The Letter
What is the best way to respond to a voice from your past? This comic is an excellent attempt to examine that concept. I’m old enough now that there are plenty of people I haven’t seen or heard from in 5, 10, even 15 years that I once considered really good friends, so it’s easy from one perspective to relate. A young woman named Allison receives a letter from her former friend Marybeth. Marybeth is getting married and, even though they haven’t spoken in 10 years, she would like Allison to be in the wedding. Allison, meanwhile, hasn’t been home in years due to the fact that she left her hometown ages ago after not wanting to confront her parents about the fact that she was gay. Allison goes through a number of possible responses and ends up with one that tells her story briefly but politely. This is a silent book (except for all the letters and attempted letters, that is), so we do get a brief glimpse of Allison enjoying her daily life. Still, this is too short to do much of anything but make a point, which it does beautifully. This is well worth seeking out, and I’m instantly curious to see her other comics, which is always a good sign… $2
