If you’re not familiar with the work of Daniel Clowes he’s been writing/drawing comics since the 1980’s and before this film, has had two of his previous graphic novels brought to the big screen.

One, not so good, the 2006’s “Art School Confidential” 

and the very good, the 2001’s “Ghost World”

This film falls someplace in-between.

If you’d like to read the original source, I highly recommend it.