LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL II #15

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LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL II #15
By Leroy Douresseaux
February 15, 2006 - 16:02

Fantagraphics Books
Writer(s): Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez
Cover Artist(s): Gilbert Hernandez

Three stories and one vignette occupy that familiar comix space we know as LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL. II. Issue five begins with a funny little duel between two kids before getting to the heart of the matter.

Jaime Hernandez’s Hopey serial, “Day by Day with Hopey” continues with our heroine at a rock show, trying to get the attention of Terry, her old friend and lead singer of the headlining act. I don’t think I can be fair about Jaime’s work because I love it without reservation. By now, the Jaime’s cast and his work is familiar to me, but every issue he manages to let the reader (and me) in on something new. He’s one of America’s best comic book artists (I’d put him on top), but his overall storytelling, his ability to mix the comic with the hapless makes for some of the best straight drama in comics.

That is evident in the story’s opening scene, in which Hopey tries valiantly to be an adult at her new job (as a teaching assistant in a grade school), while still holding on to the places and activities that defined her wild youth (and the Hopey we know best). It’s heartening to see her make something of her life, but sad because this could make her old – at least in her own mind.

Gilbert’s half of the book finds Luba cast members trapped in a mysterious castle in a story that mixes surrealism with trash cinema – it’s like a hokey episode of the original “Star Trek.” It’s a nice surprise, mainly because the story works so well at what it’s trying to do. It’s creepy and comical – kind of like low budget Tim Burton.

Love and Rockets, Vol. II #15 is the best issue of the series in about a year, and regular readers will find that it makes them perk up and not take this still great book for granted.