Joe Ollmann

In these five beautifully illustrated stories, Ollmann peers into the cracks of everyday life, finding inspiration in those slightly uncomfortable moments, both extraordinary and mundane, that make life... well... interesting. Influenced by a variety of artists such as Ben Katchor, Charles Schulz, Ralph Steadman, and Edward Gorey, Ollmann draws the inhabitants of his world with remarkable craft and an eye for detail, making each character unforgettable. 'Day Old' is the story of a single mother waiting at a children's hospital with a sick baby and a bunch of kids in tow, trying to get a break at a bagel shop. 'Oh Deer' tells the story of Schultz, a mild-mannered office drone suffering a mid-life crisis who, instead of leather pants, buys a rifle and goes hunting with the alpha males he works with. The beginning hunter gets lucky but with terrible results as he refuses to deal with the deer carcass in his garage. 'They Filmed a Movie Here Once' is about Amy, a young girl in a Northern Ontario town living with her pious, alcoholic father, both of them crippled by the loss of her mother. Amy is working in a diner and is in the midst of losing her Catholic faith and possibly more to the mysterious new fry cook at work. 'En Retarde (Delayed)' tells the story of the Salt brothers Dennis and Robbie. Dennis has a drinking problem and has spent his adult life avoiding taking on the responsibility of taking care of his older, mentally handicapped brother, Robbie. When their mother is injured and institutionalised, Dennis is forced to take in Robbie temporarily and scrabbles to find a way out of the responsibility.

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