American Elf Book 4: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries of James Kochalka: January 1 2008 - December 31 2011
*Starred Review* About halfway through this book, Kochalka wonders whether, since he’s heard nothing from Top Shelf about a third two-year gathering of his comics diary, the publisher has lost interest in American Elf. Fortunately for all concerned, that was needless fretting, for here are four years’ worth, rather than just two, of Kochalka’s daily, four-panel reports of his doings, and if Top Shelf didn’t pony up for color this time, well, you’d have to be the ultimate wet blanket to object. Not just because Kochalka remains the cheery, sentimental, earthy, creatively goofy guy—who yet confesses his doubts, regrets, anger, fearfulness, bad dreams, and booboos—that he has always been but also because his family of perfect-foil wife, Amy, and cute-as-the-dickens little sons, Eli and Oliver, grows more fascinating every day to followers of his strip as well as to him. Though like all parents he worries about being good enough, he must know that he presents himself as a kind of father-we-all-wish-we’d-had—even when we did! As he presents them, everyone in his family, not to mention the boys’ friends, is Dennis the Menace. Extremely good stuff—bad words, body functions, and all. --Ray Olson