Suvudu Universe

GOOD GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS
Written and Drawn by Various
Published by Various

Reviewed by Marc Mason

Looking for a good graphic novel or two to give to an older teen reader? A few recent efforts to cross my desk fit the bill pretty well. Let’s take a look.

Writer Derek Kirk Kim and artist Les McClaine return with TUNE VOL.2: STILL LIFE (First Second), an excellent followup to the first volume – though you can easily catch up with the story if you haven’t read the initial book. When last we left slacker hero Andy Go, he had signed a contract that had him living in an alien zoo – as an exhibit! Unfortunately, this came right as he realized that he girl of his dreams liked him too. Now the deal’s about to go really bad, as Andy discovers the perils of not reading the fine print of a contract and the problems with the existence of multiple alternate universes. TUNE remains tons of fun from start to finish; it’s funny, it has pathos, it has twisty plotting, and you never know what’s going to happen next. Kim’s scripting is terrific, and McClaine has no weaknesses in his pages. Everything here is just firing on all cylinders. I liked the first one a lot; this second volume proves that the series has serious legs.

There’s a sense of whimsy to writer/artist Jess Fink’s WE CAN FIX IT! (Top Shelf), but in an entirely different sense. Fink stars as her main character, the conceit being that she has a time machine and uses it to go back to visit herself at various critical junctures in life in order to prevent what she feels are her worst mistakes. But as she does, often in amusing ways, the story also brings to light the true nature of what life’s mistakes mean to our development. It’s clever, for certain, but there’s also a twinge of sadness as well. Indeed, Fink does an outstanding job of taking her “character” on a rich emotional journey that surprises the reader quite often. Her art is clean and simple, and she has a nice gift for body language and personal expression that enhance the story along the way. Laughter and learning in one book are always a solid combo; this one’s a winner.

On the more serious side of the aisle, you’ll find LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD by writer/artist Elaine M. Will (Cuckoo’s Nest Press). LOOK takes the reader on a darker journey, telling the story of a 17-year old boy named Jeremy. While on the surface he seems to have a normal existence, that vanishes quickly as he drowns beneath a wave of crushing manic depression that comes complete with hallucinations. In rapid fashion, his family, school and personal life disintegrate and the question becomes one of actual survival as his hallucinations put his life in danger. No question about it, this is an impressive piece of work, a stunningly deep work that hits the reader in their emotional core. Will has a strong grip on the material, never letting it feel maudlin or sensationalized, and her art is strong in depicting the human moments alongside the ones based in the imagination. Don’t go into it expecting to be uplifted, but do go into it understanding that Jeremy’s struggle will resonate, particularly with kids his age. Nicely done.