Whitney Cogar

It’s Hall Ball (The British university equivalent to prom or homecoming in this story), and Esther, Susan, and Daisy have put on their prettiest dresses and are ready to have fun. But as usual in the topsy turvy world of Giant Days, drama ensues. On the surface, John Allison’s plot seems like soapy melodrama, and on some level it is. But he and artist Lissa Treiman infuse this college slice of life story with a dose of cheeky humor and adorable/hilarious facial expressions. Treiman also unleashes her inner 80s teen film director and draws a nine panel grid dance floor scene that acts as a climax for the issue while giving all the main characters various epiphanies. It’s a real artistic grace note for the series. While this is going on, colorist Whitney Cogar gives the dance scenes a pastel disco overlay using bright primary colors to highlight outbursts from the girls and guys. (Honestly, just Esther.)

One of the mainstays of the Bravest Warriors comics and cartoons is the Holo-John. It’s a private room in the Bravest Warriors’ hideout where you can enjoy a fun simulation of your choosing while going to the bathroom. It’s like the Holodeck in Star Trek: TNG’s immature, yet creative cousin. Bravest Warriors: Tales from the Holo John is a special one-shot set entirely in this wonderful little room and shows its storytelling potential. The stories have their funny moments, bizarre bits (I will never unsee Mad Rupert’s drawing of Wallow in his undies.), and the best ones explore the relationship between the Bravest Warriors and various characters, including Beth’s dad, Pickle Chips, and the Holo John himself in a more metaphysical tale from Ryan Ferrier (D4VE) and Jorge Corona (Goners).

Who knew that a comic about getting the flu could be so fun? Giant Days #2 follows the college adventures of housemates Daisy, Esther, and Susie as they deal with one of the worst things about living away from home: getting sick for the first time. However, writer John Allison and artist Lissa Treiman make this mundane immensely fun and entertaining while adding depth to the main characters and their flaws and foibles. Allison structures the plot nicely as each girl deals with a different variant of the flu that’s been going around, and they get their own subplot before dovetailing towards the end.

Adventure Time has always had a seemingly loose continuity filled with standalone stories that becomes woven together over the course of the series. Bitter Sweets, published by Boom! Studios, feels no different.