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Notables 2010: Laura Park’s Sleep is for Suckers, Office 32f

Laura Park, Sleep is for Suckers. MOME, no. 13, 2009.  -AND-  Office 32F. MOME, no. 14, 2009.

Laura Park’s self-deprecating autobio comics are so lovely to look at and so charmingly written that they convey a sense of secret connection with the artist. I enjoy them despite my jaded view of most autobio. Sleep is for Suckers is a two-page collection of little strip more or less on the theme of sleep and nighttime, that seem to be taken from her sketchbook and recomposed in an interesting quilt-like layout.

Office 32f is a more-rare outing for Park, a piece of pure fiction. It reminds me of Gabrielle Bell’s work where she spins off from autobio reality in the midst of a story and heads into surreal fiction. Here, Park allows her insecurities about her work habits and productivity to take concrete form as she imagines a tiny office hidden behind her baseboard full of tiny people whose job it is to observe and report on her. Or is it? Very funny and clever.

Age: teen

What is this “Notable” thing all about? Matt and Jessica are the series editors for the Best American Comics, and are responsible for the Notable Comics list at the back of the book, which is comprised of virtually all the comics we sent to the guest editor that weren’t picked, as well as a number of others that we think are noteworthy for various reasons, but that we didn’t send to the guest editor.

We’ve always hoped readers will delve a bit into the list to find more great stories once they finish reading BAC. Realistically, though, we know that’s tough. What can you know about a story from a title and author? So this is one of a series of posts focusing on each of the Notables from the 2010 Best American Comics.

Have or know of a comic we should look at? Find submission info here.

The “age” suggestion is what we think might be the minimum age for reading and appreciating a work. All works on the list, though, should appeal to older audiences too. It’s a minimum suggestion only.

 

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