Laura and Other Stories #1 is a masterwork of European art and writing by Guillem March! This is a three issue, adult limited series by Ablaze, featuring March’s work. This was earlier serialized in a newspaper. Then, collected and printed in a hardcover book by the Spanish publisher, Dolmen in 2006. He was the artist for Gotham City Sirens (2009-2010) and recently The Joker (2021-2022) for DC Comics. March also produced Karmen as a graphic novel by the Belguium publisher, Dupuis. It was made into a 2021 limited series by Image Comics. Karmen is an adult, surreal journey that covers death and life with an angel helped a student. This comic book immediately made me think of European comic book art.
The cover has the lead character, brunette with sunglasses, a pencil to the side of her mouth, and sketchpad on the nook of right leg. The design of the pages starts with a stylish page with photographs, Palma CitySightSeeing book, and an sketch of Laura in the pink background. It has the chapter, “I. Songs.” The next page as a biological explanation of love with a cellphone pic of Laura and the object of her affection?, Marcos. It is noted that seratonin leads to obsession which Laura says is love. If love is rejected, then there is depression. Laura in her yellow pajamas says that two months have passed and lowers her cell phone. There is a quick flashback of Laura in bed getting a call from Marcos, his head is turned so there is only glimpses of him. These panels makes me think of Milo Manara, Italian adult artist whose work also includes X-Women #1 (2010). We see Laura and Marcos taking the selfie in a booth with a “click”, a hint to Manara?
Laura is sad from her past thought to be “just friends”, but she crossed the bridge there. She looks at the sky turning dusk from her bed thinking about all of the time they spent together. We see them lying down, Laura’s head on Marcos’ stomach, and they hold hands. The art and story are just jam packed, beautifully, on one page. Now, she plays music, gets her weight, and notes that she still wears his scarf. The last time they met was the exchange of his scarf, he says it smells like her. An overhead shot has her looking down while in the elevator. Laura remembers that she was good at art in high school. The break up aftermath is something out of Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license.” Flashback at the beach, Laura sulks over a couple kissing to Marcos. The clean lines of this page makes me think of Moebius. The incredible artist who worked on French graphic novels like The Incal with Alejandro Jodorowsky. Moebius worked with Stan Lee on the Silver Surfer: Parable (1988-1989) mini-series.
Laura says she is lonely and Marcos is with Paz. The color of the blue sky is just a contrast to the washed out color of Laura alone. Marcos, relaxing on his towel, explains the course of relationships to Laura. He says, “Passion has an expiration date.” Just incredible dialogue. Marcos says love is like clay as we see a baby making a muddy mound of sand. Later, they play paddle ball and Laura looks darkly at Marcos’ boast. Night, they are out in the water, and Marcos dives in. His splash shivers Laura. He splashes her so she dives in and then can’t find Marcos. We return to the present, Laura’s mother is there, and worries about her still in bed. She wonders if Laura is going to clean and leaves at Laura’s insistance she will do so “later.” Then, we have the arrival of Elena, red head, with glasses and a ray of sunlight in the murky world of Laura. She opens the shutter and Laura holds up her arm at the bright sun. Elena holds up Laura’s sketchbook with her artwork of Marcos.
She holds up Laura’s purse saying that with the holiday on the following day, she needs to party and have a fling. At the club, Elena lights up her cigarette and mentions a guy, Patrick, who tries to flirt with her at her job with the shop. Laura loses interest in Elena talking and looks at the window to remember the night at the beach. The dissolve of the bored Laura with the flashback of Laura alone under the moon, impressive. She panics at Marcos missing. Then, he lifts her on his shoulders and throws her into the ocean. They rest on the surface, the fish passing underneath, this comic is a work of art. Marcos says he will give her two things, he puts his hands “around” the moon, he hands it to her. Then, kisses her, we see the dark sky, but it is lit up by the kissing couple, with light waves pulsing out like the center of a galaxy!
Suddenly, Marcos says Laura’s name and shouts to revive her from her dream! She fell asleep floating on the ocean. He asks her about her dream and she looks up at the moon. They lay on blankets and then stare listlessly while silent. We see the morning sun, just beautiful, Marcos and Laura are sitting next to each other. We get a series of panels and then Laura kisses Marcos and then again as this moves into closeups. In the next part, “II. Nails and Banks”, Elena takes Laura to a party. She meets with her friend, Xesc, while later Laura starts talking to a man in an orange sweater, Luis. Then, they go clubbing for dancing. The relationships remind me of Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise and also Kyle Baker’s Why I Hate Saturn (1990). I would highly recommend if you have a friend who doesn’t read comics as well as the last two graphic novels. Laura and Other Stories #1 is brilliant and worth picking up soley for its art, but also an adult story of relationships, the beginning and the aftermath!
Five+ Moons out of Five!
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