I found this short little book very funny and relatable; I really enjoyed the author's sense of humour. Some of the comics deal with fairly dark subjects such as mental health problems, but the author does this with wit and levity. Several pages looked like they were heading for twee life advice but he did a great job of subverting this and delivering a very funny punchline.

If you loved Sarah’s Scribbles…

I hate to compare this to Sarah’s Scribbles, mostly because I compare everything to Sarah’s Scribbles. (What can I say? It’s my benchmark for socially awkward, relatable AF irreverent humor!) But Andrew Tsyaston feels like Sarah Andersen’s equally weird and self-conscious west coast guy cousin. Same unfortunate wavelength (thanks God’s broken salt shaker!), different genders. But in color!

So as you can probably gather, Tsyaston tackles a number of mental health issues through his cartoons (most prominently social anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem) as well as topics especially though not exclusively relevant to millennials (technology, student debt, the death of facts). The titular BUFF DUDES are a) totes nude but b) actually the antagonists of Tsyaston’s stories; see, e.g. Life. The result is both hilarious and crushing, and will leave you feeling marginally better about this effed up plane of existence we call the human experience. Shen might be a white dude (I mean, I think?), but you’ll see bits of yourself reflected back in the funhouse mirror that is his soul.

In summary, Owlturd Comix is great, and I look forward to devouring many more of them.

Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes is not at all what I was expecting. I thought I was going to be reading a book that literally explained different emotions with hilarious-looking buff dudes. That is not what this book is.

It is, however, a rather amusing book filled with comics about a completely non-buff dude who fights the good fight against a life that seems determined to beat him down. I think I would have preferred to consume this in smaller doses instead of the one fell swoop that I did; a daily dose would be plenty for me. But I'm pretty sure just about everyone will find at least a few pages that hit home. There are a lot of common truths to be found in these pages.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with a DRC of this book.

A big shout out to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this advanced copy.
This tiny book is packed with giggles.
I don't think I have laughed so hard and so much at a picture book is ages!
This is certainly geared towards adults and is awesome!!!
Filled with so many weird and depressing things we deal with everyday, but delivered with such a fun tone that I can't wait to tell all my friends about it.

I'm beyond pleased to have been able to read this review copy. For some reason, I thought that this comic would skew much older, but it's really in the awkward "new adult"genre and I know that my library's teens will love it (especially the senpai joke and the Ouran High School Host Club anime theme song mention!).

“Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes” is a hilarious comic collection. Andrew Tsyaston’s takes on early-risers, anxiety, student loans, and the ways that life sometimes seems to be actively working against you are often dark but consistently true. I can’t remember the last time that a book had me laughing out loud as hard or as long as this book did.

This little book is very funny and also quite relatable. Sometimes life truly is like some of the moments described in this book. Apparently the author has an Instagram where he sometimes post updates so I'm just going to follow him there to see more of his work and to laugh some more.
This book is a really funny read and would also make a perfect gift for someone.

This was hilarious.
I loved the "type - A", "type - B" drawings.
As a type A myself, I laughed out loud, and knew my fellow Type A's would appreciate the humor in it.

Aside from being funny, it was really clever.

A super quick, yet super fun read.
This is the kind of book I would buy for a friend, or buy for myself and pick up every now and then when I needed a laugh!

This is another case of, if you read this comic on the Internet, you might want to have a printed collection, and if you haven't, then you might want to have a collection, to read it all in one shot. The jokes are humorous, though not fall off your chair so. Here are two examples, below.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-869" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Screen-Shot-2018-08-18-at-11.23.30-PM.png" alt="" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-870" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Screen-Shot-2018-08-18-at-11.23.59-PM.png" alt="" />
It is a good collection. Some of the "jokes' are more sad than funny, which is sort of how humor is.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I found this book to be quite accurate with its humor. Some of the comics made me laugh so hard I cried. It is relatable and the comics are well created and thought out.

