Writer Damon Hurd first turned heads with his examiantion of familial relationships in My Uncle Jeff and did so once again in The White Elephant. He turned his attention to friendships in A Sort of Homecoming, and he and Rick Smith seem to be exploring a surreal notion of self in Temporary. With A Strange Day, he turns his attention to a different kind of relationship -- romance. This is a wonderfully touching story of two teen spirits coming together and fitting together incredibly well. This is the perfect first encounter, and while most of us can't claim the same sort of perfection in how our romantic relationships began, we can relate to the feeling that Hurd captures here.
Miles is frustrated that his best friend has opted to blow their planned day of skipping school together to buy the new Cure CD the moment it's released so she can pursue the object of her desires. Miles heads to the record store solo, but he meets a kindred spirit. Anna, who attends another high school, has also skipped so she can get her hands on the CD immediately, but a delayed shipment presents a new kind of opportunity. The pair gets to know one another, sharing not only a love of music, but secrets no one else has heard.
Gill's art embodies the spirit and freedom of indie comics storytelling perfectly. There's a slightly amateur tone to it on the surface, but ultimately, it's thoroughly effective at conveying the characters' humanity and their universal qualities with which the reader can identify. I love the energy and joy that Anna exudes. She's incredibly attractive, but not in a plastic sort of way. She reminds me of Drew Barrymore in a lot of ways, and not just physically. There's a complete lack of pretesion about her. She's bubbly but not ditzy, and it shines through in Gill's portrayal of the character. The simpler leanings in her style makes it easier to see oneself in the characters and the setting. I'm reminded a little of Craig (Blankets) Thompson's style here.
Miles's awkwardness is something to which any guy can relate, and I would expect female readers will see a little of themselves in his shyness and occasional lack of confidence. Of course, comics collectors will easily understand his Cure completism as well. Miles's frustration with his platonic female friend earlier on in the book is all too familiar as well.
Anna is an angel. She's articulate, takes control of the situation and knows that life is about living, not following the schedule society lays out for us. In some ways, she's too perfect, but this is a form of escapism as well. I enjoyed how Miles and Anna seemed perfect for each other. Yes, they have a lot in common, but it's their differences that really complement one another. His reserved nature and her carefree spirit balance each other nicely. This is a lovely story about well-realized characters, made to seem all the more real by the hints at their experiences beyond the scope of this tale. Hurd continues to do what he does best, and I'm pleased to see him producing more work mre frequently. 10/10
