We’ve been excited by “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 since earlier this year, and we’re happy to report that it lives up to expectations. “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 works on many levels. It’s got drama, romance, humor, and an immersive visual language. “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” pulls off the grungy yet effusive magical realism of American Gods in a way that doesn’t feel derivative, and instead feels wholly original. This story’s got spunk.
Cover by Filip AndradeWritten by Ram V
Illustrated by Filipe Andrade
Colored by Inês Amaro
Lettered by AndWorld DesignWith humanity on the verge of discovering immortality, the avatar of Death is fired and relegated to the world below to live out her now-finite days in the body of twenty-something Laila Starr in Mumbai. Struggling with her newfound mortality, Laila hatches a plan and soon discovers a way to be placed at the time and location where the creator of immortality will be born…but will Laila take her chance to permanently reverse the course of (future) history, or does a more shocking fate await her within the coils of mortal existence?
To start, “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 is just plain funny. Ram V throws the gods into a corporate structure, and the mixture of the mythic with the mundane makes for great comedy. “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” kicks off with the God of Death getting fired by her nebbish boss as she’s laid off into mortal realm. The scene establishes Death’s sardonic attitude and includes some really good quips, all while giving the reader a scene of the wider world of “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr.” Moments like this are why we love the comic form; there’s something almost sublime that comes from mixing such silly premises when doing so actually creates compelling stories. And make no mistake, “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 is truly compelling. Ram V meticulously plots out the panels here. Things that happen on page one come back on page 24, tying a nice bow around it all. Story framing devices used at the story’s start come to fruition by the issue’s end. From pacing to characterization, “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 works.
Speaking of characters, “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 has a lot to offer. Once Death gets fired from her the ol’ grim reaping gig, she’s sent to earth inhabiting the eponymous Laila Starr, a hip mid-twenties orphan who’s just died. Now her body is imbued with life as Death inhabits her, taking on her form. Death, once in the body of a Mumbai millennial, has a lot to learn as she attempts to murder the newborn child whose birth will bring about an age of immortality (it makes sense in context, don’t worry). In general, she’s aggrieved and relatable, and a joy to watch. The ancillary character of Munmun, the ghost who hangs out at the hospital geeking out over medical procedures, is also a joy. There’s a lot of dialogue in “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 but the pages go by quickly, in part because Ram V’s characters are so fun to watch.
But writing is only half the battle, and the art in “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 is what elevates this story from a good one to an excellent one. Andrade does a great job animating Mumbai, showing us a city full of life and possibility. His character portraits are also impeccable, and character expressions are all legible and evocative, which is saying something, considering some of the gods in “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 has multiple limbs and faces. It’s no small feat, and there are just some stellar panels in this story. One that sticks out is when Death, running late to her meeting, uses all six hands to do her makeup while opening doors and generally rushing about. Clever moments like this are all over “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1, making it not just a pleasure to read, but a pleasure to look at.
Andrade is also a pro at illustrating action, not just character, as evinced by a great chase scene when Death tests out her new body, running from the hospital she’s landed in after getting caught by the security staff. The POV shifts, and we move from an overhead view to an over the shoulder perspective. What follows is a mad dash sequence full of intelligent panel design that works well. It’s a seamless transition that points to the true synergy between writer and artist. While nothing about the story portents that “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” will be an action oriented comic, it’s still nice to see that quicker moments are fully legible.
Continued belowThe colors in this story though, are what really ties it together. “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 makes use of a patchwork color scheme that matches the city’s vibrancy. We’re shown everything from pinks to blue to reds to greens, and each panel is composed in smart ways that maximize a diversity of tones. The color scheme plays well into the big city, busy nature of Mumbai. Additionally, the color scheme here is a bit muted, but in a way that really balances out the colors used. “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 has a matte look to it that just makes the world feel lived in. Character outfits are also top notch, and we get a good look at contemporary fashion plus just plain cool god casualwear. In this way, there’s a sense of suaveness to “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” that somehow meshes seamlessly with the faded-from-use style that gives off the vibe of an old apartment with smoke soaked walls (but in a romantic way, you know?). It’s all very hazy, but with a tinge of nostalgia. It’s hard to describe, which means you just pick this comic up and investigate for yourself.
Overall, “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr” #1 is immensely impressive. The story has noir elements, fantasy elements, comedy elements, drama elements — really there’s some of everything in this story, and no one piece detracts from the other. There’s so much more to explore, and we can’t wait.
Final Verdict: 9.5. This is a beautiful story full of drama, comedy, and superior art, all in equal measure — get this on your pull list ASAP.