Young adults everywhere will easily relate to the protagonist in these comic strips, as he struggles with the challenges of life, self esteem, motivation, mental illness, mortality, and the path to success. I have definitely seen several of these comics posted on the internet but never knew the source behind them. I was not sure what to expect based on the title and cover, but I am glad I requested and downloaded this. These were absolutely hilarious and I would definitely recommend this collection to others.

This hit closer to home than a graphic novel is supposed to. I was not a follower of Owlturd Comix before I read this book, but now I am. Definitely buying this for friends, too.

It's wonderful that these comics are now available in book form. Both sad and humorous and always insightful, they should be great for public library collections and for working with a YA population.

It's no secret how much I love Shen Comix. They're my daily dose of giggles but, more than that, I love how poignant a lot of them are. If you're a human being with thoughts and emotions, perhaps with a pinch of anxiety, you'll see yourself in a lot of what Shen does. That's why I was so excited to support this collection!

It's true that there's nothing necessarily new in here, but it does collect some of my favorite Shen pieces all in one place. If you're new to these, you'll get to meet characters like Type A and Type B personality and our lovely friend LIFE. Ha! I actually envy you if you're new to these comics. I guarantee you'll quickly find yourself in love with Shen's totally honest, yet somehow adorable, takes on our day to day lives.

There's not much else to say, other than that you should buy this! It's an excellent way to support an artist who gives us so much joy and brutal self-reflection.

Great, hilarious read that takes the edge off life. Brought out the realitys of life in light humour without mockery.

The book is filled with takes on different parts of life by a person who overthinks and has some form of anxiety at most times. Putting it in bland words like this seems to dull the feel, so I will try harder to describe it and why I enjoyed it so much. For those who have not seen any of the comics before, the drawings are simple, but the expressions are hilarious. Emotions and life have their own buff dude persona. These are comics that you would laugh and then nod inwardly and say that it made perfect sense!

I know there are many comics out there which focus on life and the difficulties involved in navigating it, but this book ( and the humour within) definitely deserves a seat at the winners table.

An interesting look at the inner saboteur that often plagues us all but somewhat tepid compared to the comedy that is presented by similar artists.

Andrew Tsyaston provides a top-notch collection on the challenges of life explained through the lens of an army of absurd metaphors. Even those who are unfamiliar with Tsyaston's "Owlturd Comix" will immediately fall in love with its immediately and wonderfully relatable subject matter. Meanwhile, those who are already fans will now have a great hands-on work they can easily grab off their bookshelves for whenever they need the ridiculous pick-me-up that only Tsyaston's humor and art can provide.

Emotions Explained With Buff Dudes is…exactly what it says it’s about. It’s a set of comics on life itself by Andrew Tsyaston, the person behind Owlturd Comix and Shen Comix. The main character in Tsyaston’s comics is Shen. I’ve been following Shen and his antics for a long time now. He’s the kind of fictional character you can’t help but relate to.

He stays up till the wee hours of dawn, has student loans, and a huge Netflix addiction. That’s like 75% of the human population right there. Every comic in this book is painfully relatable and has been beautifully created.

Read this book if you like graphic novels about day to day experiences. You can finish it in under 2 hours and snap out of any reading slump you may be in. This book will make you snort with laughter and relate to every single comic in it.

My review included mostly strips, but the text is this:
Do you know about Owl Turd Comix? Because you should.
It's … uber relatable?
And hilarious?
And topical?
A little bit too on the nose on occasion?
And other times, just 100% the plain honest truth.
So this is a collection of some of the best Owl Turd strips, and I highly recommend you check it out, if you could use a laugh as much as I could, right about now.

*This is available for pre-order on Amazon. My copy was given to me for review purposes through NetGalley.

In the debut collection of Owlturd Comix, we join Shen on his journey through life’s ups and downs with social anxiety, sleep deprivation and a wide range of other emotions.

Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes is a quick read with cute animations and a funny insight into some of life’s less funny moments.

