Cultural authenticity doesn’t make up for a disjointed story with an unclear audience.
In 1990s Texas, 12-year-old Filipina-American Marcine embarks on a journey of salvation and self-discovery.
In the aftermath of loss, Marcine becomes obsessed with the teachings of George Ohsawa, founder of the macrobiotic diet. She feels compelled to save those doomed to unhappiness because they have sanpaku, a condition where the whites show around the iris, believed in Japanese superstition to bring bad luck. Bearing an undeniable resemblance to Marcie from “Peanuts,” she sports a black bob and glasses. In this hefty graphic novel, Gavino’s (Last Night's Reading, 2015) black-and-white illustrations tell Marcine’s story through vignettes at home, school, a local Asian grocery, and (in flashback) the Philippines. Coming-of-age elements such as friendship and self-discovery abound, with a quirky combination of ethics and faith, a sprinkling of lesbianism, and even a subplot that involves pop star Selena. Gavino realistically captures the impressionable spirit of a tween on the brink of adolescence, seeking to define her own belief system among hardcore Catholics such as her grandmother’s prayer group. Cultural notes, such as familiar Tagalog sayings (“Hay naku!”) and a love of Spam, are spot-on. Unfortunately, a convoluted plot makes this a murky read. A subplot about a scandal regarding the statue of a would-be Filipina saint with a “marble vagina” and reference to orgies is particularly confusing.
Cultural authenticity doesn’t make up for a disjointed story with an unclear audience. (Graphic novel. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68415-210-0
Page Count: 288
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Review Posted Online: Oct. 22, 2018
This slender graphic adaptation of the Great American Novel preserves some of Twain’s language, most of his plot and a good sense of his sardonic take on human society. Mixing dialogue balloons with enough boxed narrative to evoke Huck’s distinctive voice, Mann packs in all of the major incidents and tones down at least some of the violence—the two con men are only “punished” here rather than specifically tarred and feathered, for instance. Similarly, though Huck gets viciously slapped around by his father in the pictures, in general there isn’t much other blood visible. The illustrator’s faces tend toward sameness, but Kumar populates his color art with strong, stocky figures, depicts action effectively and, by using irregular frames and insets, sets up an engrossing helter-skelter pacing. A good choice for readers who aren’t quite up to tackling the original, with perfunctory but well-meant notes on Twain’s life and the history of slavery in the United States. Co-published with its prequel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, adapted by Matt Josdal, illustrated by Brian Shearer (ISBN: 978-93-80028-34-7). (Graphic classic. 12-14)
Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2010
ISBN: 978-93-80028-35-4
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2010
A graphic-novel treatment of Shakespeare that fails miserably where others have succeeded. In this brutally savaged graphic adaptation of the play, the Bard’s lines have been transformed into conversational banality (“How is it going, Shylock?”; "That goes for me too!") within often-misplaced dialogue balloons. Astonishingly, there’s nary a mention of Jews, leaching all the power from Shylock's "Has not a Jew..." speech ("And why has [Antonio] done this? Do I not have eyes like everyone else..."). Actually, just about all of the set speeches are nearly unrecognizable: "The quality of mercy is not strained" becomes “You don’t need to have a reason to show mercy.” Visually, the floridly dressed Venetian figures in Kumar’s showy illustrations just stand about in panel after panel, gesturing awkwardly and looking past one another’s shoulders. Portia’s taste for revealing, off-the-shoulder gowns may give adolescent gawkers pause, but as an invitation to read the original or see it performed here’s sure proof that all that glisters is not gold. A closing set of riddles is offered as an activity link to Portia’s three boxes in the play. Skip. (Graphic adaptation. 12-14)
Pub Date: May 17, 2011
ISBN: 978-93-80028-59-0
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
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