Wood brings his stories of youth to a close with an unusual quiet tale that's devoid of dialogue. A poem -- perhaps song lyrics -- that unfolds over the course of the piece offers the only words in the main story, and that allows the strength of Cloonan's work to shine. In a rare treat, the creators switch roles for a final story, a shorter piece that serves as a backup segment in this final issue. Calling it a story is being rather generous, but the piece is a strong one in more than one respect. Furthermore, the darker, more bitter tone of the shorter story serves as a nice balance to the airy and joyous tone of the main piece.
Two young lovers wander through the friendlier neighborhoods in the periphery of New York City, losing themselves not only in the community but in each other as well. They are clearly completely taken with one another, brimming over with happiness and love. They revel in their relationship... in part because they know something new awaits them soon. And elsewhere, a rather angry young woman struggles with the knowledge that she's different, but she finds comfort and acceptance in the arms of her boyfriend.
Cloonan's soft and fluid lines bring real grace and beauty to the characters and captures the sort of reverie in which the two young lovers are immersed. The art conveys how comfortable they are with one another, how in synch they are. I love how the backgrounds are somewhat sketchy and disconnected from the characters, but there's still a strong sense of place and realism in those backdrops. Wood's art in the backup sequence is much harsher in tone, and that's in keeping with the harder personality at the heart of the piece. He also captures a strong, realistic feel in the backgrounds, but it's more concrete and confining as opposed to the air and free feel of the world Cloonan depicts in the main story. Frank Miller's strong influence on Wood's art shines through quite clearly here as well.
Cloonan's short script doesn't really boast a plot to speak of or any clear conflict. It does, however, capture some raw emotion. The storytelling is a bit disjointed, but I'm drawn to the anger and personality of the main character. Wood's story is just as effective in conveying emotion, albeit the flip side of the darker feelings that permeate the backup tale. Yes, it's corny and saccharine, but it's undeniably something we all covet. The ending seems to boast a double twist, first taking a dark turn and then taking a magical one.
On the surface, this series has been about young people with amazing powers or in fantastic circumsances and how those unusual factors shaped their lives. But in reality, this isn't about how those phenomena defined their lives... it's about how relationships shaped their lives. Linking the stories thematically instead of through plot or place was something of a risky move, but this series of self-contained stories was a real delight and a tremendous storytelling success. 8/10
