My Friend Dahmer

[@StrangeBrainParts]

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[@willc3900]

I appreciate in earnest how dry and almost clinical this was. Too many comic book channels try to be splashy and don’t allow an audience to form their own opinion. Feels more scholarly and adult, less like an ad.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you! I do not attempt to not tell people they should or shouldn't like a piece of work. I try to look at a work's merits, it's strengths and weakness and let the individual decide.

[@martyrocks2091]

It's been getting dark in here recently. Need an Ambush Bug retrospective to bring us back to the light.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Ha! There is always light nearby.

[@martyrocks2091]

@@StrangeBrainParts I'm glad to hear that. 👍

[@jikorijo4516]

I’m happy to hear that as well.😊

[@onboardnavvy7105]

"Free booze, cash, and other adult activities" - the best artists need a constraining structure, like training clematis to grow up a wall.

[@edatthegovernance]

Glad you came back to do the full book. Derf is a favourite.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I do believe it was a comment you made some time ago that made me go back, realize I had made an error and then find the graphic novel. So, thank you for pointing out my error!

[@yourname50]

I got a Kit Kat add break in the middle of this video that made it sound like JD turned into four pieces of chocolate.

[@fad23]

I remember the single issue and the later full volume. I picked up Derf Backderf's book on Kent State at the Kickstarter stage and met Derf when he was visiting Chicago for. CAKE a few months ago.

[@fad23]

Derf's approach is indeed journalistic as he outlined the way he approaches his books at CAKE. He talked about the differences between how he approached his memoir and his Kent State. There's a lot to unpack in all of it!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I do have to track down more of his work. I wish I was so put off initially by the original comic. I might have discovered more if I had I not read that first.

[@fad23]

I think as a younger creator, if that story happens to you, you probably HAVE to do it right away. But then, you're still a younger creator. I'm not gonna judge that, but I WOULD recommend Kent State.

[@theLEW46]

I’m glad you liked the graphic novel more. I thought it was an excellent and tragic comic that left a remarkable impact on me. If you haven’t read it I’d recommend reading Derfs Kent State book which is a really well done piece of journalism that is tragic in a separate way from My Friend Dahmer. Love the work man keep it up!

[@porassrivastava8242]

Kent State brought me out of my "I'll only read superhero comics" Phase. Genuinely a 10/10.

[@superquad7]

I haven't read the book(s), but I have watched the adaptation, and I really liked the material. The new Netflix series was also very well done.

[@bearberserker]

Huh, been a bit since I have heard about Dahmer. I guess the comic can be the opposite of the Netflix show where empathy was emphasized.

[@williamgeorge2580]

Derf definitely created a must-read comic IMO. The "journalism" genre is underappreciated.

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

When I saw this graphic novel laying next to me at the library I checked it out. And couldn't put it down. 😂 it's something else.

[@davidblank420]

I enjoy your content so much. You always add so much context and background information, it's really enlightening stuff.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you very much. That's very kind of you to say.

[@polaris_draws]

I love the use of grey tone of varying levels here, honestly Derf's style is perfect for this material. It's very underground, everyone looks awkward and kinda ugly, which is good because Dahmer shouldn't someone you'd want to fuck *cough* Netflix *cough*

[@VerveQuest-zc4ri]

I do think these works are "worthwhile" in that they show the overall every day banality of the disturbed, and what often lays behind it

[@DWNicolo]

It was adapted into a film of the same name. You should read his graphic novel Kent State about the Kent State Massacre.

[@sklba632]

It's such an interesting and unique look into a part of humanity that doesn't get examined much publicly.

[@robling1937]

Always finding something interesting I've never heard of to tell us about. This is why I subscribe lol

[@polrua]

I really liked the original book, but I seem to have got a lot more out of it than you did. For mine, the story is as much about the historical and social context in which both Derf and Dahmer grew up as it is about Dahmer's life. While the main characters aren't "friends", they're certainly peers, in that way that, living in a small town and being of the same age, you're just expected to be part of each other's lives. As such Derf and his fellow peers had an insight and perspective into the life and mind that young Jeffrey Dahmer that nobody else did. Tragically, the same qualities which give them that insight are the same ones that prevent them from using that information productively. Because they're young, they get to see that something is terribly, terribly wrong, but that same youth means that they have no social, cultural or intellectual equipment with which they can act on that unique insight. The kids were the only ones to see it, but, being kids, were unable to act on it. At the same time, he talks about the cultural context and, without excusing Dahmer's behaviour or handwaving the psychological and developmental reasons for that behaviour, discusses how that context could have exacerbated that behaviour. The bit at the end of the comic where he first hears that one of his old peers is a serial murderer, and Dahmer's NOT his first guess is something of an indictment on that social and cultural background.