As a semi-regular reader of Owlturd Comix, I was a bit disappointed that there were no extras (like author comments, an introduction or even a chapter with sketches). While I understand it is a collection of the webcomics, in my mind Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes would be more value for people buying the book if there was more added to it.

Despite this, Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes is a good collection of assorted comics that can make readers struggling with their own day-to-day battles against life feel a little less alone.

Rating: 3/5

Title: Emotions Explained With Buff Dudes



Author: Andrew Tsyaston



Genre: Fiction, Comics, Art, Humor, Millennial,



Plot: Once we reach adulthood in this day and age, everything is overwhelmingly overwhelming and many of us have a hard time coping with the realities of life on our own. Mondays suck, our job is grudgingly completed each day and someone forgot to buy milk this week. Coffee is our best friend and no one has a name for that weird emotion we're feeling right now.



But there is light at the end of the tunnel and along the way, little spots of humor and stress relief which help us get to the end goal. Enter this humorous and colorful outlook on life and emotions depicted as buff dudes who rule the life of the skinny protagonist. We'll all find something in here which we can clearly relate to.



Likes/Dislikes: I love reading these comics online whenever they show up in my feed so finding a whole book of them in one place was a treat. I'm thinking of buying a copy for my husband. Loved this book.



Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for content (adult life but pretty clean all things considered).



Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018



I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Andrews McNeel for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest. I've been following Owl Turd Comix for years and I was over the moon when I had a chance to review this one.

Darkly relatable, Emotions Explained With Buff Dudes grabs you by the hand for a journey with Life, Type A personalities and brains that don't shut up.

Even though the depressing content, there's an optimistic sincerity to the comics that keep you from drowning in work.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this, but the results were surprisingly heartfelt. If you're having a tough time, this is a good book to keep you moving forward. It definitely won't fix your issues magically, nothing really does that, but it will at least give you the feeling that you aren't alone in your struggles. I want to print off every page of this book and just plaster it around my workplace, it's applicable to almost everyone.

I got an ARC of this book.

I have seen bits of pieces of comics by Tsyaston before, rarely would I see the whole thing when it came to the longer pieces about life. I appreciated that the topics were often very emotional and very series, while still being something I could relate to. Who doesn't like a physical manifestation of emotions? That is one of my favorite things in comics and graphic novels. Using buff dudes to explain emotions, especially big emotions was amusing. 

This collection of some of his comics was exactly what I needed to read. It was very much about feeling feelings and what they feel like. There were a few about things like toxic masculinity that made me laugh out loud, because it was approached in this unique way: bath bombs for men. That was hands down my favorite comic. 

Some of the comics I had seen recently as memes, like the plant "watering" the main character with cheeseburgers. I have not ever gone out of my way to find the comics, but it appears that there may be some overlap if you are a fan, which is common with a collection from a webcomic. There was a great deal of comics I hadn't seen though, which was awesome. I'm glad it wasn't just all the most popular comics that have been turned into memes and/or posted on meme sites. 

This is the sort of book that I would buy for a friend when they were having a hard time or for a friend that has a lot of emotions because it makes things seem less big, because it acknowledges how big emotions really can be and how painful in a way that is really simple to understand.

Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes is quirky and hilarious. The style of humour reminded me of Sarah's Scribbles and The Oatmeal. My review appears on Weekendnotes.

I've always loved webcomics and Owlturd Comix is definitely one of my favorite webcomic creators! I had so much fun laughing aloud and shouting "RELATE" while reading through this one! I WANT MORE BOOKS PLEASE!
Definitely a book to check out :3

A cute little book, the drawings felt a little amateur. But, the meaning in the book was clear and I understood it. Comics about real life is always a little funny.

An exeptionally fun and light way of explaining the daily struggles of most people. I'd totally let my kids read this and feel a little bit more confident about them maybe talking to me about this?
I don't have kids though, but I connect with these comics as well. It's nice to see them drawn out as logically as that and to be able to basically point towards one of the comics and say '' I feel like that today.''

