< comics/x >
NEVER ENDING SUMMER
by Allison Cole
($11.95,
Alternative Comics,
Allison Cole)
Review by Mark Campos
This is Allison's first major work, and a bright example of what will eventually become known as the "emo" school of comics, unless we act now – I'd prefer another name for them, so let's call them "king-cats" for what they have in common with John Porcellino's work: minimalist art fronting quiet but emotionally intense autobio narratives. (Other adherents to this style include Jeffrey Brown, Dave Kiersh and Missy Kulik, and there are several more.)
Never Ending Summer takes place during one hectic trimonth in which Allison's boyfriend drifts out of her life, she meets another guy, the comic store she works at closes down, her friends have boyfriend trouble also and they all get plowed in the afternoon together ... No galaxies blow up or anything, and if that's what you require out of your comics you probably will concur with the
Comics Journal Board poster who termed this book "crap". Those with patience will find a generous hearted story with characters so much like people you know, you'll wish you could climb up on the roof with them, grab a Pabst, and cheer them all up. And,
TCJ Board boys, who can resist a story about a girl who works at a comics shop and collects LPs?
I admit I had a bit of trouble getting started with this book. Allison's minimalist characters are all based on the same design, and somebody described them as "yetis" but I think of them as more like thumb-heads. You have to study to remember which detail means which character; difference in hair, glasses, beard. There's a glossary of the characters on the inside front cover, which I had to keep consulting as I read, and there's at least one character (the "pee buddy") who isn't in there. The other quibble I had with
NES (and there were only two, really) was the ending, which seemed abrupt. Events are probably depicted as they happened but dramatic structure suggests at least one more scene, with Allison giving Sam the gate or at least not taking his phone calls.
(Well, OK, three quibbles – she doesn't include the track list for her ultimate summer mixtape – any Hüsker Dü or Magnetic Fields on there?)
These are minor gripes, and on the whole, I'm happy to have made the acquaintance of this book, and hope to read more of Allison's stories.
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