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A review by kumquatlemon
Don't Go Without Me by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This review focuses on storytelling from a graphic novel POV rather than just the writing.
My favorite story from the anthology is definitely the first one, and it's probably one of my favorite examples of creative and atypical paneling from anything I've read. The way the art flows out of its borders, which are molded by the other elements of the page, into another makes it feel like a modern day tapestry. Usually, in stories like these, artists tend to restrict their border-breaking but I'm glad Valero-O'Connell doesn't. The art is half, if not more, of the enjoyment of the story.
The characters all have a romantic type of problem, not necessarily in the sense of love and relationships, but more of the internal and external struggles that seem other-worldly but still speak to our emotions. Her writing and characters remind me of older stories and fairytales. I'm a big fan of stories with semi-ambiguity, especially when it comes to comics, so they hit just the right points for me to love the anthology.
I love her character designs in each of them and how well the pushes the conflict and mood of the stories. Valero-O'Connell is one of my favorite graphic novelist because she (seemingly) effortlessly blends writing with art where she builds a whole new fantastical world!
My favorite story from the anthology is definitely the first one, and it's probably one of my favorite examples of creative and atypical paneling from anything I've read. The way the art flows out of its borders, which are molded by the other elements of the page, into another makes it feel like a modern day tapestry. Usually, in stories like these, artists tend to restrict their border-breaking but I'm glad Valero-O'Connell doesn't. The art is half, if not more, of the enjoyment of the story.
The characters all have a romantic type of problem, not necessarily in the sense of love and relationships, but more of the internal and external struggles that seem other-worldly but still speak to our emotions. Her writing and characters remind me of older stories and fairytales. I'm a big fan of stories with semi-ambiguity, especially when it comes to comics, so they hit just the right points for me to love the anthology.
I love her character designs in each of them and how well the pushes the conflict and mood of the stories. Valero-O'Connell is one of my favorite graphic novelist because she (seemingly) effortlessly blends writing with art where she builds a whole new fantastical world!