A storywise introduction: Although the story is about an entire group of people there are two characters, the friends Sherman and 'Ed', around which everything evolves, the red line if you will. Sherman is just out of college, wants to be a writer, but for now works in a bookstore as a clerk. The shy and insecure Ed wants to become a cartoonist. Along the book you'll witness the ups and downs, recognizable joys and annoyments (funny if you're into sarcasm) and relationships being made and broken. Various things happen like for instance: Ed trying everything he can to gain some confidence, honesty and loyalty (or lack off it) in the comic industry, people assuming things they 'heard somewhere' and only seeing how somebody means something to you when he or she isn't there at the time. But also less 'deep' things like a philosophy about why men just HAVE to look when there's cleavage shown and stupid things people ask clerks (you'll find yourself go "damn, I did that !' more than once).

All in all this little un-exaggerated comic-book soap-opera is the nicest thing I've read in a while and the most refreshing thing since I first opened a Strangers in Paradise Graphic Novel.
The art is, compared to the before mentioned book, a little less good but the variety in storylines AND a very plot-twisting last few pages makes than up more than enough. Funny as well, but never forced. Very relatable and as uncliche as it gets. A lot of good pages of fun for your money.


Do You Work Here?   May 21, 2003
 10 out of 19 found this review helpful

I'm pretty sure those of you who are reading this review have heard the arguement that comics are not just for children. Well, if the only comics that you see are super hero comics and last for 32 pages a piece it definately would be hard to take them seriously, but then there are graphic novels, especially books the size and scope of _Box Office Poison_. Box office poison is massive, cl;ocking in at 608 pages. I know what you are thinking, but it is a comic it cannpt take that longf too read, but you would be wrong this book is full of well written dialogue. For those of you who dislike comics of the common ilk this book is for you, instead of a super hero with his incredibly buxom companion we have Sherman who works at a book store and Ed the aspiring cartoonist. There are of couirse many females in the book as well, but they are realistically proportioned. There are characters that you will adore in this book and characters that you hate, but what you get in the end is a very realistic story in comic form about well developed characters. read it please


People you know? Mammoth, entertaining comics novel.   April 11, 2002
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

... The book's format resembles those CEREBUS phonebook collections: a huge mass of black and white comics, with liberal use of heavy blacks for inking effects. Unlike CEREBUS, the focus here is on regular folks living in a contemporary metropolis.

I read through this intimidating heap of pages pretty quickly. There's something funny on virtually every page, although there's also tragedy and drama. The book's strong points are the characters and their dialog. A few of the characters seem unlikable, when they're introduced; but by the end of the story, I liked all of them (except the psycho murderer, maybe). At the end, I felt relieved for some and sad for others. Those I liked best at the beginning weren't in all cases the ones I liked best near the end.

It's a book that makes you think hard about people you know or knew, and about how you yourself appear to other people. An impressive accomplishment, I think.


An addictive, satisfying read   December 23, 2003
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Some popular movies have been based upon a relatively simple premise: take different people, all connected in some way, and then watch the ups and downs. Reality Bites, Singles, any John Hughes movies. There isn't too much going on in the plot department but it's a lot of fun to watch. This book is a lot of fun to read.

On the back cover of Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson, there's a quote that says this book is "completely voyeuristic. This is what it would be like to see your friends behind closed doors." If you're a young, twenty-something trying to figure out what you want to do with your life and whether or not you'll ever find true love (or just get laid), this is the book for you.

Did you ever hate one of your friend's girlfriends? Feel like killing neighbors in your apartment building who don't know how to be quiet? Ice skate with a Costa Rican Olympic figure skater? Then you'll totally relate to the stories in here. This is a hefty graphic novel, over 600 pages (and the only other graphic novel I've seen that had rivaled this length is Craig Thompson's wonderful Blankets), but the story is broken up into chapters. I think this may have been a serial comic that was collected into a novel... I'm not sure. The book does go by fast, though.

Some parts are lighter than others, but there's a serious thread that holds everything together. An aging comic book artist who got gypped out of the rights to a wildly popular character and his journey for justice. The epilogue to this book is a lot more sedate than the rest of the stories and made reading this book completely and totally worth it.

I know it costs a lot, but it is worth it. It'll make a great addition to your graphic novel library.

If you would like to know more about Box Office Poison, check out the website:
http://members.aol.com/bopalex/


Box Office Posion Success   June 10, 2001
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I have been one of the fortunate people to be following Box Office Poison since the start of the series when it was just a mini-comic. Seeing this culmination of the 21 individual issues in this huge book and holding it in my hands confirms what fantastic characters and stories Alex Robinson can write and draw. This is a must have for anyone that enjoys a funny, sad, surprising, truthful story of believable characters that could be people in your life. This isn't a graphic novel just for people who like graphic novels, but for people who enjoy great fiction storytelling. Kudos to Top Shelf for putting together a book that no one would be embarassed to read on the subway. I hope many will request this book!