Boom! Box 2019
Written by Sina Grace
Illustrated by Siobhan Keenan & Sina Grace
Coloured by Cathy Le
Lettered by DC Hopkins
Daphne settles into her new life as a resident of Rycroft Manor, and the unique challenge of living with ghosts. Pros: they don’t steal her food. Cons: It’s the first date she’s been on since Ronnie, and her flatmates keep popping up all over the place. Literally.
The opening here is fantastic. The black and white style an how Agi comes across Rycroft Manor and what her plans are for it. The more we see in regards to her the more I think I like her and not just because she comes across as the matriarch of the clan but because there is that depth to her that feels like she's regal and worldly and whether that's true or not is almost not relevant. Sina's opening has a fair bit of power behind it and that it blind-side's Agi the way that it does is something that many of us can relate to.
I really like the way that this story is being told. Sina has a really fun, interesting and unique style to the way he writes. His perspective or point of view is rock solid and that he can convey each of these different personalities of the individual characters so the reader can instantly identify the speaker is rather impressive. Also I adore the subtlety of seeing that Daphne is so excited by what's going on around her that she's missing the verbal clues that's being annoying. I get it but what is it about those who just get so excited they never shut the blank up?
The story & plot development and the character development that we are seeing here is great and how that's picked up by the pacing and carrying it all forward. There are still secrets with the ghost community here and we aren't teased about them just informed they exist and I love that this layers what is already present with the promise of so much more. I feel like Sina is laying the groundwork for a franchise not just a story, one with multiple arcs that tell various parts of the past, present and possibly future of the house. He also engages the readers' in ways that are simple, honest and with a degree of caring that I found surprising.
I like the interiors here but I really want to see backgrounds utilised more. This is a cafeteria there should be so much life going on around them, enhancing the moments and bringing a better size and scope to the story. The linework is actually very beautifully done and it has this strength and grace to them that reall leaves such a nice impact on the reader. The attention to detail in the characters is well rendered and the facial expressions really work well to bring us more characterisation. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a strong solid eye for storytelling. The colour work is really nice to see as well. While I don't want to see the solid backgrounds the way that we see the colour blocking and light sources being utilised is well done.
Oh poor Daphne if she's just allowed herself to catch up with Ronnie to find out exactly why he broke up with her. I mean the boy is gay and it took coming to college to have the courage to come out. Oh a series of misunderstandings because Daphne is too chicken-shit to actually open up about her feelings and find out what's going on. She really is a Shrinking Violet and needs to allow herself to bloom already but this is as much her coming of age story as it is anything else.
Sina is writing an all-ages title full, heart, courage, faith and lessons that we are never too old to learn and/or be reminded of. I am really into this book and for a myriad of reasons and while what resonates with me may not resonate with you, you'll still have no problems finding characters to relate to and situations that might be all too familiar. Take a chance on this you'll find a whole new world open up to you.