Comics / Spotlight / Black Astronaut

Amour #1

By Leroy Douresseaux
October 4, 2007 - 17:58

AMOUR #1

APPROBATION COMICS
WRITER: Bart A. Thompson
ARTIST: Ezequiel Pineda
24 pp., B&W, $3.50

Bart A. Thompson, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Approbation Comics, is determined that romance comics live again, and Amour #1, released in late summer of 2006, is part of his effort to revive this venerable comics genre.

A black and white anthology comic, Amour #1 features three short stories, all written by Thompson and drawn by Ezequiel Pineda.  In the opening tale, “Cybermate,” a young woman finds her friends determined to make her meet her online friend, but she isn’t sure she’s ready to meet the real deal and spoil her fantasy.  “Heat Wave” takes place in a mosh pit-like concert atmosphere where two concertgoers discover mutual attraction amidst the extreme body heat hanging over the show.  In “Pulp Romance,” a pre-comics convention breakfast introduces rival small press comic creators that are competing for the same big publisher assignment, but love won’t let that get in the way.

THE LOWDOWN:  Amour’s three stories have simple plots, but the emphasis is on easy, breezy attraction – not necessarily love at first site.  It’s more like kindred spirits or the magic of two people instantly comfortable with one another.  Thompson has a knack for conversation with his writing, and the banter between the guys and girls here is reminiscent of a screenplay by Woody Allen or Nora Ephron.

Ezequiel Pineda’s art is a strange mixture.  That his figure drawing needs work belies his skill at storytelling.  He’s also strong at creating environments and designing sets.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of small press contemporary fiction (here, with an emphasis on romantic encounters) will like this.

Visit the publisher at approbationcomics.com.

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12