Apocalyptigirl: An Aria for the End of Times
MACLEAN
I don't like going out to fancy dinners on my birthday, nor do I like extravagant parties with other people even just friends. What I like to do is errands, I like to get things done because, on my birthday, I notice things tend to go my way and I like to capitalize on that. This year I pushed it and tried to have these more classic birthdays people always smile about in loud and colorful pictures. I made reservations, I went out to dinner. Of course, this attempt to conform did not work and the dinner was a huge disappointment. How to salvage this situation? Like in all situations the answer is waffles and comic books. I needed new comic books because I needed something to give me perspective, a new point of view on my spiral towards inevitable depression and collapse. I'm glad I went, my birthday luck helped me achieve a personal goal of mine these past six months: to not buy an Image comic. What's up, Dark Horse?
As is usual when you go out into the world and have a bad experience, all you want is isolation and retreat (and waffles). Hence, this comic about isolation and retreat, although involuntary in the case of an apocalypse, stared me down until I picked it up. A simple and straightforward cover, it is one of those rare instances where you don't need to read the summary or flip through it to understand the premise or point of view. Front cover. Flip. Back Cover. Flip. Front Cover. I get it.
This is a standalone comic, so once it's done, it's done and it only has a single name on the cover. I love this kind of testicular heft, these authors take such great risks because of something and I want to understand exactly what that somethings is. Because when a comic like this is done right, it is beautiful and I am grateful to the artists for such ballsy mastery.
This is a good comic to sit alone with. The author had a bunch of ideas mecha, apocalyse, mild rampage, etc. and although it does teeter on the edge of too many, I think he just barely gets away with it. But all of these ideas are just tools for the multitude of subtle yet effective themes that run through the entire story. As soon as you finish the comic, you will want to pick it up and read it again. For example, the author explores the feelings and realities of solitude by playing around with narrative boxes and speech bubbles. This is a good book to read in high school, because it made me want to sit in a room with other apathetic, tired people who are finally happy to engage in discussion about a story they can connect with. High school, man, never again.
It has a humor and softness but is violent when it needs to be. A reflection of the contrast between the cruel and lonely environment which an apocalypse would bring and the inner monologue required to escape madness. It is a thoughtful and kind story when so many comics try to be 'edgy' and dark. The author does make one incredibly blatant point about arias. He quotes several and names his main character 'Aria.' This is my least favorite part because it is the most obvious, I guess it's kind of nice....but I inherently dislike it when authors don't trust their audience to get a particular reference or theme.
The art has a reminiscent quality and style of a 90's cartoon. There are certain books that are just easy to read, this comic is visually easy to read. The comic is easy on the eyes, it doesn't take effort to understand what's going on in each frame. That's what makes it such successful art.
If you want to envelope yourself in isolation, read this book.