Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth
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Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth is a widely-acclaimed graphic novel by Chris Ware, published in 2000. The story, previously serialized in the pages of Ware's comic book Acme Novelty Library (and, previous to that, in the alternative Chicago weekly New City), is about a meek and lonely man (Jimmy Corrigan) in his mid-thirties who meets his father for the first time in a town near Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend. Jimmy is an awkward and cheerless character with an overbearing mother and a very limited social life, who attempts to escape his unhappiness via an active imagination that sometimes gets him into awkward situations. The story explores themes of discontent and alienation, especially within families. Much of it is autobiographical, particularly in passages about Jimmy's estranged relationship with his father. There are also many flashback scenes, including a substantial narrative set in the Chicago World Columbian Exposition of 1893.
Ware's novel, like his other work, is heavy with symbolism and visual storytelling, exploring and demonstrating the potential of the comics medium. Many pages are devoid of text, and some contain complex iconic diagrams that may take hours to decode. Notable leitmotifs in Jimmy Corrigan include the robot, the peach, and the flawed Superman figure.
Jimmy Corrigan has been overwhelmingly well-received by critics. Among its awards are:
- the Firecracker Alternative Book Award for Graphic Novel
- the American Book Award
- The Guardian's First Book Award ("the first time a graphic novel has won a major UK book award," according to the Guardian)
- the Harvey Awards' Special Award for Excellence in Presentation and Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work
- the Eisner Awards' Best Publication Design and Best Graphic Album: Reprint