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Writer: Rick Remender, Brian Posehn
Artist: Brett Parson
Colorist: Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Capturing adolescents is not an easy task. Many try and most fail usually because they try to force a story to be something they do not fully understand. Often displayed with dialog that is designed for a teenager but clearly written by a middle-aged person. So how does Grommets avoid the common pitfalls? By placing the story in a time and place familiar to the creators.
Sure the California suburbs of the 1980’s have been portrayed in TV and film plenty of times but this story speaks to a niche culture that is not represented as often. It starts with the small details like waking up to Rick’s room which looks like a teenager’s room for the time. The posters seem fitting but not too on the nose with many interests that seem true to this era from Dead Kennedys to Black Flag to The Incredible Hulk. Yes Rick is a skater kid but that’s not the only thing about him.
I cannot get enough of Brett Parson’s art style and how well it meshes with Moreno Dinsio’s colors. Parson’s lines are a bit cartoony with exaggerated features while Dinsio’s colors are boldly bright with an abundance of primary colors. This art sets the vibe of the story right away. Also, it does not overdo the 80’s style. This is not a caricature of the time with everyone wearing cliche fashion. Everything is fitting without being on the nose which aids in the authenticity.
There are also some strong moments of storytelling like when Brian, Rick, and their friends try to skate down a parking garage. Utilizing the full page spread you get the sense of scale and speed of what they were doing. Body language also tells the story of the confidence of all the different skaters and how they handle the challenge of not whipping out. That sequence is indicative of the story which is a cavalcade of moments with their own stakes that are loosely tied together.
From a story standpoint, it feels akin to a Richard Linklater coming-of-age movie that is less concerned about
the plot and more interested in spending time with these characters. For this installment, Rick and Brian just find ways to spend their day and go where the mood takes them. At first, it was a local Taco Bell, as they scarf down food in a way that hurt my almost forty-year-old body.
Underneath though you can tell there are some deeper things happening that may come back as the story continues. Both Brian and Rick have issues going on with their families that neither wants to focus on because of a combination of embarrassment and not knowing how to communicate about them. Plus why focus on that when you rather try to impress the cute skater girls?
All this comes together for a comic that is unlike anything else being put out monthly by the major publishers. It is a book about people coming from a personal place that is full of humor, good times, and the occasional danger that occurs when chasing both. Only two issues in and this is quickly becoming one of my favorite books on the shelves.
Overall: 8 out of 10
