Join Benjamin Marra, Librairie D+Q, and Fantagraphics to launch WHAT WE MEAN BY YESTERDAY VOL 1. The cartoonist will appear in conversation with D+Q Executive Editor Tom Devlin. A signing will follow the presentation.
WHEN: Tuesday August 20th at 7 pm
WHERE: Espace Drawn & Quarterly, 176 Bernard O
WHAT WE MEAN BY YESTERDAY
The story of a man driven to the edge — and beyond — by the world around him. But if he’s the good guy, then who is the bad guy?
Bruce Barnes is a schoolteacher having yet another shit day. His students are a disrespectful nightmare, gleefully relishing the misery they put him through. But today is even worse than usual, and after a particularly grim run-in with a student, he heads to the break room to bum a smoke of another member of the faculty. After lighting up, he’s told the cigarette is laced with amphetamines. From there, Bruce rides his “rage snake” from the classroom to the ends of the cosmos and back — fighting, fucking, shooting, racing, and tripping his way from one impulsive move to the next. Reminiscent of films like Falling Down and shows like Breaking Bad, What We Mean By Yesterday is a black comedy descent into madness, a revenge horror/fantasy that gives new meaning to the phrase “bad trip.”
What We Mean By Yesterday began as a daily comic strip, one page per day, posted on Marra’s Instagram (@benjamin_marra). Originally begun as an experiment in drawing faster and looser, it quickly became one of the more popular pandemic era webcomics, followed by over 20,000 readers daily.
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BENJAMIN MARRA is the author of several acclaimed graphic novels from Fantagraphics, including Terror Assaulter (O.M.W.O.T.), Night Business, and American Blood. He received a B.F.A. in Illustration from Syracuse University; studied in Florence, Italy; and earned his M.F.A. degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. He lives in Montreal.
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Espace Drawn & Quarterly Accessibility information:
– Our event space uses StopGap.ca ramps in an effort to encourage accessibility. Both the step at the entrance, followed by a half step and a door have StopGap ramps. The door opens inward and is not automated. Once inside, there are no additional steps.
– There is one non-gendered bathroom.
– It is not a sober space, our events sometimes offer alcohol.
♥️ Please email events@drawnandquarterly.com if you have any accessibility needs we can accommodate (for example, saving you a seat if you have mobility needs) for you to be able to enjoy our events, worry-free, and feel free to contact us for any concerns you may have ♥️
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Librairie Drawn & Quarterly would like to acknowledge that our events and bookstores are located on the unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka. Many of us refer to Montreal as our home, but it is named Tiohtiá:ke. It has always been a gathering place for many First Nations and continues to be home to a diverse population of Indigenous peoples. We are grateful that creating and sharing stories has been a part of this land for thousands of years.