In 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer, the most notorious serial killer since Jack the Ripper, seared himself into the American consciousness. To the public, Dahmer was a monster who committed unthinkable atrocities. To Derf Backderf, "Jeff" was a much more complex figure: a high school friend with whom he had shared classrooms, hallways, and car rides. In My Friend Dahmer, writer-artist Backderf creates a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of a disturbed young man struggling against the morbid urges emanating from the deep recesses of his psyche - a shy kid, a teenage alcoholic, and a goofball who never quite fit in with his classmates.
Derf Backderf did what so many of us are afraid of: he stared into the face of pure evil and did not blink. In doing so, he created a remarkable and haunting new graphic novel about life, friendship, the 1970s, and the horrible, pathetic existence of one of the worst murderers of the 20th century. Read Full Review
The graphic novel is for those who like crime comics, real life stories or has a fascination with morbid things and/or serial killers. An absolute “buy” in my mind. Read Full Review
All this grim and grievous material aside, My Friend Dahmer is considerably breezy and enjoyable all the way through, rarely getting too heavy-handed in the delivery of its dark material. As an examination of a notorious American killer, it may be in over its head. But as one of something just as notorious"American high school life"it's fun, sinister, and remarkably thoughtful. Read Full Review
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