I love Owlturd comix. <3

I'm a big Shenpai fan, and was super excited to see his book on here. His comics are very cartoony and simple, but he really tackles some tough issues in a comedic way that I can easily relate to, like depression, self-esteem, and other touchy subjects. It's a quick read but super funny. Must read!

Review to be posted in October on all sources mentioned on my profile.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Eeep! I just love Owlturd/Shen/Andrew's comics. I have been reading them for quite some time, and I am delighted that he is finally getting a book filled with them.

This one didn't contain anything new, at least not that I could see, but I didn't mind. It has been some time ago since I read them, and while they are vaguely in my mind, I still laughed, still nodded along, still agreed.

This one is all about life. Life punching you in the face when you least expect it, Life with all his buffness. But also about logic and emotion (who should you fear more?), about surviving, about sleep deprived moments, about coffee.

The comics are generally one page, but there are a few that are 2 pages or longer.

I definitely agree with showing life/emotions with the use of buff guys, because seriously, life deals out some heavy punches, and those can only be done by some big buff guys.

Shen/Owlturd/Andrew's art is just fabulous, his style is fun.

All in all, I would highly recommend this one to everyone, perfect for people who never heard of this artist and his fans.

This book made me laugh out loud on page 2! It has a zesty, wicked humor that I love. Even better, I have several friends who would absolutely love this book right with me! I fully intend to buy at least two copies: one for me and one for K. Maybe one for my brother, too. So good.

I used to draw sassy little stick figures in all sorts of situations, and this is that idea to the nth level. Not only was it funny, but it was funny because it contained so much truth about life. At the same time, you are laughing, but you are also nodding along and recognizing yourself in these cartoon characters.

The squishy emotions though - those are my favorite!

An unconventionally drawn comic strip that’s more the thinking kind of humor than strictly LOL. For example, there’s a great one on how life gets better when you lower your standards. And speaking of that character, it’s not good when Life is the antagonist.
Some faves:
“Never again” was too poignant.
I love the Godzilla boop.
Pessimism is the new “Why are you hitting yourself?”
The internet does not like being cheated on.
Gee, I wonder if this author has student loans!
Emotion is scarier than logic. I’ve always said that too.
Brains, looks, or skinny?
Cup ramen is cute as well as patient.
Told you spiders were asses.
The art is simpler than most comic strips. The main character looks about eight years old. Neither of those facts is a bad thing here.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes is full of comics from Owlturd Comix (aka Andrew Tsyaston). I’m sure you can find most, if not all of these comics on his website and Instagram, but it’s a lot of fun having them all together like this. Plus buying the book would support his art, which means he can make more, which sounds pretty great, right?
I’ve seen some of the Owlturd comics around online, but I’ve never read this many of them at once. I have to admit that I found the experience highly enjoyable. It also made me realize that I wasn’t following the artist on social media – something I felt compelled to fix right away.
This is a highly endearing and relatable series of comics. Tsyaston uses comic moments, like a personification of life, to show the hardships many face in day to day life. While the comics are sarcasm or have heavier subjects, the tone is still overall very light and welcoming.
There are so many of these comics, that I’m sure that there’s one for everybody to fall in love with. While I enjoyed every comic included, there were a couple that I was particularly fond of. I imagine that’ll be the same for everyone else as well. Sometimes you really can find a comic that resonates with you.

I have always loved Owlturd Comix so I was pretty excited to pick this up. Unfortunately, I apparently like them so much that I have already seen half of this book on the internet through the Owlturd Comix social media. But I have to give credit to the Type A/Type B comics. They are by far my favorite of this book. As a Type A, they describe how I am so competitive, it's hilarious to me! And I do appreciate the look on depression and anxiety as well. The Internet has been a fantastic outlet for comics to post their comics depicting mental illness and Owlturd Comix is one of the best. I often send these comics to friends and they are ones I have continuously saved on my phone to look back when I need a good laugh. So putting them into a book will be good for a collection for the non-Internet masses.

