Our girls have settled into university pretty well, but now they’ve got a new challenge to tackle: the flu. It’s spreading like wildfire and there’s no stopping it, not even Esther’s supposedly invincible immune system. The trio catches the flu all together, because if one of them’s going down, you can bet they’re going down together. There’s not a single person in this world who can deal with having the flu with any sort of grace, but Esther, Susan, and Daisy are basically made of melodrama. They all work through their illness with a great sense of theatricality. Despite the fact that they’re all pretty sure they’re dying, it’s hard not to laugh, albeit sympathetically. We’ve all been bedridden, and we’ve all tried to continue on as though normal when actually melting from the inside out. And those who smoke can surely appreciate Susan’s turmoil.
It’s all delightfully relatable. Undoubtedly we’ve all had a moment or two where we wanted to just lie down in the cereal aisle. Don’t pretend otherwise. Those absurd urges we get- to just flop around or to burst dramatically into a wine and cheese party in full Gothic attire- these girls just do it. They don’t think twice. If it feels right, they do it, they give in to their ridiculous or overdramatic urges, and it’s so satisfying to watch. (To be fair, they’re a bit uninhibited at the moment, but I can safely say that illness has never led me to act as completely eccentrically as these three do.)
Susan’s probably the closest to reason in this issue, but she’s got a rivalry with McGraw, which I absolutely adore. I don’t even need to know why she hates him; it’s enough for me that she does, just fiercely and unapologetically hates him. Their scene at the drugstore is tied with Esther’s party crashing for favorite moment in this issue. Just the fact that one of the girls has a nemesis is absolutely hilarious and unsurprising, considering, as we’ve established, how prone to theatrics they are.
The artwork is so fun as well; it adds to the humor and the melodrama perfectly, and the bright coloring adds some flair to the already lively panels. There’s nothing about this comic I don’t like. #1 was a great introduction to these girls, and I was already on board, but #2 truly has me sold. This was a delight to read from start to finish; I seriously can’t get enough of Esther, Susan, and Daisy. The three have such distinct personalities but they mesh well and complement each other nicely. It’s impossible for me to choose a favorite as they each have their own endearing quirks, and their relationship and interactions are what really have me hooked.
Score: 5/5
Giant Days #2 Writer: John Allison Artist: Lissa Treiman Colorist: Whitney Cogar Publisher: BOOM!/Boom Box Price: $3.99 Release Date: 4/15/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital