Review by Aziz Bawany

Writer: Jonathan Ames

Artist: Dean Haspiel

Graytones: Lee Loughridge

Letters: Pat Brosseau

Published by DC Comics/Vertigo

Jonathan Ames is one messed up individual who narrates The Alcoholic with brutal honesty as he takes readers throughout moments of his life and adventures all tied-in to his alcoholic and substance abuse.

What’s most heartbreaking about Ames’s writing style is the true-to-life narrative that he encapsulates readers in. Jonathan A, as his character is known, is a confused individual with a lust for abusing himself. Whether or not it’s all autobiographical to the author is not the point of this work, but rather a gateway into the world he explores under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The most welcoming moment the character presents is during the 9/11 attacks and the hospitalization of his Aunt Sadie, Ames’s only true living relative. These moments provide more intrigue and introspection into the man than any of the orgies, coke parties, or elderly-sex can ever explain.

There are other episodes such as the one with his friend Sal as they explore a friendship that turns into something more that highlights the beauty of love more than anything else. While hard to speculate, the man is more open to his best friend as a love partner than any of the women he frequents with and it’s a great juxtaposition to the women he can never obtain as both partners rot away from him in some fashion, one due to alcohol, the other due to the nature of life.

With Dean Haspiel aiding Ames in capturing these moments, it’s hard not to fall in love with this incredibly flawed character. Haspiel’s lines are beautiful and he is able to recreate moments that seem true to life as if there was no separation between the panels and the moments taking place in front of us. It’s a collaboration that proves rewarding as the two come together to create a piece of graphic art that is truly unique in terms of storytelling and autobiographical comics.

The Alcoholic is a trip through life and while it plays somewhat to the slice of life stories comic fans are familiar with, Ames is able to use his knack for storytelling to create a bond between the audience member and his broken character. Along with Haspiel, they continue to show the promise of Vertigo’s graphic novel line and hopefully Ames will have more stories to share in this format, as he brings something new to the table.

Rating: 9 out of 10 (Excellent!)