Brainfag Forever (BFF)

The biggest trap for autobiographical comics is to get caught up in the author’s own personal aggrandizement or self-loathing. But Beaty shows a reasonable ability to balance himself. When he is in pain and disgusted with himself, it surely comes across, but he doesn’t ask for the reader’s pity. When things are working (admittedly rare) he doesn’t revel in it and expected to be thrilled. That makes his work far more palatable than so many others following in the same vein. Another thing that sets Beaty apart is the variety he shows in his art style. Some of the work is very rough. Some just leeches onto the fringes of realism. And yet at times, he sits down and does work of near photo-realism. But no matter what style he is using, you can see his talent growing as the book progresses, and that’s important. If it didn’t, it would almost be for naught.

It's pretty rare that anyone gets a glimpse into what goes on in the mind of an artist, but Beaty does a good job of giving the reader that glimpse. He shows how his work affects those around him (current girlfriends jealous of his depiction of ex-girlfriends, for example) and how those around him affect his work (bad breakups fuel his juices, good relationships dry them up). At times, BFF is almost philosophical: Beaty poignantly describes the frustration of pouring time, energy and soul into a creative piece, only to have it almost universally disliked.

If you've a taste for young men bemoaning their relationship and artist-career status then BFF will treat you well. Given that this covers eight years, don't be surprised at the diversity and evolution of Beaty's drawing styles. There's a scratchy expressive style, a realistic landscape mode, an all-caps manic version, a thumbnail reporting, and others. The strengths of the comic format come alive here.

"Most teenagers eventually become confused twentysomethings not unlike Nate Beaty, who bravely portrays his own emotional rollercoaster in the pages of his autobiographical Brainfag Forever comic, several issues of which have been collected in BFF (Microcosm). The cringey title references fibromylagia, a condition also known as "brain fatigue," i.e. brainfag. Beaty is a classic whiner in the hallowed autobiographical-comics tradition of R. Crumb and Joe Matt.... he blows your mind with beautiful, thick-lined, tragedy-strewn, full-page drawings of Seattle or radiant renderings of Oregon swimming holes."

"...blows your mind with beautiful, thick-lined, tragedy-strewn, full-page drawings of Seattle or radiant renderings of Oregon swimming holes."

"I'm halfway through reading Nate Beaty's amazing comic-zine compendium, BFF, and it is making me feel absolutely giddy. Ten years ago, zines were treasured things that people really labored over, not high production value toss-off art books like the stuff that Nieves tends to produce. Mr. Beaty's collection is a testament to that spirit of self-publishing before high-falutin' art/design types decided to pick up the torch of D.I.Y. publishing (and then just do a mediocre job of running with it). Girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, living weird, and just living life are rendered in a wonderful mix of ramshackle pen and ink alongside beautifully elaborate drawings of Portland, Oregon. Do your self a favor: pick it up. It's in the best read of the summer list for me, along with a bunch of Michael Chabon's stuff. I'll be voting Beaty in the upcoming election."

"One of the highlights was Beaty’s portrayal of his angst over drawing himself. One issue has everyone hilariously portrayed with pig snouts. There are also beautiful illustrations of the Steel Bridge and other areas of Portland. Beaty has a wide range of drawing talents and the writing does not disappoint. Check it out friends!"

"If you're a fan of the autobiographical genre, you'd enjoy this offering ... you'll never find such an unendingly varying style anywhere else."