Iris Yan will occasionally pull off a solid gimmick for her comics. In The history of some objectsThe cover shows photographs of 11 seemingly random objects. However, Yan tells stories about how each of them entered his orbit, using his typical anthropomorphic animal style. The list included a ring adorned with Legos, an eraser that changes color in the sun, a pair of uncomfortable panties she had bought to make herself feel sexier inside, an electric bug zapper, and a delicious bag of chips.
The mundaneness of these stories is the point, as they serve to illustrate the quirky aspects of his life and the lives of his friends and family. There’s a simplicity to every aspect of his life that makes his comics so fun; Whether it’s food, sex, work, or the meaning of life, Yan addresses it without hype or flowery language. The art in this comic seems less rushed than other recent efforts, especially when it comes to lettering and line thickness. It’s a great introduction to his work in general, keeping things light and on-topic.