{"id":12324,"date":"2019-06-06T22:37:08","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T02:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=12324"},"modified":"2019-06-07T07:14:10","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T11:14:10","slug":"sturm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2019\/06\/06\/sturm\/","title":{"rendered":"In Vermont Cartoonist James Sturm\u2019s \u2018Off Season,\u2019 Things Are Only Getting Worse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawnandquarterly.com\/season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;Off Season&#8221;<\/a> (Drawn and Quarterly) starts off depressing and heads toward despair. In this new graphic novel from Vermont cartoonist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cartoonstudies.org\/james-sturm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Sturm<\/a>, co-founder of both the Seattle Stranger and the Center for Cartoon Studies, Mark is a carpenter working on a house that&#8217;s months behind schedule. When his boss much belatedly pays him his salary, he uses the money to pay for his kid&#8217;s judo lessons. Then the paycheck bounces. His wife is leaving him. He&#8217;s struggling with single-parenting his cranky children. Also, Trump just won the presidential election. Sturm&#8217;s slice-of-life story (populated by dog-headed people) is thoughtfully and precisely observed. It rings true\u2014painfully so. Its relentless gloominess can be hard going. If you stick with it, though, hope glimmers.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/wonderlandlandfanclub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And <a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sign up for our free, weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don&#8217;t miss any of our reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12334\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12334\" style=\"width: 739px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12334\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw-739x1024.jpg\" alt=\"James Sturm, 2019. (Photo: Kaila Skeet Browning)\" width=\"739\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw-739x1024.jpg 739w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw-768x1065.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw-370x513.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/JamesSturm3_creditKailaSkeetBrowningw.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">James Sturm, 2019. (Photo: Kaila Skeet Browning)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12327\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12327\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12327\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w-1024x783.jpg\" alt=\"&quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w-1024x783.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w-768x587.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w-370x283.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOFFSEASON_cover-1400w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12327\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12331\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12331\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12331\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w-1024x742.jpg\" alt=\"From &quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w-1024x742.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w-768x557.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w-370x268.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-4w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From &#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12332\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12332\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12332\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w-1024x740.jpg\" alt=\"From &quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w-1024x740.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w-768x555.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w-370x267.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason5w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12332\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From &#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12330\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12330\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w-1024x743.jpg\" alt=\"From &quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w-768x557.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w-370x268.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-3w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12330\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From &#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12329\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12329\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12329\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w-1024x740.jpg\" alt=\"From &quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w-1024x740.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w-768x555.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w-370x267.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-2w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12329\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From &#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12328\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12328\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12328\" src=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w-1024x738.jpg\" alt=\"From &quot;Off Season&quot; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)\" width=\"900\" height=\"649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w-1024x738.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w-768x553.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w-370x267.jpg 370w, https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/picSturmOffSeason-1w.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12328\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From &#8220;Off Season&#8221; by James Sturm. (Courtesy Drawn and Quarterly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/wonderlandlandfanclub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And <a href=\"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sign up for our free, weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don&#8217;t miss any of our reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Off Season&#8221; (Drawn and Quarterly) starts off depressing and heads toward despair. In this new graphic novel from Vermont cartoonist James Sturm, co-founder of both the Seattle Stranger and the Center for Cartoon Studies, Mark is a carpenter working on a house that&#8217;s months behind schedule. When his boss much belatedly pays him his salary, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[581,191,580],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12324"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12324"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12345,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12324\/revisions\/12345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}