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the tone for the stories that follow. As in the real world, trends dominate the
culture, but in this odd metropolis, the trends are downright weird.

In a piece titled "Moving Man Monthly", an accountant fantasizes about
becoming a furniture mover and subscribes to a magazine devoted to moving
men, but he is sickened by the site of a crew of movers. "Middle-aged men
killing themselves hauling worthless chipboard furnitre," he says in disgust.

"The Prestige Address" tells how small businesses purchase addresses
in a prestigious office building downtown in order to create the illusion of
wealth. Operators at the building recieve the mail and ship it to the owner's real
address. The suite number reveals the history and hierarchical position of each
business. "I'm on the third tier, sixth from the left, above Johnson's Give-
Yourself-A-Trophy Co. and next door to the Illob at Corporation of Amercia,"
one entrepreneur boasts.

Katchor uses a skethy pen and ink style with simple scenery and
characters. Forgoing the process of giving the characters distinct features, he
instead gives them universal, indistinguishable qualities. In some stories, Knipl
is the narrator, but in others he makes quick, easy-to-miss cameo appearances.

The tone of the comic is similar to the cool simple, style of Seth's
Palookaville. Many of the story lines about forgotten products and washed-up
salesmen in the Beauty Supply District are similar to the elderly electric fan
salesmen in the latest Palookaville series.

Overall, the book is unusual, endearing and smart. In the eight or so
frames Katchor uses, he tells a story with great thought and depth.

Like other great comic artists of the day -- Dan Clowes, Chris Ware, Joe
Sacco -- Katchor casts off the impending reputation comics have maintained
since they first came into existence about a hunderd years ago. It's 2001 and it's
not comics anymore, it's art.

-- Tim Inklebarger

Robert Silverberg, The World Inside

Just finished R. Silverberg's The World Inside about the giant apartment
communistic/yet caste ridden complex (the floors are divided up according to
job "importance"), and thought this is the straight bullet shot to the future.
Population goes flippo so the powers that be make a huge ass 1000 floor apt.
complex where everyone is supposed to just keep on poppin' pills and out-
slotting babies while holding down comfy jobs. Sex is free with anyone, the
apts. are always unlocked for the 'nightwalking' sexplorer. The jargon in this
book is really infectious and carries the story for a quick read. A rambunctious
psychedelic "Brave New World" in that it holds up if you turn the structure
upside down and kick it. The monuments of the world are ground up after being
well documented for home viewing so no one needs to go outside. If you flip out
you get shoved into the chute/furnace. All the characters have some kind of beef