Book Review: You Idiot – The First Book

book-cover-you-idiotNate Gangelhoof‘s new book, You Idiot, is probably one of the most enjoyable ‘zine collections I’ve read in years. Bearing a striking resemblance in both tone and content to Matt Caracappa’s X-Entertainment. Both You Idiot and X-E have a focus on the odd and retro.

You Idiot has a hard-on for two subjects, anti-drug campaigns and religious oddities. Covering everything from Satanic toys (focusing on Phil Phillips’ Turmoil In the Toybox, which I read as a middle-schooler and had my mind blown), the He-Man listserv, and Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (the greatest cartoon mindfuck ever, and also covered on X-E). The tone’s sarcastic, but in a “what the fuck? are you serious?” tone, rather than cruel and mean. Nate’s only too willing to admit his shortcomings as well, with the phrase “I was high” ranking up there pretty well in terms of explanation.

Nate’s got a great sense of humor, and I wish that he did this regularly. The humor’s a little scattershot sometimes, and I imagine that’s just due to the rustiness that comes with sporadically writing and publishing. I know that he’s busy with both Banner Pilot and Off With Their Heads, but I can’t help but wonder how good he’d be if he had a blog he updated regularly, or a monthly column in something like Razorcake. With a little polish, the man could definitely garner a serious following.

Honestly, this is a pretty good deal. Plenty of insightful and funny comments (“Billy, quiet! Daddy is trying to use a scalpel right now”) will pretty much guarantee this a spot in your bag or bathroom. ‘Zine collections are nice in that they’re a collection of short pieces, giving you something to read while waiting for the bus, while you’re getting your oil changed, or in the midst of a long, relaxing sit on the throne. Well worth your twelve bucks, especially when you factor in the issues of Whiskey Plus (pro-Bush songs and “Reviews of Bands I Overheard At Our Practice Space” are fucking phenomenal pieces of music writing).

Off With Their Heads – “For the Four” (from From the Bottom)
Banner Pilot – “Uptown Sleep Solution” (from Pass the Poison)

Watch Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue