Review: GIANT DAYS #12

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GIANT DAYS #12
Written by John Allison
Art by  Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar
Imprint: BOOM Studios
Release date: March 2, 2016

Like many who go off to university relationships can get messy and fall apart. Both Susan and Esther find that relationship drama has made life at school unbearable. Their morose outlook is what helps Daisy to decide her friends need camping in their life.

This delightful chapter of Giant Days is filled with great lines, quick wit and could dig up memories for those who used to be scouts in their younger years. Daisy calls upon her “Brownie” training to teach the girls what is necessary to be a responsible camper. Everything from shopping for gear to hiking to the perfect camp comes along with one-liners and potential for “badges.” While the interactions are akin to a Disney XD live action shows, they have much more wit and heart. It’s a hyper-stylized way of representing your late teens, early twenties. One example is when Susan and Esther continue to nurse their hatred of the outdoors and wallow in their misfortunes, Daisy decides it’s time to give out “nega-badges.” It’s an off beat panel that can cause the reader to burst out into giggles.

The few lines of dialogue on each page are able to pack so much character development, thanks to Max Sarin and Whitney Cogar’s art. Expressions that could look over the top or over worked with another art team look right at home in Giant Days. They large eyes and varied body shapes make you feel like you’re watching a cartoon at times, instead of reading a comic. The book never strays from the traditional squared and rectangle panel layouts. However, the story draws you in so deeply, that overwrought paneling isn’t necessary to get the points across. There is a beauty to it’s simplicity.

More adult themes are found in this series, and could appeal more to teenage readers. Susan is a chain smoker. Esther always finds a way to make some type of sex joke or at least a suggestive comment. Nothing shocking or over the top is to be found, but something to be aware of, if you are the parent of a teenager reading this comic. It is, after all, the story of kids off at university.

Esther questioning her role and goals at university, throughout the issue, is what leaves us with the biggest cliffhanger of the series. For fans of that might have fallen off the habit of picking this book up, I highly recommend jumping on with this issue. It will not only give you delightful joy, but the ending will make you instantly ready and longing for next month.  This series is consistent in high quality story telling. Esther, Susan and Daisy are so vastly different, but fiercely loyal to each other. It’s the offbeat friendship that sells this book time and again, continuing with this issue.

The Verdict: 9.0/10

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