I've reviewed a couple of minicomics by Sara Ryan before - Flytrap (which is now up to three issues) and the Eisner-nominated Me and Edith Head.  They're wonderful things, and it's a joy to see more of them with Click.

The minicomic is a weird format - 16 pages, black and white, A5.  I can't imagine they make any money, and I can't help wondering why you wouldn't just stick the story on the web.  As it happens, they have put the story on the web.  You can read the whole thing here.  And yet there's something kind of heartwarming about having a copy to hold.

It seems from the back cover that Click is part of a series that began with Me and Edith Head, although any link is purely thematic and fairly loose.  This is a story about a friendship between two young women, followed from start to finish.  Sixteen pages may not seem like a lot for that sort of material, and heaven knows there are plenty of writers around today who would try and stretch the same premise out to a four-issue miniseries.  But they're wrong.  This is its natural length. 

Ryan really does excel in this format - she takes a simple, emotional event, she makes her point simply and elegantly, and then she stops.  In an era where everyone wants to make graphic novels, it's good to be reminded of the real potential of the short story.  There's a lot to cover in this issue - it spans a period of weeks - but through judicious pacing and montage, Ryan fits it all in and makes it seem effortless.  God, she's good.

She has great taste in artists, as well.  Dylan Meconis draws wonderfully expressive characters, and fills the panels with the sort of detail that fills out their world.  The first two pages are particularly beautiful.  Apparently she's done some graphic novels before, none of which ring a bell with me, but she's clearly a great talent.

Ah, it makes me so happy to review something that's really, really good. 

Rating: A+

back | continue