Review: Casual Fling #1 (of 4)

Life is the thing that gets in the way when you try to plan a future; be it trying to raise a family or succeed in a job. Thing is before you know it, all that life stops being life and becomes routine. That’s when being taken for granted rears its ugly head.

Jennifer Campbell seemingly has it all; a loving husband, a couple of kids, a swanky but ill designed apartment and a high powered fancy job. When the routine becomes harder to bear; when there are expectations from an assertive boss, the feelings of failing, from periods of passive aggressiveness and loved burden that are kids. It’s a lot to juggle for sure. When an opportunity to live the high life, with no thought of anything or anyone else, Jennifer steps out of her marriage and into the world of a Casual Fling. But in today’s hi-tech, internet connected world, not everything is as it seems!

Writer Jason Starr delivers a story in which there are no real bad guys. True, from a certain point of view Jennifer may seem to be a bad person, I see that, but her actions are due to other issues. Her life, but as good as it sounds, it’s a powder keg ready to explode. There are pressures on top of pressures, so when there is an outlet to blow off steam, she takes it. Is it a healthy choice? Not at all. Her husband has kind of moved from being a husband and live purely as Dad or care giver. Starr has delineated the modern lifestyle or at least a version of one. The idea of stepping out of a world into something else is attractive, though there are ramifications to be seen. Starr delivers a well observed slice of life; the over compensation fits in and I loved the cooking and the smoke detector, which is also a regular occurrence in my house! The dialogue is smart, snappy and carries the weight of the world for all the characters, with the exception of Adam and his almost hedonistic lifestyle.

The art is supplied by Dalibor Talajíc who delivers a style that resonates real world rather than superheroes. It’s a wise choice for sure as each panel serves to either move the story along or deliver a tidbit more information about all the character in play. If the script and setups well observed, the art is even more so. Talajic manages to incorporate various situations expertly with no dip in quality; family life, business world and the sex scene are fully realised, with the aforementioned sex elements played for the escape it if for Jennifer, the possible exploitation from Adam, all without the need to over-sexualise either of the two characters. Colorist Marco Lesko produces a scheme that is tinged with darkness that is probably felt by Jennifer and her husband. It is a shame that they can’t tell each other. Unfortunately, there is no letterer credited, so i can’t give credit where credit is due. The font is well served; it is a wordy book, but the letterer makes sure that it doesn’t detract from the storytelling.

AWA Studios are publishing some excellent books, going from strength to strength. This slice of almost Fatal Attraction offers a look at the things that we lose when we are busy with that thing called life.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Jason Starr
Art by; Dalibor Talajic
Colors by; Marco Lesko
Letters by; ???
Published by; Artists Writers & Artisans (AWA) Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network