March (Book One) – Review

By: Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (writers), Nate Powell (art)

The Story: John Lewis shares his story and his history with non-violent resistance and social justice.

The Review: It may seem strange to think that Congressman John Lewis and one of his staffers attended this year’s San Diego Comic Con, stranger still to imagine they went there to speak, but I assure you that that’s exactly what happened.

Congressman Lewis and Andrew Aydin were there to discuss this book, the first of three volumes chronicling the Congressman’s story and the nation-changing events he was a part of. And while neither of them has ever penned a graphic novel before, the result is something special.

Congressman Lewis, if you’ve never heard him speak, is a talented storyteller and the comic reflects this. Indeed, the comic focuses around the congressman’s narration, diving into stories from his past as they arise. Sections of the book vary drastically in how important dialogue is to the scene, but there’s always a rich symbiotic relationship between words and pictures that helps you feel a part of Lewis’ tale.

As much as the book documents Congressman Lewis’ life, it’s also a meditation on social engagement, the start of the civil rights movement, and how far the legacy of that struggle has brought us. No matter how familiar you are with the racial injustices of the 1950s, seeing them illustrated, both literally and figuratively, can really drive them home. I expect that each reader will relate to March differently, depending on their thoughts, feelings, and relationship with the issues described, but the graphic novel makes a concerted effort to break though the history to the truth and to share that truth in simple, human terms.

Though the narration is the driving force behind much of the comic, the dialogue is sharp and cleverly delivered. In many ways the dialogue is as much as part of the art as it is part of the writing, if you subscribe to such distinctions. Swooping tails lead word balloons from one panel to the next as they snake around the action and words grow and shrink to represent volume and importance.

Sweet Tooth #34 – Review

By: Jeff Lemire (writer), Lemire and Nate Powell (art), Jose Villarrubia & Powell (colors), Carlos M. Mangual (letters), Gregory Lockard (assistant editor) & Mark Doyle (editor)

The Story: How did the shaved-head dude with the round sunglasses become such a bastard?

A few things: 1). Entertaining story about life during the opening days of the plague. – If you love apocalypse fiction–which Sweet Tooth is–there are two technical parts to the story.  There’s always the “what comes after civilization” part and that’s what 99% of Sweet Tooth has been about.  But, the other interesting aspect of apocalypse fiction is “What happened?”  We’ve known it was a plague, but not a whole lot else.  Who were these people before the plague?  Are they basically the same people as before, or has the apocalypse changed meek school-teachers into rabid warlords?  How bad was the actual fall of society–you know, how long people stopped watching TV accounts of the apocalypse and realized, “This ain’t getting any better.  I should consider stealing stuff from my neighbor.”  This issue delves into the background of the chief-baddie of the series, showing how he and his brother came to be the men we know now.  It clicks together nicely, is well-paced and sets the stage for the finale of the series.

Sweet Tooth #19 – Review

by Jeff Lemire (writer & artist), Nate Powell, Emi Lenox, & Matt Kindt (art), Jose Villarrubia (colors), and Patrick Brosseau (letters)

The Story: Lucy, Becky, and Wendy share their histories with one another as they wander through the forest.

The Review: One certainly can’t fault Jeff Lemire for not taking creative risks with Sweet Tooth.  Last month we got a landscape-styled “storybook” issue and this month we have Lemire bring along three indie cartoonists to help illustrate three separate tales and, much as was the case last month, he makes gold out of what could have been a disaster.

Given that it’s the main attraction this month, the art seems a fitting place to start.  All three guest artists, and Lemire himself, have incredibly different styles.  Yet, it really, really works as each artist was masterfully chosen for each particular story he or she illustrates.  Each artist has a very unique look, but it suits the stories of the particular characters they illustrate beautifully.  Nate Powell’s more mundane, slice-of-life look on Lucy’s previous life as a married nurse, Emi Lenox’s tragic Saturday-morning cartoon take on Becky’s childhood, or Matt Kindt’s dreamy, surreal storybook take on Wendy’s life with Mom.  Each artist brings something unique to the table and each gives a certain life to their part of the issue, what that highlights the tone Lemire that was going for in each little story.