Review: Sock Monkey: The “Inches” Incident by Tony Millionaire

by Chriss Cornish published: July 14, 2010 No Comments

This Book Is About

Inches the doll was the cutest in the whole house. Loved by everyone, the world was Inches’ oyster. Then one day something happened… The Sock Monkey and Mr. Crow became concerned for their diminutive friend, but by then it was too late! The truth sent the terrified Sock Monkey and Crow fleeing for their lives! Inches had turned EVIL!

My Thoughts On This Book

If you need more graphic novels that start out with lines like “…and I’ll be hanged from the highest yardarm before I let a haunted toy monkey sail away in my best egg Skillet” than you’re in luck!

The “Inches” Incident is surreal. Plain and simple.

The protagonists are a short, weathered sea captain named Oyster Joe and a trio of toys; Uncle Gabby (a sock monkey), Mr. Crow (a crow plushy), and Inches (a cute little porcelain doll). The antagonists are a hive of sugar crazed ants desperate for a giant gingerbread monkey. All in what appears to be a turn-of-the-century New England setting.

Oh, and they end up sailing the ocean on a piano at one point.

Also, the author never makes it clear as to whether the toys are haunted or alive like the ones in Toy Story.

Did I mention that this is surreal fiction?

The “Inches” Incident is a fun and charming graphic novel with etching-style cartoon art. It’s just bizarre enough to be cool and unusual but not wacky enough to make a reader run screaming. If you’re looking for something unique to read, or you like the silly and weird, than you’ll definitely want to get a copy.

Shadetastic or Blank-city: How Well Was This Black&White Comic Shaded

Black and white artwork can often be hard to ‘read’ for people if the shading and inking aren’t done well. If you’re like me and often have trouble with B&W sequential art you won’t have any issue with Sock Monkey.

Tony Millionaire’s inking and shading are great. The cartoon artwork is shaded with very loose hatching in the style of old engravings. The reader can quickly pick out objects, follow the action, and differentiate characters with great ease.