Derf Backderf

I had only vaguely heard of “The Kent State Massacre” before reading this graphic novel. Now I feel like I was there to observe it all unfold. “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio” is an absolutely heartbreaking account, following in great detail, the last few days of the four students who died on May 4th.

It’s eerie how many parallels there are to our present day’s treatment of protests and civil unrest, and how those in positions of power are not being held accountable for their blatant disregard of laws and public safety. And also how people are still so susceptible to believing the first thing they hear without question or evidence. It’s history repeating itself during the 50th anniversary of the massacre.

What I love most about this book is that almost a quarter of it is filled with a detailed bibliography of primary sources, including many conflicting accounts, which reflects the author’s deep dedication to getting as many facts as possible. The bibliography also serves to help the reader come to their own conclusions about the events leading up to, and including, that day.… (more)

What a tortured man! Dahmer had a neurotic mother she hated and a calloused father who was mostly absent, mutilated roadkill as a hobby, was an outcast-turned-oddball-mascot-turned-outcast-again in high school, AND had developed sexual fantasies about dead men that he had to repress with alcohol. NO adults came in to intervene with his downhill spiral, NO place offered him consultation about his feelings (where could you talk about that in the 70s?), and he was left ALONE in his home after his father left from a divorce and his mother left to see her family, taking her younger brother. Imagine that, alone, WITH HIS THOUGHTS! He killed his first person after they left, and he said he wanted to return to normalcy afterwards, but it haunted him, leading him to the horrific series of murders he would commit on 18 later victims. But despite all of that, neither the author nor I understands why he did what he did, and deserves no remorse because of it -- the same he showed to his victims.

It was decent comic drawn stylistically in the 70s, but the writing seems obnoxiously dichotomous. Backderf keeps writing about "Oh, I had a normal adolescents... but DAHMER'S was different!" Like, no shit. Maus pulled off the personal-account/biography spiel because the author was writing about his relationship with his grandfather, which was enjoyable. I don't care if Backderf missed prom or had a great time with his friends in highschool because it doesn't add anything to the main focus of the story: Dahmer.

This is probably the most accessible and personal account of Dahmer's high school years, but I would prefer something more formal if it means understanding Dahmer more, not Dahmer's friends.… (more)