I.D.

EMMA RIOS | IMAGE COMICS

It's been a melancholy day. The weather, however pleasant, and the people, however boisterous, did not ease this mood as I ate my ramen alone and walked thru Davis Square.  When I walked into Comicazi, I was looking for something to drag me out of this haze.  I.D. was the last copy on a lower shelf next to some big Blockbuster series.  It's clean, different, refreshing, mysterious.

The color attracted me, and when I pulled out the thin volume I was surprised at the complexity of the cover design.  Then I looked at it again.  It was actually quite simple and when I flipped it over, instead of attacking you with 'LOOK HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS, SOMEONE READ IT,' there is just a brief summary which I suggest reading.  This outerwear was not meant to drag the reluctant reader over to the cash register, it whispers out to those who would best benefit from its contents.  'We would appreciate the $9.99 but, above all, sit and listen'. This book is light and, combined with the outer texture, makes you feel as if you are holding something ephemeral, like a dream.  The pink toned art magnifies this feeling.  It's some decent art with solid backgrounds.  People's faces are varied and interesting which is key since there is such a small cast.  Some of the action scenes require a second read-through.  I sat down on some raised concrete with cookies and cream ice cream (careful not to drop any on the volume), listening to the live banjo-centric band which, for once, did not make me want to leave. It's a short comic and, inevitably, when you reached the end makes you ask, 'is that it?' but this particular comic stands very firm in it's answer: 'yes.'  It gives you almost everything you need, relying heavily on the readers opinions, experiences, regrets to fill in certain gaps because in the end this comic does not want to give you any answers instead it holds up a helpful mirror so you can find them yourself.  This comic did not change my somber mood but made me grateful to it for letting me appreciate this story I may have otherwise been unwilling to purchase.

If the cover speaks to you, I suggest you read it.