APPROXIMATE CONTINUUM COMICS

One of the very first autobiographical graphic novels to come from France, Lewis Trondheim's Approximate Continuum Comics set the standard for the honest, often hilarious chronicling of a cartoonist's life. Trondheim's typically graceful, confident cartooning shows him wrestling with his own demons (sometimes, in dream sequences, literally) and an often malevolent world, while trying to maintain his rising career as one of Europe's most beloved cartoonists.Approximate Continuum finally brings American readers the first portion of the "Trondheim autobio trilogy" that also comprises the Eisner-nominated "At Loose Ends" meditation serialized in Mome and the "Little Nothings" series of short slice-of-life stories. This volume contains the first three chapters serialized in The Nimrod comic book (praised as "A rewarding, pleasurable and entertaining read from a fine talent... well worth the cover price" by The Comics Reporter), the last three (never-before-translated) chapters, and a hilarious "rebuttal" section in which Trondheim's family and cartoonist friends (including Epileptic creator David B. and Trondheim's mom) dispute (or ruefully agree with) Trondheim's depictions.

“While there was clearly a lot on his mind, Trondheim is still first and foremost a gag man. He imbues every page with his dry wit, creating an authorial voice that allows him to get away with all sorts of slapstick and nonsense (without seeming too silly), while also allowing him to write about personal and serious matters (without seeming too ponderous). In later years, Trondheim would return to autobio comics as a way to revive his interest in drawing, but he's truly at the height of his powers in Approximate Continuum Comics.” - Rob Clough, The Comics Journal