Review: The Li’l Depressed Boy #9

Dustin normally gets the right to review this comic, buthe’s in deep space fighting some Kree And Skrulls.  I heard that he whips out his Ultimate Nullifier andeveryone bows down in worship.

This is the first issue I’ve read, and I’m impressed.  The comic book focuses on the titlecharacter that is artistically designed using very simple circles andcurves.  Other characters in thebook have human features.  Thisserves two purposes: one, to allow The Li’l Depressed Boy stand out from therest of the ‘normal’ characters and two, so there’s an everyman look to thecharacter.

The everyman theme plugs in nicely because this book is likeone of those internet memes that you read and say, “Damn, I so agree withthat.”  Unlike a single page meme,this book is 22 pages of story that mimics a person trying to fit in a worldthat feels so strange (and who doesn’t feel that way?).

Issue nine has a simple plot: LDB looks for a job.  There’s little dialogue.  In screenwriting the unwritten rule is“show, don’t tell.”  Struble showsan involving story with LDB’s pantomimes and not pages filled with dialogue(like a certain comic about robots that transform).  Nuances like the amount of change thrown on a dresser tosignify the increasing need to land employment. 

The story culminates in LDB going on two interviews.  Check out this book to see whathappened.

Score: 4/5

Writer: S. Steven Struble

Pencils: Sina Grace

Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99

Release Date: 2/22/12