Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (Vol. 5) (Oni Press, 2008)Okay, I have to stop it with the corny post titles but this one was so apropos I couldn't resist. I love the Scott Pilgrim series (and not just because my old band wrote the song that inspired the guy who created the comic). What I really love about it is its ability to overcome its cultural profile. There are other art works that do this - those books or movies or songs that aren't pioneering, but are so strong that they win our hearts.
Weezer was like this. Just a pop-rock band, four white guys from LA, no new stories to tell. But note-perfect (at least their first two albums). And Scott Pilgrim is like this. The story features an indie-rock-style protagonist, in his twenties, mediocre band, McJob, totally self-absorbed, meets cute girl. O'Malley's not blazing any trails here. But his execution is what sets the series apart. Everything - from the story (a superhero/video game metaphor for emotional baggage), to the mannerisms of the characters, to the illustrations - are so sincerely and lovingly rendered. Examples: O' Malley's footnote stating that dollar amounts are Canadian currency. Scott's silent, knuckle-biting reaction to Ramona's off-hand remark that she doesn't like his band. And I have a crush on the producer of the Sex Bob-omb album, but he wouldn't like me because (1) he's gay, and (2) he's an asshole. But it's futile to describe what makes this comic lovely; its strong suits are better seen than explained.
No comments:
Post a Comment