Review: Li'l Depressed Boy #8

If you’ve yet to pick up Lil’Depressed Boy from Image Comics then you’re really missing out on one ofthe best books of 2011. The story follows the life of the character aptly namedLil’ Depressed Boy or LDB as most people call him. His look is that of a sockdoll with giant black circles for eyes and a black line of a mouth. Everythingabout his character seems unrealistic and almost screams of a creative teamtrying too hard to make something special. Yet LDB is probably the mostrelatable to anyone who has made it through their late teens into theirtwenties. LDP’s charm is that there’s something for everyone to relate too, beit the music, the emotion or just the depression that many feel when growingup.

This issue sees the conclusion of LDP’s trip to OKC whichhas yet to have one thing go right for it. The journey started with his friendDrew getting arrested and them making the last song of the show they show theywent to see, on the final leg of the trip LDP runs out of cash and Drew’s truckgoes bust. The two then push the truck home which pretty much caps off thedifficult journey perfectly. Once home LDP finds Jazz waiting on his doorstep,this is the first time he’s seen her since her birthday party in which hediscovered that she had a boyfriend. 

The thing I love about LDP is that it is a slow moving drama.It’s been almost a solid year of this book and we’re only a few weeks into thelife of the character thus far. If I had to peg one thing that draws people tothe book I would say that it’s the realistic conversations the characters have.Not just with each other, but with background characters as well. This issuehas a scene in a diner were an entire page is spent on them ordering food. It’snot important to the story, but it makes them more human and more relatable.The writing in LDP always comesacross like you’re eavesdropping on someone’s life rather than reading a workof fiction.

The art is as always great. Thestyle complements the story and captures the mood of each scene. If you’re newto the book, LDP will stand out since every other character is photo realistic.I believe the intention of leaving LDP faceless and without any characteristicsand without a real name, is to allow the reader to project themselves onto thecharacter. By doing that they allow the reader to have an even deep attachmentto emotions of the scene; rather than asking you to feel for a particularcharacter you’re asked to relate to yourself and your own experiences.

This is was a good issue andexactly what I’ve come to expect from LDP.I may not have loved the interaction with Jazz, but that’s the sign of a greatbook; when it takes the path of most resistance rather than giving you theending that you want. This might not be the best jumping on point for newreaders, but even if you start here you’ll get enough recap of the previousevents through the dialog and honestly you should still feel the emotion of theending. If you chose to wait then you’ll be able to jump on with the nextissue.

Score: 4/5

Writer: S. Steven Struble

Artist: Sina Grace

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: 2.99

Release Date: 1-4-2012 (That's my first 2012 of the new year folks!)