Serenity Rose Volume 1: Working Through the Negativity

I got into Aaron Alexovich via a recommendation to read “Eldritch.” I did and loved it. I'm sure he's sick of being compared to Jhonen Vasquez, but the sketchy style and off-kilter goth jokes filled a long empty Vasquez-void in my brain. I had no idea he also did the character designs for Invader Zim, but it all makes quite a bit of sense now. When I saw Alexovich was doing a Kickstarter for his pre-Eldritch comic, I joined on faith.

Serenity Rose is great. There's a bit of “I Feel Sick” influence I feel (and that's never a bad thing), but really the story is much sweeter than anything Vasquez has ever done. Serenity is not just admirable, she's lovable. She may be something of a stunted (literally and figuratively) shut in who fails to make use of her Phenomenal Cosmic Powers, but that's really the point. Vicious repeats that mantra over and over again. We all have Phenomenal Cosmic Powers, and we take them for granted because we are shy or scared or confused. Serenity is all those things, and it makes the reader love her.

The supporting cast is equally entertaining. Tess provides the abrasive, angry side that allowed this to be published by Slave Labor Graphics. Vicious may be a manic pixy dream girl but she is A) no one's love interest and B) called out on her overly-rosy manipulation of people. The supporting townsfolk also play their parts without falling into stereotypes. GovernmentMan is actually understanding though pragmatic. The town sheriff actually sides with our hero. The wicked stepmother is anything but.

It has signs of being a first work. Some of the word balloon positioning is a little awkward (especially in the early volumes), and a few plot lines fizzle without really playing to a satisfying conclusion. Still, it's a wonderful series and well worth a read for people who like a bit of off-beat humor and ectoplasmic ponies. Who doesn't want an ectoplasmic pony?