Reviews

Sunnyville Stories has garnered a lot of praise!  But don’t take my word for it – check out some of these soundbytes from the press!

PRAISE FOR SUNNYVILLE STORIES

Sunnyville Stories Volume 1 cover

GREAT STORIES
What has been missing from the field of graphic novel storytelling for some time is the innocence and journey of American discovery that has been embodied in the work of Charles Schulz and in a different medium, Norman RockwellMax West is offering the comic world something that is decidedly different and something that is sorely lacking in the industry from our perspective.

The writing is infused with a touch of humor while dealing with an array of very real issues that many families face each and every day, which is all part of the charm of Max’s flagship creative work.

ROOT BEER PARTY
Sunnyville Stories has really raised the bar for Max as his art as well as his storytelling abilities has improved dramatically while still keeping the simple humor of puns and gags to tackle serious issues. His style is more of an artful storyteller rather than preaching morality. His characters develop their own sense of moral continuity rather than just being typical stereotypes. His established characters are used to bring this whole world together rather than just focusing on them to exclusion of everything else, and in that Max West is in the process of creating a world inhabited by many characters not just the two lead characters in the series.

MATTHEW TUERFFS, AMAZON REVIEWER
Max West is a fellow I’ve known over the Internet for over a year, but the roots of his devotion as a cartoonist and maker of comics are a byproduct of long self-discovery and trial that led to an approach that challenges readers to re-discover the core function of graphic fiction. He achieves this by writing and drawing the stories straight and bringing up subjects among the initially stiff-looking, awkwardly inked denizens that can’t be ignored once noticed. Sunnyville Stories is doubtless the foundation of West’s commitment to this end.

PHILLIP T. STEPHENS, INDEPENDENT AUTHOR
Fans of volume one will be delighted to learn West took the training wheels off with Sunnyville Two. His comic timing dramatically improved with the release of his second edition. He can toss off some great one-liners and his extended version of who’s on first is a knee slapper.

If you loved the first volume, you definitely need to get volume two. If you haven’t read it, don’t wait. Get volume two now and go back for the first volume later. They’re both treats.

THAT COMIC BLOG
The book is not patronising or trying to be something it’s not.

LIBRARY JOURNAL
This book is best for…readers who are looking for a graphic novel with clean artwork and an idyllic story line.

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
Sunnyville Stories has some of the taste of Walt Kelly’s Pogo and the inhabitants of the Okefenokee, an old popular comic series from the early 50’s. Daily truths about human interactions are somehow more palatable when expressed by oddly dressed, humanoid- looking animals. It’s kind of a safe experiment using a different mirror to look at ourselves. “Sunnyville Stories” is destined to become a mainstream hit.

OPTICAL SLOTH
He [Max West] clearly has a plan, and this is clearly the early days of that plan, so keep an eye out for that guy. There’s a solid story in here.

A.P. FUCHS, INDEPENDENT AUTHOR
It’s old-fashioned cartooning mixed with clever wit and wholesome storytelling. Most importantly, Max’s comic series has the one thing that’s missing from the mainstream comics of today: heart.

There’s a soul to this book, one that made me feel good inside when reading it. The art is classic cartooning, with that down-to-earth quality that I love about indie comics. The stories are simple, relatable and enjoyable.