Patience By Daniel Clowes ( Cbr)
Phillipp Schneeberger
Patience by Daniel Clowes (CBR)
Patience is a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, published by Fantagraphics in 2016. It is a science-fiction love story about time travel, murder, and revenge. It is also the longest and most ambitious work of Clowes, who is known for his acclaimed comics such as Ghost World, The Death-Ray, and Wilson.
Plot summary
The story begins in 2012, when Jack Barlow finds his pregnant wife, Patience, brutally killed in their apartment. Devastated and obsessed with finding the killer, Jack spends the next 17 years in a downward spiral of drugs, alcohol, and violence. In 2029, he accidentally stumbles upon a time machine that belongs to a mysterious scientist named Otto. Jack decides to use the device to go back in time and save Patience, but he soon realizes that changing the past is not as easy as he thought. He encounters different versions of himself and Patience, as well as other characters who are connected to the murder mystery. He also discovers that Patience had a troubled and secretive past that he never knew about. As Jack travels through different timelines, he faces ethical dilemmas, paradoxes, and dangers that threaten his sanity and his love for Patience.
Themes and style
Patience is a complex and layered story that explores themes such as fate, free will, guilt, redemption, identity, and love. It also pays homage to various genres and influences, such as pulp fiction, noir, horror, sci-fi, romance, and psychedelic art. Clowes uses bright and contrasting colors to create a vivid and surreal atmosphere, as well as dynamic and expressive drawings to convey the emotions and actions of the characters. The book also features some of the most stunning and imaginative scenes in Clowes' career, such as when Jack free-falls between dimensions and has nightmarish visions of himself outside time and space.
Reception and adaptation
Patience received critical acclaim from critics and readers alike, who praised its originality, creativity, depth, and emotion. It was nominated for several awards, including the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album-New. It was also a bestseller in the graphic novel category. In 2016, Clowes announced that he would write the film adaptation for Patience for Focus Features. He said that unlike his previous adaptations, Patience was about the right length to fit in a film screenplay. However, as of 2023, no further details about the film have been released.