The Best of SPX - Skim
Finally I continue the reviews of my favorite books from SPX this (last!) year.
Next up is Skim, a one-shot by Mariko Tamaki (words) and Jillian Tamaki (drawings). It is a brief slice-of-life glimpse into the high school life of student Kim “Skim” Takota. The story pays wonderful attention to detail, creating a palpable mood and an uncomfortable sense of highschool playback: reminding me of every awkwardness in my friends and I at that age. It’s nostalgia, but with a dueling and immense sense of relief that those days are past.
But as strong as the writing is, the real treat for me in this book is Jillian Tamaki’s artwork, which I can’t get enough of. Her characters live and breathe on the page. Her expressionistic style makes a strong script into a great comic.
More please.
(UPDATE: There will, indeed, be “more please.” From Mariko’s website: “Well it’s official! Groundwood Books (an imprint of House of Anansi) has purchased SKIM! (Thanks Sam!) So an extended graphic novel of Skim is now in the works. Look for it 2008. More news on this as it happens…”)