Honesty is a scary thing. Everyone values it, but everyone's scared of being too honest as well. We fear being judged, being mocked. We fear being rejected or risking hurting the ones we love. We fear the uncertainty of honesty. And let's be honest... honesty is considered an important value in our society, but nobody expects it of themselves and others. People are more comfortable with lies, even the ones they know are lies, or so it seems sometimes (see 2004 U.S. presidential election). So when one encounters a rare instance of such complete and unflinching honesty as what Tom Beland uses as the foundation of every issue of True Story Swear to God, it's something of a dumbfounding experience. It's also a refreshing one, and I applaud the creator for challenging himself to remain so honest.
Tom has moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and though he's been there for several weeks, he's still trying to get his bearings... and not just geographically. Yes, he still gets lost in the city from time to time, but he also feels lost in the culture, the heat and in Lily's family. Regular phone calls with his family are comforting, but their repeated reassurances that he can return to Napa Valley in California are irksome as well. Oh, and then there's the matter of the monster that tries to eat his face...
Beland's backgrounds are usually pretty sparse or non-existant at all, and that works well for him. It focuses our attention on the characters, and this book is all about characterization. There are times when he puts a lot of effort and detail into the settings, though, and that's when he wants to focus our attention away from the characters. Case in point: San Juan. Tom's short stroll through the city to meet Lily conveys the exotic nature of the place and how different it is from the typical Western urban setting.
Scott Morse's cover captures the exotic architecture nicely, but it also reinforces the point of the story within. It's all about Tom feeling alone in a new world, separated from those he loves, both near and far. Morse also does a great job of maintaining a consistency with Beland's cartoony style.
We've arrived at the point in the story that sees the lovers united for good, living together and sharing their lives. To my surprise, this issue isn't a celebration of the end of the long-distance relationship. Beland could have easily immersed the characters in that sort of unbridled joy of a permanent reunion, but instead, he skips ahead beyond that phase of the relationship. He dwells on the challenge of adjusting to a new home, to a new family. He feels like an outsider in his own life. We can all relate to that feeling, be it in a new job, a new city or a new relationship.
At the same time, Beland is careful not to cast a sullen tone over the story. The main character is undeniably happy with Lily. I also appreciated Tom's annoyance with his well-meaning sublings, who keep telling him he has options. The suggestion feels like a betrayal -- a condemnation of his decision, of his connection with Lily, of the sacrifices he was willing to make. 10/10
