22nd Feb 06

What:
Ghost of Hoppers

Where:
Online AND COMIC BOOK STORES

How Much:
$20

There’s something disconcerting about seeing comic book characters age slowly. Comic book fans are used to dramatic flashbacks and glimpses into wise old age, but it is rare to see characters subtly become more wrinkly and weary, and struggle with the years. Aside from dramatic death sequences, it’s unusual to be reminded of their mortality.

For fans of the work of the great American graphic novelist Jamie Hernandez, Ghost of Hoppers (released early March) shows regular character Maggie Chascarillo gradually approaching mundane middle age. To illustrate this, her subtle physical and psychological changes have been written into her character: she’s saggier, less stimulated, and increasingly worried about becoming boring. Meanwhile, with the exception of Hopey, the rest of Maggie’s acquaintances in Hoppers, a California town where most of Hernandez’ back stories accumulate, have drifted further away from their lives in the LA Punk scene.

Hernandez’ graphic novels are famous for their attention to chronological detail and their depth of story. This means that as a stand alone, the novel is detailed enough to imply a coherent backstory, and as a part of a series it brings new meaning and development to the already complex and interesting characters.

Is Maggie’s melancholy caused by Satanic intervention? Will Hopey ever tell Maggie she loves her? Do we get boring with age? Read and find out.

By Jan Bunny

Format: Comics

Motivation: Kill twenty minutes dead