe Matt
Joe Matt
Joe Matt is an American cartoonist. He started drawing comics in 1987 and is best known for his autobiographical work, Peepshow. In addition to his cartooning career, he is known for his large collection of vintage Gasoline Alley comic strips. Matt lived in Canada from 1988 to 2002...
, Julie Doucet
Julie Doucet
Julie Doucet is a Canadian former underground cartoonist and artist, best known for her autobiographical works such as Dirty Plotte and My New York Diary...
and Adrian Tomine
Adrian Tomine
Adrian Tomine , a popular contemporary cartoonist, is best known for his ongoing comic book series Optic Nerve and his periodical illustrations in The New Yorker.- Biography :...
. Seth later revealed that the story was fictional.
Characters and story
The story follows Seth's search for a fictional CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
named Kalo, who once contributed to The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
. Seth's search leads him from Toronto, Ontario to the small town of Strathroy, Ontario, including many landmarks from each respective location. The book was #52 on the list of the "100 Best Comics of the 20th Century" compiled by The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
.
Title
After the cartoonist Gene ByrnesGene Byrnes
Eugene Francis Byrnes created the long running comic strip Reg'lar Fellers, which he signed Gene Byrnes...
drew the panel It's a Great Life If You Don't Weaken, which was syndicated by the New York Evening Telegram from 1915 to 1919, the phrase became a rallying cry for American soldiers during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Seth said his mother used the phrase when he was growing up, and the book was "Dedicated to my mother Violet, from whom I often heard the title of this book."