Hello ninjas.This is a recent piece of work that really needs to be read and re-read on repeat. Mainly because this graphic novel covers such topics as: lust, love, inter-racial relationships, loneliness, loyalty, tradition, dis-illusionment of folklore and tradition,West Coast culture, White privilege, class, socio-economics, goth identity, gender issues, and just plain vampires and 20-something angst.
Excited? I know I am.
The location is California.
To be more specific, the 24 hrs. stop shop a la 7-11.
Our pseudo hero Dave is doomed to work at the "Last Stop" of gatorade and slim jims for a seemingly eternity. Literally.
One day stumbling upon the store looking for a job one night Dave got more than he asked for and is now part indentured slave and part real slave to his master Lord Radu Arisztidescu...or just plain Radu.
Radu is the remnants of the European Eastern block before the wall came down. He and men like him don't form the sort of hedonistic, uber-powerful vampire collective you might imagine. They are more so, just eclectic 1st generation immigrants
So what is our hero supposed to do other than obviously fall in love? Worse yet, with a Goth chick. Worse yet, a mortal Goth chick. Worse yet, a Mexican, mortal, Goth chick. Nevermind that Dave has to deal with his White pasty self courting a Woman of Color but he can't tan, or he'll burst into flames.
This graphic novel from First Second Comics
deals ingeniously with the daily troubles of being poorly paid, lonely, and twenty-something in Cali. Dave has to run home after his night shift. He
sells an underground blood beer to fellow vampire customers when they come in. He even gets drunk on it after he has too much. This comes about because he's a "vegetarian". He refuses to drink humans dry and so sticks to blood bank bags and vampire beers. The side effect is that he's weaker and sickly compared to most vampires. It only adds to his emo boy appeal though.Entering the scene, is his archenemy Wes who is the blond, dumb, insecure, and psychotic killer, alpha male Wes, the "blood brother" of Dave. And of course Wes has the immediate hots for Rosa, our Mexican mortal Goth friend. And now the ancient battle to not have your love taken away by a douchebag begins. Who will win? Don't expect the conventional answer from this unconventional story.
Everything about this story is noteworthy to me. The whole thing is about power dynamics. There is the power dynamic between a White 20-something poor male who is trying to create a relationship with a 20-something Mexican female. He's male and she doesn't want him to run her life. While he's trying to protect someone who doesn't necessarily want to be protected. His White-ness and all it's (unwanted, unconsidered) privilege brings another level of barriers that Rosa and Dave have to deal with.
Oh wait you say! Class and socio-economic status are way bigger factors in interactions than simple race and ethnicity. Possibly more so than gender!Well Wes is a rich, trust fund vampire that doesn't do anything but surf, party, drink blood and kill people at will. He has the hots for Rosa. Kind of like an exotic toy the kid you hate has. He is just exerting his greed into the realm of relationships to push down his working class brother. Rosa isn't a woman he's really interested in, but she is a way to shove Wes' power in Dave face.
(I still find it intriguing that Rosa swears that she sees the sensitive, softer side of Wes that Dave can't see)
Please do yourself a favor and read this graphic novel and look out for more from First Second. They're ill. and From NY. I'll prob go over American Born Chinese (ABC).
And def Shortcomings. GREAT graphic novel that hits close to home.
Peace,
Edmund
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