Once again, Damon Hurd does what he does best, and that's writing an incredibly personal and universal story of everyday life. Hurd's exploration of a friendship rings true on every level, and I'm pleased to see that he's taking his time in the examination. This story of two lonely souls reaching out to one another isn't sugar-coated, though. The story is as much as betrayal as it is about friendship, about anger and forgiveness all at once. The visual storytelling is compelling as well, but there's one element in Pdero Camello's art that doesn't quite sit well with me this time around.
As he tries to work up the courage to face the woman in his life and David's lover, Owen continues to reflect back on times with his late friend. One moment in particular comes to mind... a reunion of sorts, just a short while after high-school graduation. The two had drifted apart, one hurt by the other's harsh words. But a promise and tradition from years before bring them back together, offering a chance at a renewed relationship.
Camellow shines once again with some wonderful transitions between the present and the past, and he delineates between the younger and older versions of the main characters quite well. His panel layouts move the story along perfectly as well. The background detail is impressive, but equally as pleasing are those moments when he drops those backgrounds, reinforcing the emotional impact of key scenes. The only thing about his art in this issue that seemed off was his depiction of Owen and David in closeup shots. There's an inconsistency to the characters in those moments, and their faces are elongated and somewhat distorted. That tended to take me out of the story for a moment here and there.
It's been quite a while since the first chapter of this story was released; it's my understanding that the problem was on the post-production/delivery end of things. Fortunately, this penultimate issue stands up well on its own. One needn't have read the first chapter to follow along here. Hurd shows us more of the relationship between Owen and David here, and he follows up plotlines he established in the previous issue. Though this is an accessible issue, it's also pleasing to see Owen slowly coming to grips with the reality of what's happened to David. We can see Owen slowly getting his emotional feet under him. He's not quite there yet, but he's come a long way since the overwhelming despair that enveloped the adult character last time around.
I've had David as a friend. I've been incredibly angry with him. I've missed him. I've shared my feelings with him and hidden secrets from him. Hurd taps into the dysfunctional friendship quite vividly here. We've all had friends who've frustrated us, whom we've felt have done us wrong. But the connection is always there. We accept these flawed friends for what they are. Ultimately, we choose to include these people in our lives, no matter what. The storytelling here is two-pronged. On the one hand, we see a younger Owen choosing David as a friend despite the unahppy times, and on the other, we see Owen robbed of that choice upon David's passing and coming to grips with it.
