Comic Review: Building Stories by Chris Ware

Building Stories is the latest offering from American cartoonist Chris Ware. I say offering because it isn’t a comic book but rather a comic box presenting 14 separate pieces in various sizes and formats. Each of the printed objects, which include accordion foldouts, booklets, broadsheets and hardcovers, are self-contained episodes revolving around a nameless female and the lives and stories that surround her. By design the pieces in the box can be read in any order, making the reading experience unique to each reader as each character’s story is slowly revealed in fragments, reminiscent of memory.

The majority of content follows the aforementioned nameless female at various points in her life as she struggles with loneliness, love, responsibility and rejection and comes to terms with her own self-identity and purpose. The two other adjoining flats and their occupants (a miserable couple and the landlady) each have their own stories fleshed out, along with a trapped bee and the house itself (which omnisciently comments on the trivialities of life). These perspectives, told through various narrator styles, have a real awareness of time and place; particularly the changes of mindset in a post 9/11 world, even if the event is never expressly mentioned.

All of Ware’s trademarks are here: simple geometric shapes, isometric perspective, symmetry, primary colours and clean lines. The deceptively simple style is a perfect fit for the complex multi-layered stories weaved by Ware. He has been nominated for this year's Eisner Award in the categories of best new                       graphic album, best writer/artist, best colouring, best lettering  and best publication design.

Ware is often criticised for the depressing nature of his work, but the message this time feels a little more optimistic. I feel that this work is so complete, that the central character's plight is so believable/honest/real that we can dismiss the ups and downs with a simple Que Sara, Sara and put it all down to life.

Sam Leith, reviewing the book for the Guardian proclaimed: "nobody else is doing anything in this medium that remotely approaches Ware for originality, plangency, complexity and exactitude" and frankly, I am inclined to agree.