[@kylecarter1599]

Great work reviewing a great work.

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

A different angle on the social alienation shown in "Through the Habitrails."

[@carlosaromero5111]

I work at a mall and I was a highschool looser that nobody liked and live in a small apartment :( that kinda hurt

[@unrulysimian3897]

Was always a huge fan of The City. This was a solid look at a solid comic.

[@mechmaster315]

I have a recommendation for a future video The unfinished supposed 12 issue series Sonic Disruptors

[@StrangeBrainParts]

So noted! I will look into it because I am only vaguely familiar. Vaguely...

[@VerveQuest-zc4ri]

It's so lovely that KZbin protects us from reality and other awful things. "Serial criminal" ...."spree of activity" ........ "Adult activities " Poor dude just had an eating disorder. (is it ok to day "disorder?)

[@hailkingrex]

Loved this graphic novel. I've got a video essay of the the graphic novel up on my channel if you wanna check it out.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I will do that! Thanks for letting me know.

[@harrybehemoth2751]

Oh wow! I never heard the zombie butler thing before.

[@jakeaaron]

He actually wanted a "zombie boyfriend". He wanted someone who could never leave.

[@thetrixter2012]

A long time ago you said you were going to do a video that quickly evaluated a bunch of unfinished image series (like morning glories). Is that still a video concept you plan on doing at some point?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Still a concept I'm working on!

[@thetrixter2012]

Great to hear! Thanks for continuing to make great videos.

[@JeffTheHokie]

Not all of his victims were gay. They were men (and boys) that Dahmer was attracted to, but that attraction was not always mutual. The hitchhiker Stephen Hicks, while agreeing to drink beer and smoke weed with Dahmer was not gay. Hicks's rejection of Dahmer's advances was what triggered Dahmer to make his first kill.

[@eyesontheinside5776]

🔥

[@DougBull-p4q]

I love all Dahmer content even though it is kind of insensitive to the victims family who are constantly reminded of this man from movies shows comics.I can't imagine how they feel.Dahmer is famous he is a celebrity.Its very morbid

[@anthonyfrias5533]

Was the 80s a golden age of serial killers

[@robertnorton8519]

I have this book and it's a good read

[@tompuce84]

[@zainmudassir2964]

Horrifying comic.

[@thespecial5169]

Not a fan of this book. Cant move passed the eating people thing. Enjoyed the green river killer.

[@012family]

I struggle to get into books with amateurish art like this. It might be a great read, but I just can't get past the fact that it looks like it was drawn by a high schooler.

[@TitularHeroine]

Just going by the slides in the video, it doesn't look amateurish but like characatures. Everything reads as the object it's supposed to, the perspective, proportions, and shading are good. It's that like any characature, the qualities to be noticed are all that are represented. And to be fair, drawing everything as realistically as possible would have taken him much, much longer to finish the book. That said -- I feel ya. It took me many years to look at qualities lke that in the art, and longer before that just looking through -- ignoring -- it just to read the story. It's hard to get used to after seeing more or less realsric art in comics for so many years. And all that's just my rando opinion anyway! Thanks for your patience with my long comment!🙏

[@mrs.wontkins9294]

Not to be rude but he also drugged and raped a teenage boy and then later did the same to his younger brother and drilled a hole in his head. These were seperate incidents and the older brother got him sent away for awhile. Sadly the younger brothet nearly escaped nude drugged and bleeding from the head injury but the concerned Women who teied to help had rhe Police dismiss them because Dahmer chased them down and claimed the boy was his lover and had wandered off under the influence after an argument. He finished him off that night.

[@frogurtcremebrulee5252]

Have no clue on what this comic will be like, but the recent Netflix special starring Evan Peters was awful with how it portrayed Dahmer and his victims. Hope you’re doing well today bud :)

[@Dragon_Moth]

Agree in everything

[@mariod1547]

I never watched it but was interested in checking it out. Can you elaborate on it's problems please

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you! I am doing well I avoided the Netflix series, so I have no opinion on it. I've seen other documentary type of stuff from Ryan Murphy and thought I didn't need to see his take on this particular individual.