It's not often an envelope with an Australian postmark makes its way into my mailbox, but the most interesting thing about the package was what was inside. Aussie creator Matt Huynh sent this mini-comic for review, and to be honest, my expectations were low. Mini-comics are a great way for unknown creators to get their work out there, but a lot of the work one can find can be described as amateurish or even crude. Huynh's work is neither. He boasts a sketchy style that's occasionally inconsistent when it comes to anatomy, but his storytelling is solid. His characters reallly come to life, and the dialogue boasts a lyrical quality at times that's quite enticing. This is clearly not the first time Huynh has issued this mini-comic (he's pasted quotes from positive reviews on the back of this copy), but chances are few lovers of the medium have sampled his work thus far. It's definitely worth checking out.
Lucy feels like she's a prisoner in her own life, and she and her boyfriend wile away the hours and days with dreams of running away and leaving all of their problems behind them. An afternoon of public transit opens Lucy's eyes to an unfortunate truth. There are people out there that make life interesting, that make things bearable, and Lucy begins to re-evaluate exactly what -- and whom -- she needs to run from.
There's a slightly surreal tone to the book primarily stemming from the dream-like, flowing quality of the artwork. I'm reminded a little bit of the style of Craig (Blankets) Thompson, but Huynh's art isn't really as stylized. It's appropriate that Farel (Pop Gun War) Dalrymple provides a pull quote on the back of the book, as the visual sensibilities of Happy Birthday, Anyway put one in mind of Dalrymple's surreal approach. Huynh conveys the characters' youth quite effectively, and when the setting shifts, one really gets a strong sense of place, be it a subway or a college classroom.
There's a lyrical quality to the dialogue at times that grants this coming-of-age story a Seuss-ian tone, one that's quite attractive and comforting in a way. The friendship that forms on public transportation in this book is touching, simple and innocent. Little touches such as the tip on how one maintains balance on a train while maintaining a mild sense of germophobia reinforce a realistic, convincing tone.
The opening scene refers to a dream of one's birthday, and starting the story off with dialogue about a dream is ideal. There's a hazy, dream-like tone that envelops the characters throughout the book. Toward the end, that dreaminess makes for some vagueness in the storytelling, but it's not jarring or alienating. Instead, the reader identifies with and enters the story, sharing the fears, thoughts and experiences of the young characters. 9/10
For information on how to purchase this mini-comic, visit stikman.netica.com.au.
