Truly touching, poignant and thoughtful, Waves, an original graphic novel, comes from BOOM this week.
Waves deals with pregnancy, stillbirth and the surrounding circumstances for the devastated same-sex young couple involved. It is thoughtful, particularly in how the subject is introduced, and poetically and visually intermingled with symbolism. The waves of joy, the waves of oncoming labour, the ebb and flow of the natural human cycle. The highs and lows of emotion and interconnection of all things natural and organic.
Waves is written by Ingrid Chabbert, and is based on her personal experience. It’s translated from French by Edward Gauvin, and illustrated in a watercolour style by Carole Maurel. Maurel’s drawings are well proportioned and her colour palette is tasteful and varied. There is a real ‘hand painted’ organic feel to this story.
The story unfolds in its own time, seemingly a bit slowly at the beginning. Waves is all about waiting, and indeed, waiting for events that may or may not happen. And with the waiting, comes daydreaming. The visual flow of images settling in to be interpreted, through the early stages of pregnancy and its later complications.
Nicely paced, impressively presented, and meaningful for an audience who can relate to the journeys of the minds and bodies around pregnancy and loss.
BOOM, Waves, $14.99 for 100 pages of content. Mature rating
Newsdesk