Oni Press is branching out into the publishing of original graphic novels, and Days Like This will be one of their larger volumes early on in this new venture. I don't know if it will pay off financially (I hope and expect it will, though), but I do know that creatively, they've struck gold. J. Torres, King of Comic-Book Diversity, hits the bullseye with this 1960s slice-of-life story.
It's 1962, and Anna Solomon has just divorced her record-producer husband. She's decided to put what she's learned on the sidelines into practice with the launch of her own record label, but first, she needs to assemble some talent. A trio of teenage girls who perform at Anna's daughter's school catches her eye, as does an enthusiastic young songwriter determined to craft the songs for the music industry's stars. Unfortunately, for Chrstina, the group's lead singer, her father is far from enthused over her new passion.
Scott Chantler is a name that most comics readers probably won't recognize, but after Days Like This gets out there, I expect it'll be one that's in demand. His style is simple and charming, and it's perfectly suited for the innocent tone of this story. His work reminds one of Bruce Timm's style a little, but other influences seem apparent as well... the Archie house style, Paul (Leave It to Chance) Smith and even the late Chester (Dick Tracy) Gould. The grey tones add a greater depth to the visuals, reinforcing the realistic tone of the story.
I think what I most enjoyed about this thoroughly impressive and down-to-earth story was how it doesn't just tell one character's story above the others. It's about Anna Solomon as much as it's about Tina's dreams. It's about a songwriter named Karen Prince, and it's about Christina's father's pride and expectations for his family. Torres has woven an intricate tapestry here, and I'm amazed he's presenting such a multi-faceted story in a scant 80 pages.
Days Like This seems to be about empowerment. All of the main protagonists are women, and it's fascinating to watch as they slowly try to inch their way into a world dominated by men. Their approaches are different... Anna takes what she wants, Karen quietly sneaks into position and Christina is forced to appease the chief male figure in her life -- her father.
Each one has to be careful about paying too high a price, though. Anna is in danger of losing a loved one, Karen is initially in danger of being exploited and 'Tina is unaware of how she's hurting her father at first.
This sweet story is not to be missed, and it's a sure bet that it'll stand out as one of the best graphic novels of 2003.
Note: This review includes some comments from a previous feature on the website.
