September 28, 2005

Night Fisher

(Click on thumbnail for enlargement) I read an advance copy of R. Kukuo Johnson's graphic novel, Night Fisher, to be released in November by Fantagraphics. It's about a smart high school boy, Loren, who lives with his unmarried dentist dad in Maui. The slow paced, but always interesting, story focuses on Loren's involvement with a schoolmate and their increasing use of methamphetamines. They end up getting into some trouble because of the unsavory characters they hang around, but that's not the important part. The important part is the way Johnson uses dialogue and symbols to create a slice of modern island life. I got a good feeling for what it must be like to be a high schooler in Hawaii. Johnson's thick, evocative brushwork and use of silhouettes helps set the mood. Link/