It's difficult to write a long review for this style of book, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

Owlturd comics, someone that most under 30's have seen at some point on social media, has released a compilation of the irreverent and very millennial humor that he is famous for.
It's funny, sweet, and oh-so-relatable.

Every page brings a 'yup, this is me!' moment, and his signature drawing style is cute and easy to enjoy.
I have no criticisms to make - it is a sweet and enjoyable collection to riffle through and chuckle at.

Very funny.

Great and original illustrations - Tsyaston actually has his own style which is refreshing.

Perfect counter book to hand-sell.

Everyone has those days when it feels like life's just got you down. Millennials in particular are feeling the pressure to pay off loans, get a job, and deal with crippling self-doubt (not everyone, but we all know someone who is struggling like this). That's what makes this book such a gem. It's short (for those with a busy schedule), it's funny (for those who need a pick-me-up), and it's relatable (for everyone out there who feels like life is just waiting around the corner to punch them in the face).

Would highly recommend for teens and readers in their 20s and 30s. Certainly, older adults can enjoy these stories, but I think it will resonate best with a slightly younger crowd. Based on the popular webcomic, "Owlturd"--so, it should already come to the library with a built-in fan base.

I saw myself in many parts of this books. The illustrations are simple but shows you exactly what is needed.

I've followed Owlturd Comix for a while and even if several of the comics in this book were not new to me because I've seen them on their social media, they were still fun to read again as well as reading the new ones for the first time!

If I had to describe this with only one word, it would definitley be #RELATABLE.

A hilarious story about life and all the things it can throw at you. Made me chuckle and I found parts of it very relatable.

Shen comics are your typical Tumblr fare, making jokes about life events and mental health. They're well drawn and almost never fail to make me laugh. There's nothing that perks up your morning like reading a comic where LIFE is a massively roid raged character who wakes you up with a studded baseball bat.

But along with the humor based on life problems, Andrew comes up with actual sweet adorableness, and those are sprinkled through the book like tiny rays of hope, and I LOVE IT.

Unfortunately, the digital copy did not come through in the download. I am giving this book a rating based on my knowledge of the publisher's excellent work with graphic novels and poetry.

Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes by Andrew Tsyaston is hilarious, and also deep. The art went well with the concept and tone of the book. The only disappointing part was that the book ended.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely hilarious look at mental health and what we are feeling. Illustrations keep even the darkest anecdotes from being dismal and all in all anyone who has struggled with being depressed or an introvert will be able to laugh through this book.

This is one stunning collection of loud of loud/ cry internally jokes! I found the comics to be completely relatable, and beautifully illustrated. I certainly couldn't draw that good. This will be my new go to book for gifting to anyone whos having a bad day. Pure coffee inducing, life crushing, anxiety-fighting, too real to be anything but funny gold. We need more of this! Keep it coming! Write more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!

I've been following Andrew's social media for a long time so I was thrilled when I found he had written a book. Some of these comics I have seen as a long time follower and some are new to me. The comics can be equally poignant and hilarious and that's what makes them unique. I can't wait to see more books from him and I wish him success!

4/5

I love this! Owlturd always delivers a hearty dose of something inside his comic (I especially like the little firefighter one - it isn't in this book, bty) that makes you think.
We go through day to day issues and how he views the small to big problems.
Although most can be found in his web/ig, this definitely worth to buy.

Andrew Tsyaston has written a book that delightfully balances whimsy, weird and weariness with the world. These cartoons take turns being funny, and being depictions of the things that are in your heart making you sad. The number of pages you'll want to text to friends, or share on Facebook like a jerk is pretty high.

Also, as a teacher, there are definitely cartoons I'd put in front of students as catalysts for conversation or writing.

Thank you, NetGalley for the preview of this graphic novel.

I have been reading Andrew Tsyaston's - or better know as Shen - webcomics in Line Webtoon for years now. This is a collection of some of his best work. They are so relatable and funny...