Following the lives of two wayfaring adolescents, John Pham's ‘J&K' takes an introspective, and often whimsical look at two individuals desiring stability in their lives. In spite of the adversaries faced, ‘J&K' embody adolescent certainty, and even through emotion struggles, move forward with a strong drive and belief in each other. A portrait of two friends whose adventures flux between upbeat and harrowing, but all the while presenting a pastel soaked playfulness under the visual aesthetic of its creator.
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At first impression, the style and panel work feels slightly archaic and if not for the use of pastel colours, would be comparable to the classic comic strip. However, where this approach begins to transform is within the ability to make even the grotesque become adorable. This is made apparent from the opening segments and the character spawned from J's acne, lovingly referred to as “Bacne'. This innocent-natured character which acts as the duo's child, is equal parts disgusting and adorable. There are many examples of this throughout the world created by Pham, with many characters that have twisted figures made palatable through bright colours and simple forms. Overall, the art does hold some deceptive depth in its ability to inject some gross imagery and still get the reader to fall in love with the contorted figures, and those that are already adorable in design are just that much more endearing in comparison.
Fantagraphics has presented a pretty ideal package for this edition, particularly in embracing the juxtaposition of somber and cute presented by offering up little bonuses that celebrate the simplistic joys enjoyed by its subject. These bonuses include a sticker sheet, collectible trading cards, a fold-out map and poster, and a 5” vinyl record. These bonuses feel plucked from the pages of the graphic novel, capturing the mall atmosphere where the duo spends most of their time.
The comics aesthetic also gives a chance to enjoy what has been referred to as “Vaporwave”, a pseudo-nostalgic music genre, in which visuals play nearly as important of a role. It is within this subgenre that music specifically aimed at recreating the soundscape of 80/90's mall music experience exists, and it is easy to imagine the sequences within the mall having the atmospheric genre playing through the speakers. The colour palette of light tones and the simplistic take on commercialism also become traits, along with the music genre. Even if this was an unintentional nod towards this genre, it does embody the spirit that has helped this music movement grow.
With a lot of the visual elements being presented in a somewhat simplistic manner, it allows for some deep subversive narrative that elicits a strong sense of emotion. Some of this is only hinted at, without knowing Job Pham's background of being born in Vietnam and coming to the USA as a refugee, it may be overlooked by the less perceptive reader. Most notable is the portrayal of veterans being broken down mentally and physically, but despite their rough exterior, ‘K' still keeps treating them with kindness and empathy. The girl's treatment of this group shows a perspective that would normally be lost on a younger generation, with no real understanding at what war can do to people's body and minds. It is also hinted within the story that the characters themselves may be some sort of refugees, without parents or a real home with hunger and need for security being a constant obstacle for the duo.
The later chapters also see a sharp shift in overall tone, as we see J&K turn into dogs and start to reflect those traits. What originally seems like a continuation of the more comedic and light elements of the bulk of this edition, takes a dark turn. Instead of sadness being subverted, it is quickly pushed to the forefront of the narrative, culminating in a very harrowing conclusion. Without spoiling, it is difficult to convey the final gut punch that the story leaves, but is bound to be impactful on even the most jaded reader.
Having previously covered two titles published through Fantagraphics, (“Nijigahara Holograph“, “Dementia 21“) I was hopeful to find some inspiration in an artist I was previously unaware of. To my own surprise, I found a work that subverted my expectations and offered a comic which balanced many different pop culture elements in an inspiring and engaging way. The comic becomes more charming as the story progress, as the story becomes more emotionally fueled, subtle humor begins to create more ‘lol' moments, and the bright and cute visuals that became exponentially charming. To top it all off, the edition culminates in such a brilliantly planned somber note that it will resonate with me for some time. Overall, John Pham proves himself to be a profound talent, and Fantagraphics presents his work in a very appealing way, making for a wonderful addition to any collection.
