Giant Days #32

In our world of prolonged adolescence, it’s refreshing to read a comic about people having to grow up. (I’ve said before that this is one of the many things I like about Giant Days, that it’s “exploring what it means to be an adult and take care of yourself”.) Previously, Susan, Esther, and Daisy set up housekeeping together, moving out of college dorms, but now it’s been a year, and in Giant Days #32 (written by John Allison; pencils and cover by Max Sarin; inks by Liz Fleming) they have to decide whether to continue, as dating relationships pull the friends apart from each other.

Susan has a boyfriend who’s quite the handyman, which makes the sad state of the women’s rental house all the more apparent. But if you love a place, if only because of the situation you’re in there, it’s easy to overlook disgusting showers and dangerous stairs. Those features, by the way, make for some well-drawn physical comedy, particularly when the boyfriend has to be kept under the stairs when the landlord visits.

Daisy, meanwhile, is still under the thrall of her first girlfriend, an unpleasant woman who is basically a squatter in an old factory. That leaves Esther, who’s found a lovely new place for the three of them, since she doesn’t yet realize how much is changing. She can’t have what she wants — the three staying together another year — so she’ll have to compromise.

I’m curious to see how all this plays out in future. I enjoy the time I spend with these women and their friends, particularly since they have such distinctive voices and unusual occurrences. The conflict here is a natural one, as what someone prefers to do may not make realistic sense, and navigating those kinds of decisions is an important adult skill to have. I admire Allison for making it so entertaining to read about. (The publisher provided an advance digital review copy.)