Image Comics
Writer: Guillem March
Artists: Guillem March & Tony Lopez
Image Comics has done a great job of bringing fantastic European comic books to the United States for a couple of years now. One of the highlights has been the works of Mirka Andolfo, with Unnatural and Mercy being standout hits. Now, Image Comics is working with Guillem March to translate Karmen for English readers.
Karmen #1 is a weird debut. The opening few pages are jarringly fast, with quick pacing and little hand-holding. Readers will get to know Cata, getting a glimpse of her as a child. A few pages later and she is on the brink of suicide. We also meet Karmen, who looks like a grim reaper but is much more quirky than we are used to seeing.
It’s a messy opening, but once things settle, March’s story is full of emotional highs and solid humor. Karmen is strange but eventually blooms into a likable character. Cata is instantly easy to relate to. She is heartbroken and overwhelmed by everything that life throws at her. Throughout the issue, readers get an intimate look at the two characters, learning plenty about the two through their natural dialogue.
Karmen is a book that handles some incredibly touchy topics throughout. The most prominent theme throughout is suicide, which can make this a difficult read for some. March doesn’t shy away from explicit images, and this book should absolutely come with a trigger warning. There is also a ton of nudity throughout the issue, but it is presented in a mostly non-sexual way. This book is about as adult as they come, so that is certainly something to keep in mind.
A lot of that non-sexual nudity comes in the way that the characters are drawn. There aren’t any gratuitous angles scattered throughout the pages. Instead, the characters look real, complete with curves and tan lines. The rest of the issue’s art is great too, with clean lines and creative panel layouts. The action moves throughout the panels naturally, making this book easy enough to consume.
Karmen #1 is a funny, touching debut that does a lot of stuff that we don’t usually see in comic books. There isn’t anything like it, and I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
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Karmen #1
Karmen #1 is a funny, touching debut that does a lot of stuff that we don't usually see in comic books. There isn't anything like it, and I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
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Characters
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Art