oyceter: Stack of books with text "mmm... books!" (mmm books)
This is a collection of shorts that Kim previously published online; although I think some have recurring characters, others feel very random. Also, I read it over a week ago and already returned it to the library, so my memory of this is very sketchy. (Oh hey, it's available online! Check out the right column in Lowbright to find links to the other shorts in the book.)

I felt like this volume has much of the American indie comic sensibility—crowded art, neurotic characters, big focus on failed love lives—which is sad, as there's a reason why I don't read many American indie comics (I know, I stereotype). I didn't feel for either of the characters in the main story, particularly with the way one talks about a blind character ("Her eyes were so giant and sparkling and gorgeous, like she could see things we couldn't!"). I do like that the blind girl shows up later and acts like a normal person, but when the other two characters were talking to each other, all I could think was that I so didn't feel for them feeling awkward about saying things like "As you can see" or whatnot.

I also hated the plotline revolving around Nancy sending a letter back to someone who seemed to be stalking his girlfriend. There's acknowledgement that what Nancy does is mean-spirited, but not enough for me, and the ending portraying the letter-sending guy as sad also annoyed me, given that he was the one sending creepy, stalker-y letters.

I don't know. Much of the humor (much of it scatalogical) didn't amuse me, and the general neuroticness annoyed me. It was good to see bits of Korean-American-ness in there as background, but not the center, but all the same, it wasn't enough to get me over my dislike of the characters. I'd personally skip this and go for Kim's Good as Lily instead.
oyceter: Stack of books with text "mmm... books!" (mmm books)
It's Grace Kwon's 18th birthday, and mostly she's thinking about her cute drama teacher Mr. Levon and the school play. That is, until she goes out at night and stumbles across herself at 6, 29, and 70. Now she has to hide the other Graces from everyone as she tries to help the drama club raise money.

This is a cute, light YA story in which everyone has realizations and comes to terms with themselves. The gimmick of the many Graces sometimes doesn't work so well—I especially wish they were spread out more in terms of age so that 70-year-old Grace's life weren't such a surprise—but Kim pulls it off. Hamm's art reminds me more of indie art than manga or superhero comics, but I found it fitting for the story. I like that there are many curvy women and girls represented, and that the Asian people look Asian in a non-stereotypical way!

The title ties in less with the story than I wanted; it's pivotal for one of the Graces but not necessarily all of them, and some of the futures felt unnecessarily bleak. Also, I want to argue that being single at 29 or 70 is not always a giant tragedy! People can have rich and enriching lives without being a part of a couple or having kids!

Still, I think Kim might do well with even more pages to flesh out his characters, and I'm always grateful to have Asian-American characters who aren't dealing with culture angst.

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