This Job Sucks! (As You Were #5) by Mitch Clem

This Job Sucks! (As You Were #5) Reviews

• 
  Keith Schnell

  It hardly bears repeating what an absolute treasure Mitch Clem's As You Were compilations, of which this is the fifth volume -- are. There is no better way to introduce yourself to the full breadth of alternative comix talent that's out there. With that being said, it's worth highlighting a couple of these that stood out for me. Steve Larder's story of the sadder side of working behind the scenes in a hospital spoke to me the most -- as a former menial hospital worker, I can assure you of its fundamental accuracy and expressiveness. Julia Wertz's contribution -- an excerpt from a longer story in her book The Infinite Wait -- is among her better, more mature work and hopefully will inspire readers to pick up the original. I also especially enjoyed Steve Thueson's story about working in a phone center for the deaf -- a job that I hadn't known existed (the best kind) and Adrian Chi's story of the unheralded indignities of her time as an airport baggage handler. There are numerous other short comics of equally high quality here, which is why this series needs to become a mainstay of the alternative comics universe.
• 
  Mark Robison

  An anthology by punk comic artists about crappy jobs. A few great, most good or very good, and a few stinkers. I'll get more in the As You Were series. Excellent mix of artists from all backgrounds. Includes some favorites like Julia Wertz, Liz Baillie and Ben Snakepit. Plus the publishers themselves fight the good fight: Silver Sprocket. Grade: B+
• 
  Mike

  I have a very high tolerance for comic anthologies. You never have to put up with something that sucks for very long, and there are always a could new artists/writers to start following. Plus a couple of short form pieces from your old favorites you might not find anywhere else.
• 
  Ian

  good anthology of working or not working. some jobs are lame and so it fits my job history. some of the art was inspiring, I need to check out some of the artists.
• 
  StrictlySequential

  (WARNING: This is "white-collar punk" college kid type stuff. The editor is an actual banker. It seems, to me, like REAL punks would read this and yawn after they gas-station gun sprayed it then threw it, with a match, into the window of a passing Prius.)
  
  Wrought with the most obnoxious breed of nerds!
  
  Many > many > more of the awkward and miserable that gravitate to the populations within the "life sucks" brand of autobio-anthology than I though- despite knowing that this was to be limited to the "punk" junkies who are miserable because they're too stubborn fit in with society -just enough to make life MUCH easier- and against all odds remain compelled to wear their brand of the eye-soaring (to the back of our heads in embarrassment) buffoonish "look at me- I'm so down with the scene" uniforms as if they didn't jump on an artfully-disguised bandwagon.
  
  This is a testament to the types of directions, situations and professions you end up in when you're too (un)cool to follow any rules. The best lessons are forged in the flames of mistakes and as a veteran of a different oeuvre of subversive and selfish responsibility neglect I use those burn marks as a reminder whereas they just slap tats on them and burn themselves even more because they are wont to ostracize themselves with poor-decision didn't-take-time-to-think-ink anyway.
  
  I CERTAINLY didn't grow up- but one must wise up to stand a chance of enjoying work that DOESN'T suck.