Starting at issue 14 of a book that clearly has a lot of ongoing stories, I thought I was going to be mostly lost in Jane's World. As it turns out, however, Braddock has created something that is inviting and engaging even while it gives the impression of being an ongoing tale. It's too original to really make easy comparisons, but Jane's World is best described as a smart ensemble comedy, blending the classic comic strip style of Lynn Johnston with the racier writing style of shows like Sex and the City and Friends. The title character is a thirty-something lesbian with a penchant for drab clothes and a personality that is self-conscious and shy and yet confident and funny, and most of Braddock's supporting characters have the same strength and reality to them as well. When there's exaggeration, as with someone like Chelle, it's for humorous effect, and Jane's World is delightfully funny, although it's strengths lie in ongoing plotlines and subplots that draw the reader in and make them want to know what happens next. Issue 14 is my first exposure to Jane's World, but it certainly won't be my last.
Jane's World started out as a strip, and that's something hard for me to wrap my head around. Braddock definitely has the style of the comic strip down, but it always seems like she's rushing when she goes for a last panel gag, and her stories usually wander more clearly into comic-book format. There's a great use of white space when Dorothy finds "Jane's" comic and Jane is left alone with the consequences, and it's something that just wouldn't work as well in strip comics. At any rate, while Braddock certainly shows the ability to work in strip format, her decision to move into full comic style is one that will definitely benefit the readers.
It's really difficult to describe Jane's World without making it sound overly mundane. Really, the book is a standard relationship drama in a lot of ways, and fans of the sitcom will see a lot of familiar archetypes and storytelling tropes in Jane's World. However, Braddock brings these familiar storytelling tools to life with some very unusual characters and a lot of likable charm. Jane is the lesbian heir to the hard-luck Charlie Brown, somehow always winding up as the punchline in her own comic book, like when she is "dumped" by her life coach or finds herself in the midst of a convention of ex-girlfriends. There are multitudes of levels to Jane's personality, though, which is why I like her so much. She can be snarky and quick-witted or caught flat-footed and stumped, she can eviscerate someone's flawed argument and then find herself flustered in trying to explain something clearly. She is made up of inconsistencies, but she is consistent in her inconsistencies, and she may be one of the most "real" characters I've ever read.
Which isn't to say that Braddock isn't given to exaggeration. The sexy, smartass Chelle is a terrific supporting character, the kind of person who couldn't support her own story but whose idiosyncratic behavior makes a perfect foil for the straight-laced lead. The guys in the book, like Ethan and Stephan, are a little stereotypically horndog, but their personalities aren't exaggerated too far beyond reality, and they play their role in the book perfectly. Braddock is also given to the occasional burst of fourth wall breaking, such as the hilarious sequence when Stephan takes over the comic only to be hoisted on his own petard (or clunked in the head by his own anvil, maybe). I also gather from the "what has gone before" page that I missed some sort of "Jane Bond" spy fantasy, which sounds like a lot of fun.
It's really nice to discover a great new comic. It's even better when it includes a fantastic cast of characters, an attractive art style and stories that are familiar but not cliche. Jane's World is mainly the story of a lesbian and her friends, but this isn't a "gay" book, it's just an excellent character piece. This one was a really pleasant surprise, and is recommended to everyone, but especially those who like books like Strangers in Paradise or comic strips like The Norm and For Better or For Worse. 8/10
