Patience

A couple's peaceful life is shattered when Patience is murdered in 2012, leaving her husband Jack devastated and alone. Jack discovers a way to travel through time and becomes obsessed with preventing his wife's death, leading him on a decades-spanning journey through different periods of Patience's past. The narrative moves between multiple timelines as Jack encounters younger versions of Patience and witnesses formative moments in her life. His presence in the past creates ripple effects and complications that force him to grapple with the nature of fate and free will. Through a blend of science fiction elements and intimate character study, Patience explores themes of grief, obsession, and the lengths one might go to protect those they love. The work raises questions about whether changing the past can heal present wounds, and if the pursuit of fixing what's broken only leads to further damage.

Readers call Patience an emotionally resonant time-travel story that explores themes of love, grief, and obsession. The artwork receives frequent mention for its psychedelic visuals and color palette. Readers highlight: - Complex emotional depth beneath sci-fi elements - Visual storytelling and panel layouts - Balance of intimate character moments with larger sci-fi scope - Integration of noir and romance elements Common criticisms: - Pacing issues in middle sections - Some find the protagonist unlikeable - Time travel mechanics raise unanswered questions - Violence level makes some readers uncomfortable Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ reviews) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) "The art and storytelling work together perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down by exposition" - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful but ultimately hollow" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 "Patience" was Dan Clowes' first full-length original graphic novel in over five years, marking a significant departure from his usual style with its psychedelic science fiction narrative. 🎨 The book took Clowes five years to complete, partially because he hand-drew every special effect rather than using digital tools. ⏰ Though published in 2016, the story jumps between multiple time periods including 2012 and 2029, exploring themes of time travel and psychological transformation. 🎯 The 180-page book's initial print run sold out within days of its release, leading to an immediate second printing by publisher Fantagraphics. 🌈 Clowes used an unusually vibrant color palette for this work, inspired by silver age comics and 1960s science fiction magazines, in contrast to the more muted tones of his previous books like "Ghost World."