Review: Loved and Lost - A Relationship Trilogy (TP)

Comics come in all shapes and sizes, pretty much like love and relationships. So what better way to examine both than in this collection that looks at three separate types of relationships, featuring the creative talents of one creator.

The book centres around Jeff and three of his relationships; one a long distance affair, the second is actually the first love told in Star Wars odd time line fashion and finally a conclusion of sorts. Entitled Clumsy, Unlikely and Any Easy Intimacy hints at the emotional trauma and successes of all three loves and those lost.

Jeffrey Brown is the writer, artist and letterer for the book that is based on real life events, to a point. Given that Jeffrey is on part of the relationships, the observations and feelings portrayed by the loves of Jeff must, in part, include Jeff’s own point of view; has his perceptions become his world view? At first glance the page count is huge, but that is a huge benefit in understanding Jeffrey and his issues that impact each relationship in different ways. The odd timeline also works; Clumsy sets up some parameters for Jeff, we get to see their origins in Unlikely. The writing is heartfelt with Brown utilising a kind of comic strip page style, reminiscent of the Sunday cartoons. It makes the heavy subject matter easier to digest.

Brown also provides the art in a scratchy, sketchy style that will not be to everyones taste. The art is quite 2D which again mirrors the newspaper strip elements. The trick of the art is that the emotion of Jeff and his lovers are all show, whether it is loneliness whilst waiting for the phone to call or Theresa making a stand or Allisyn’s slow decline and how it impacts on Jeff. I am not going to lie; at first glance I disliked the art immensely; however by the second act of the first book I was completely hooked.

As mentioned, this is huge volume; by combining all three book in one tome we get to see the repeated mistakes, the frailties and the emotional growth that Jeff makes in his odd way. What I found most surprising was how Brown managed to capture so many relationship echoes and nuances that I know others, including me, have felt over the years, proving that when it comes to matters of the heart we can all be Loved and Lost!

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Jeffrey Brown
Art by; Jeffrey Brown
Published by; IDW Publishing

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