Written and Illustrated by Guillem March
Published by Ablaze Publishing
Laura and Other Stories #1, by Spanish comics creator Guillem March is a very pretty book.
I’m not certain if it was written in Spanish or English, but I do know the text in my review copy was somewhat of a chore to read due to both font choice and letter thickness.
What’s Laura about?
Not really completely sure of that, either, as it’s rather confusingly about a young woman and her relationship—or lack of same—with the man who infatuates her.
Now, since relationships in general can be confusing, especially for young people and especially in the 21st century, Laura is a confusing book.
Laura’s saving grace is March’s art.
Incorporating some smooth design work and muted colors, lighting effects, mixed media including photos, and obvious—but well done—computer blurring and other manipulation gives him the chance to create some wonderful imagery throughout, particularly in a dream sequence in the middle of the book involving the ocean and the moon.
Having had a number of younger female friends over the past 25 years, I can attest to Laura’s feelings, hopes, and fears being all too real and all too familiar. I would watch from my happily married sidelines and give them an ear when they needed to talk.
At times reading Laura felt like I was lending her my ear as well.
As a series of semi-realistic incidents in a young woman’s life, the book just feels real in so many ways…but a coherent story is not really one of those ways, I’m afraid. It’s disjointed and not really intriguing enough to make me come back for more, no matter how interesting it is to look at.
I’m too old for these kinds of friends in real life anymore and I guess I’m too old for them in comic books, too.
