“Simply wrenching… Benjamin Frisch subverts the
BENJAMIN cartoonist
FRISCH
Williamsburg,
and
is
storyteller
Virginia.
He
a from
“Required reading for the coming sanity wars, this story is the stuff of my nightmares…Cute-ify this monstrosity any way you like, Mr. Frisch, I will be in the fetal position weeping, giving you a thumbs up for a job brutally done.” --Paul Hornschemeier, author of Life With Mr. Dangerous and Mother, Come Home
of America’s obsession with the perfect family.” Jessica Abel, author of Out on the Wire and La Perdida
Beloved cartoonist Robert Fun has earned a devoted following for his newspaper
comic
strip, celebrating the wholesome American family by drawing inspi-
the Savannah College of Art and
ration from his real home life…
Design, and participated in the artist
exposing the seedy underbelly
circle-shaped
has
an MFA in Sequential Art from
international
iconography of family cartooning,
but the Fun family bears some dark
residency
secrets.
program La Maison Des Auteurs in Angoulême, France. His work has
As their idyllic world collapses and
appeared on the political satire
the kids are forced to pick up the
site Wonkette, National Public
pieces, can they escape the cycle
Radio, and in the Graphic Canon comics anthologies.
of art imitating life imitating art?
The Fun Family is his first book.
In his debut graphic novel, Benjamin Frisch presents a surreal deconstruction of childhood, adulthood, and good old American obsession.
ISBN 978-1-60309-344-6 52499 9 781603 093446
The Fun Family
©
2016 Benjamin Frisch.
Published by Top Shelf Productions, PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA 30061-1282, USA. Top Shelf Productions is an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC. Offices: 2765 Truxtun Road, San Diego, CA 92106. Top Shelf Productions®, the Top Shelf logo, Idea and Design Works®, and the IDW logo are registered trademarks of Idea and Design Works, LLC. All Rights Reserved. With the exception of small excerpts of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of IDW Publishing. IDW Publishing does not read or accept unsolicited submissions of ideas, stories, or artwork.
Editor-in-Chief: Chris Staros. Designed by Benjamin Frisch and Chris Ross. Edited by Chris Staros with Zac Boone.
Visit our online catalog at www.topshelfcomix.com.
Printed in Korea.
ISBN 978-1-60309-344-6
19
18
17
16
5
4
3
2
1
Now, kids, I know it looks good, but before we dig in...
It’s good to remember how lucky we are.
Let’s go around the table and say what we’re thankful for!
5
Mikey, what about you?
Molly?
I’m thankful for Mommy and Daddy!
I’m thankful for my family!
Yes, J.T., tell us!
Oh, Mikey, we love you too. J.T., what are you thankful for?
gurgle
gurgle!
6
He’s going to grow up to be a comedian!
Hahaha, oh, J.T.
Robby, you’re the last one!
Oh!
Hmmm, I’m thankful for...
I’ll get it!
Hello? This is the Fun residence.
I wonder who it could be?
7
Hello.
This message IS from:
This is an automated message for:
St. Guinefort Hospital.
Please press one for English. the Fun family. Para EspaNol marque dos.
You chose:
This call is to inform you that your loved one:
Grandma Virginia Fun,
is now deceased.
English.
Thank you.
Robby, who is it?
St. Guinefort thanks you for your loyalty.
Have a great day.
8
Ashes to ashes…
sniff, sob...
9