Bluewater Comics 2016
Written by Michael L. Frizell
Illustrated by Ernesto Lovera
Coloured by Ester Salguero
Lettered by David Hopkins
With his recent passing there’s no better time to take a look back at the career of Prince. I think one of the things that Bluewater does, and does well, is they take what has already been told by other sources and basically recap the life of these people. There’s no preaching, no trying to sway the opinion it’s just a good solid look at what we know about them. Love him or hate him Prince’s long and storied career and his secrecy have fueled so many acts and so many incredible hit songs. He’s been controversial for his on stage antics and his overly sexual lyrics not to mention his style of dress. He’s been one of those people in my lifetime that has contributed so much and a so much we still don’t know about.
This was originally published in 2013 but it came again in honour of what would have been his 58th birthday with four new pages and 3 new covers. So even if you’ve read this already it’s worth getting again.
I have to say I don’t know anyone who wasn’t touched by his music in some way, shape or form. This issue really does do a lot to focus on the man that became the music sensation and his early trials and tribulations before making “it.” From his early associations while putting a band together to his later years mentoring it’s really a nice look at his career. I think what Michael does with the way he tells the story here is fantastic. I mean many people will just go to a certain point or remember one instance and here he really does flesh him out for us.
His MTV days and his rocketing rise as a cultural icon, yes it was kind of fun seeing Martha Quinn again. The phenomenon that was/is Purple Rain, that this little black man wearing purple in high heels broke the pop colour barrier you kind of forget how much he’d done. Including writing for others, Sinead O’Connor that’s a given but some of the others like Stevie Nicks you think wow how diverse he is too.
This is one of those treasures you pull out when you want to remember him. When a song comes on and you think of him it’s a great thing to have to remember someone by. Plus it’s a comic book so of course it’s cool. It really does ignite my personal memories some of which i’d forgotten and that’s a wonderful feeling.
There are some very iconic moments featured in the artwork. Some look like they are taken from photographs other times Ernesto seems to struggle a bit but overall it’s all Prince and his various looks, do’s and dress--or lack thereof. The interiors do as much to evoke memories as the words do so it’s a great combination.
Tribute, homage and reminder of the man, the myth and the legend it doesn’t get any sweeter than this.