This one just wasn't for me but I'm sure a lot of people will love it. I unfortunately wasn't a fan of the art style.

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Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and its writer.
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Wow this is a story about a society who live in the same vibes and harmony, therefore, everybody is being with no any smile on their faces.

This book is so creepy, but i really enjoyed when i read the book.

4.0

“Drawing on the Edge” is the first part of author Ersin Karabulut’s memoir of growing up in Istanbul. Karabulut and his family lived in one of the less glamorous and more conservative suburbs of the city. The book chronicles his childhood years through to when he becomes a cartoonist for one of the top magazines in the country.

Ersin grows up against a backdrop of constant political tension and volatility. Turkey slowly slid from democracy into autocracy and dictatorship as the leaders changed. Being secular, his family often stood out in their thoughts and practices, which was challenging at times. Ersin skilfully juxtaposes the challenges of childhood and adulting as he grows up and starts to form his own opinions with that of the changes taking place in the country. Both are undergoing changes, and both must cope with them.

Karabulut uses a brilliant blend of humour and sharp observation to portray these situations. He effortlessly gets us up to speed with the politics and social unrest in the country while also giving a peek into family dynamics and personal thoughts. And it’s all done with such refreshing honesty and candour.

The art style took me a little while to get used to. Initially, it put me off a bit but then it grew on me, and the story melded with it beautifully. I wasn’t really clued into Turkey’s politics and reading this certainly helped. A lovely coming-of-age tale, the journey of a child pursuing his dream of becoming an artist, and the evolution of a country and its people. This book is all of that and more.

Thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the ARC.

It was great following Ersin as he made his way through life and career decisions with the political backdrop of instability in Turkey.
The drawing style and the storytelling were compelling, and I'll be on the lookout for more volumes.

This comic to me feels like an artist attempting to paint a full picture of a place that is often spoken about for political reasons and social upheaval, and not about the people and the day to day of just living in Istanbul. I believe comics are a powerful medium to tell fiction and non fiction stories, especially when the storyteller loves the medium as much as they put care into the narrative itself. Definitely give it a try.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc, as I'm writing this review it is now available to purchase.

A unique art style that greatly merges with the story that is told. A must-read story and a great buy for all graphic novel enthusiasts.

Drawing on the Edge is a memoir, a true story of Ersin, a Turkish author of comics. Through this graphic novel, he tells us about his childhood enthusiasm and desire to be an artist. It is about his beginnings, his work for newspapers, and how his father warned him not to get involved with politics.

Ersin uses a distinguished style in his color illustrations that I soon got used to, and in the end, I loved it.

Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.

I'm so disappointed this one expired before I was able to delve into it fully, but I really appreciated the art style and storyline of this graphic novel.

"Drawing on the Edge" is the story of Turkish comics author Ersin Karabulut and his journey from the underprivileged outskirts of Istanbul to the top of the satirical press and editorial world, against a backdrop of political agitation and upheaval. As his country slips from democracy toward authoritarianism, the author finds himself on the front lines, despite his father's warnings and his own misgivings. Told through the unsparing but lighthearted observations of an artist and average citizen, this is the portrait of a country pulled apart by discord and military coups. A country where basic liberties, once thought to be a birthright, have been chipped away and erased. A country where the prime minister's powers are growing by the day, and where a political cartoonist can end up on trial, or even behind bars. A sobering, insightful, and captivating look into what it means—and what it costs—to pursue one's dream in the face of repression.

This was an insightful and inspiring story of how a young boy grew up in a difficult time in Turkey. This was something which I enjoyed reading about and is leading me to read further into his difficulties and what life was like during that time. I felt that I was part of his story and was getting a truly inspiring birds eye view of how he had a dream, squashed this for his parents and then went back to this again when he was truly unhappy with his life. I really felt the emotions that he has felt and will be recommending this to my friends who want an emotional and different approach to a non fiction story.

This was an intreasting little comic I liked the characters and the art style. This was really fun and cool and I will be reading more from this artist in the future. Would 100% reccomend.

This is such a painful book to read, especially because I see my life also mirroring a lot of the events in this as I'm trying to survive in Myanmar. Stories told by average citizens are actually the best stories told in times of conflict and uncertainty. Chronicles from Istanbul, here's to more of you.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reading copy.

This graphic novel was fantastic!! I know little to nothing about that part of the world. This comic was raw and gripping. I'm definitely going to look into more of their work. Thanks for my copy, NetGalley!

