Written by S. Steven Struble
Illustrated by Sina Grace“(SHE’S GOT A) BRAIN SCRAMBLING DEVICE”
The cult-favorite web-series comes to print! S. STEVEN STRUBLE and SINA GRACE present a romance with style points, told with the same lovelorn charm of (500) Days of Summer. In this issue: (Li’l Depressed) Boy meets girl.
I’m going to be honest, I did not know that Li’l Depressed Boy was also web-comic before, during or after I read the issue, and didn’t find out until I sought out solicit information to prep this review. Does that make me oblivious? God yes. Does that make this issue any less strong, charming or entertaining? Hell no. Read on, young stiffs!
As the solicit indicates, this issue really is the story of boy meets girl. A conventional story trope that is very very hard to do in a fresh way. However, the true charm of this comic is not really the story itself or how it even plays out (which, for the record, is in a manner relatively familiar to any member of the modern young punk scene.) The true genius of this book lies in the way in which it so accurately produces the subculture in which it takes place.
Simply put, this comic is written for twenty-somethings who are trying desperately to hold on to the modern punk rock leanings that got them through their youth. In other words, this comic was written for me.
The catharsis is immediately evident by the second page, as the title character goes for a walk through the leaves blasting Daniel Johnston on his headphones. The awkward, girl on guy courtship that follows almost bleeds the aloofness and nonchalance necessary for the scene, as does the awkward “show-date” scene that I’m sure anyone that even remotely enjoyed this comic has experienced for themselves. Simply put, the pure catharsis of co-existing with one’s music collection in their early 20s is on display and is crafted so perfectly that it made me smile to no end. Definitely enough to make me not question the fact that the main character is a rag doll and is actually referred to as the Li’l Depressed Boy (or LDB, as the case may be.)
Grace’s art perfectly fits the mood and it sort of paints a very distinct haze on the proceedings that works perfectly with the subject matter. The use of grays and oranges in the color scheme is also a stroke of complete genius. Another bit of inspired visual storytelling has to be the sheer emotion inserted onto a short little ragdoll boy that, by all rights, should not be able to emote at all, let alone as effectively and outright adorably and Grace manages to have him do. Overall, the pencils here are perfectly scratchy, just slightly malformed but still unique, much like the people, places and things being discussed in the story.
Also, a Kepi Ghoulie appearance doesn’t hurt things either.
In the end, I have not been this entertained, nor has my heart been warmed by a comic focusing heavily on music and musical subcultures since Phonogram wrapped up…except THIS time around I actually get all of the references without having to look them all up (like LDB’s hilarious costume change right before his date.) Believe it or not, despite the fact that I know that the rest of the story begun by this issue has already been published online, I am opting to wait for the next issue to continue my absorption of it. I really do think there is something unique about reading in my own hands rather than in segments on my screen (not that there’s anything wrong with that of course.) Frankly, I think doing that would be a much greater tribute to a comic who’s main character wore an “I (45 adapter) Vinyl” shirt for most of the issue anyway.
Final Verdict: 9.5 – Buy
