Read This: This Will All End in Tears
Fiction by Joe Ollman (Insomniac Press)
REVIEW BY Mark Medley
Much has been written on the rise of the graphic novel, but less attention has been paid to illustrated short stories. Montreal cartoonist Joe Ollmann’s new collection, This Will All End in Tears, can easily take its place alongside any of the acclaimed collections released in Canada this year. Subtle slices of life, his stories work best when Ollmann brings us inside his character’s mind—such as with Charlene, a shy yet enraged overweight young woman in “Big Boned,” or Dennis, a middle-aged alcoholic who is horrified by the thought of having to take care of his older, mentally handicapped brother in “Hanging Over.” Ollmann’s drawings are simple and suit the subject matter well. These are not pretty storiesóthey are raw, messy, bitter and sometimes heartbreaking. They are also darkly funny; the hapless office drone Shultz trying to deal with a deer carcass in his garage is gloriously—and uncomfortably—fun. The five stories often end without a resolution. It’s frustrating, but as This Will All End in Tears reminds the reader on each page, life doesn’t always give you what you want.
