ChimoPaperback, 1 March 2011

Since publishing his first story in R. Crumb's Weirdo magazine, David Collier has been known for his thoughtful comic essays, often biographies of endearing eccentrics like himself. With his strong feeling for rustic scenery, Collier has carved a niche drawing homely images of grain elevators and abandoned cabins for publications like The Globe and Mail, the National Post, Saturday Night and Geist magazine. Chimo is an autobiographical account of Collier's decision to re-enlist in the Canadian army and go through basic training again at age 40, leaving his new family behind. His goal is to get to Afghanistan and follow in the footsteps of artists (such as Alex Colville) who produced a body of work while serving in the Canadian War Artists Program. It is a poignant account of aging and mortality but, in true Collier fashion, digresses into scenes of jumping rope, kayaking in Hamilton harbour, and the story of his childhood hero, skier "Jackrabbit" Johannsen.