This is the kind of stuff I enjoy going to Negalley for! An interesting read outside my usual comfort zone, this one is a very personal (biographical even) tale told via a medium of graphic storytelling. It isnt particularly linear, similar to many other comics I read that were based on author’s real life reflections, but definitely not a common background/perspective.

Autobiographical graphic novel by Turkish author Ersin Karabulut about how he became a comic artist under growing political oppression. I enjoyed both a lot: the story and the style. Sometimes it reminded me of similiar works by Joe Secco or Marjane Satrapi - though Karabulut's tone is much more lighthearted. This graphic novel is entertaining and fun - and en passant you learn about Turkish history. I am looking forward to volume two!

I was this close to stop reading right at the beginning because I really didn't like the art style, but I am very happy I decided to give it a go.

This is an autobiographical graphic novel about the artist's life and early years of his career. It is also an interesting look into Turkey in the 80s-90s. I have to admit I am quite ignorant about contemporary Turkish history, so I found the story quite interesting and informative.
Young Ersin's view of things are very relatable, and you can clearly feel the love and fear for his safety in how his parents behaved towards him.

I also really liked the use of different styles, more realistic or cartoonish depending on the mood of the scene.

Drawing on the Edge: Chronicles from Istanbul by Ersin Karabulut. Europe Comics sent a galley copy for review and turns out this is one of the best graphic memoirs I have read in recent years.

Karabulut is a Turkish comic artist and illustrator who founded the Uykusuz weekly humor magazine in 2007. He has been publishing cartoons since he was 16. His art has the inspired look of Franco-Belgian comic form, Turkish satire magazines (which are a whole experience I was not aware of), and underground comics. In this memoir, he retells his childhood in the changing landscape of Istanbul in the 1980s. At once funny and revealing, the pages are brimming with the ambiguity of choices we are presented with when following our dreams in a system of repression. Comparison with Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis will surely rise. As an Indian, the story here was very relatable. The rise of Erdogan against a background of heated fundamentalist debate, the anguish and fear of the older generation at the erosion of liberal ideas, and the risks of voicing political opinions in the form of cartoons.

Turkish comics used to be hand drawn at the margins because European and Turkish page sizes were different. Facts like these elevate this work and cut through the romantic view of Istanbul that audiences have. This is a country with a complex history and an equally precarious present. Swipe for some of the panels to enjoy Ersin's art. Looking forward to volume 2 now.

This is a very personal autobio graphic novel. The author takes us through his life and gives us the context of where and how he grew up. It discusses a lot of political issues from a very interesting perspective of common citizens, forced to make the best out of not always so great circumstances. You can understand the tension of living through the conditions and events described. It's very raw and gripping. The art style is also a very strong point.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this! When I pick up this type of book this is exactly what I am expecting to find: something that has very interesting things to say and does so in an effecting way with great art. Would recommend.

This was a fantastic memoir as graphic novel that situated the protagonist in his formative years in Turkey. Karabulut is an incredibly talented artist whose various styles blend easily between panels, the style shifting to slightly cartoonish to realistic in ways that make absolute sense in the context of the panels.

This joins books such as Persepolis and Maus as a well paced and pleasurable way to understand the complexities and concerns of history. I really enjoyed my time with this book, even if it was digital.

I see that this is Volume 1, and I will certainly keep an eye out for Volume 2. When it's available in print, I will purchase a copy for my classroom.

This is an emotional autobiographical graphic novel. It is about the life of a little boy from an ordinary working class family and a not-so-privileged neighborhood of Instabul who all that he wants in his life is to be a comic artist.
Through his journey in life, his efforts and struggles , his family hardships, we take a look in the Turkey's modern political and social history. It about the life of an ordinary free spirit Turkish young man in the context of all the political turmoil and the growing conservatism and authoritarianism of his country.

It is a moving and touching graphic novel, the one that really stands out and it's har to forget. Impressive storytelling, great art work and enjoyable sense of humor.
Good job Neighbor Ersin
Waiting for the part2,
best wishes from Greece

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC of the e-book

Drawing on the Edge tells a cartoonist's experience in Turkey. It discusses political shifts, living arrangements, and perceptions of jobs and political leaders. It is a very personal account that is also highly informative. The art is enjoyable, the story is concise, and it provides great insight into the perspective of the creator during his journey into professional comics making.