COMING OUT PERFECT

Is there a perfect way to navigate life?

Kevin Reyes, a newly out gay high schooler in the Philippines, is still discovering his path. After coming out to his parents and being “met with silence” before they changed the subject, Kevin leaves with a group of friends from the school journalism club. They’re attending a party hosted by Raymond, an out classmate who appears to embody everything Kevin wishes to be: wealthy, popular, and with a “fancy boyfriend.” At the party, Kevin’s friend Gaby broaches the idea of putting her name forward for student council president with Kevin as her running mate, but his self-defeating attitude quickly shuts her down. Later Kevin gets drunk and confesses his feelings of inadequacy to Raymond, who decides to take him on as a project. He presents Kevin with the same offer as Gaby—and this time, Kevin agrees. He’s captivated by Raymond’s glamorous world and wants to impress his parents by running for student government. But the more time Kevin spends with Raymond, the more he sees beneath the glittering surface, and he’s forced to take stock of the kind of person he truly wants to be. The story authentically explores internalized homophobia, the process of self-discovery, and the complicated family dynamics that arise when one sibling is held up as a perfect role model. Mercado’s loose, dynamic artwork in dark navy with washes of pink conveys the intensity of the characters’ emotions.

Nuanced and insightful: a real winner.