For those not in the know, in the game you play a dad who moves into a cul-de-sac with his daughter. Most of the men in the neighbourhood are fathers and single. As such, in the game you have the option to romance them. Given that comics are by no way as interactive as games, the comic has to keep the style of the game and hope that the stories are engaging enough for their customer base. Comic book wise, we get to follow new Dad on the block as he attends a college reunion with his old roommate, Kegstand Craig. For anyone who has been to an “Awkward Old Person Reunion” the beats are pretty easy to empathise with.
Writer Wendy Xu delivers a story that is about whimsy and of those once in a lifetime nights, where everything seems perfect and nothing is too much work. There is an easy flow to the story; reunions are rife with all sorts of perils, though in this environment we get to see what a good guy Craig is and how well the friends and maybe mores mesh. Dialogue wise, circumstances drive the pair forward. There are elements in which there is an obvious attraction between the two, with Xu bringing out the romantic big guns, rather than the sex. Finally, there are elements of humour in play, from certain circumstances and the awakening in the pair that there may be more to their relationship that helps keeps proceedings light.
The art and colors for the book are supplied by Ryan Maniulit who give the book an almost comic strip vibe. As with the script, there is nothing complicated going on; the art carries that mood also. As a story about love, life and the problems of reunions, the art needs to show the emotional aspects of the story. Maniulit manages to achieve this in spades with a manga-esque style that emphasises the emotion on show, not the genders. The rest of the cast is equally realized, whether it is the smart mouth Amanda or Craig’s daughter and his Mom. Even seagulls get in on the act. Letters are provided by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou who give the book a little comics sans flavour which again helps with the easy flow of the proceedings.
Oni Press have an eclectic range of books to be sure. Give them their credit; whilst fans of the game will no doubt have their expectations, the dialogue, the setup and the covers go some way to more than hint at what is in the inside. If same-sex love between two men isn’t your thing, then simply don’t pick up the book. Don’t buy it then complain about the content, as by doing so, you may miss that fact that really is a sweet love story between two people who are happy to be in each others life.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art & Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by; Wendy Xu
Art & Colors by; Ryan Maniulit
Letters by; Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Published by; Oni Press
Author Profile
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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
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