I can’t write short stories, much like in the way I can’t write short reviews. It’s simply something I don’t have the talent for, but it’s something I appreciate when others can successfully execute. I’m not really sure what to call Here We Go since it’s a full comic, but it’s a short and only exists on the internet; a short web-comic that has already concluded? It really doesn’t need a label, but that last sentence should at least help you wrap your brain around it. The story is about a boy and his mother, but narrated by the boy well into yester years. He’s on his way to school and doesn’t seem too thrilled about it so his mother makes it interesting for him. She asks him if he’s ready to go on an adventure and suddenly the world changes before our eyes. They begin by fighting space aliens, but run into all kinds of creatures of the imagination.
The point of the story is not the fantasy setting, but the bond between mother and son. Because of the medium we’re treated to the visual spectacle of their adventures when in reality it’s just story time mixed with a bit of roleplaying on the way to school. It’s a mother calming her son the only way she knows how.
The story is very quick to read and it’s kind of obvious where it’s going. The narration does a good job of painting that picture for you, but much like the story it’s the journey that matters. Sure the narration alluded to the ending and why this boy, now a man was thinking back to this time in his life, but it didn’t change the emotional impact once you got there. The narration was good, but some of the dialogue was rough. Certain lines exchanged between mother and son didn’t come across genuine especially with the space aliens.
The art plays a tremendous role in the effectiveness of the story. The entire story is colored in a light blue hue and something about that played well to the throwback era of Chrysler stations wagons. Due to the subject matter and design a lot of the art reminded me of Tall Tales books that I read as a kid which again was very effective at relaying the message of the narration. At its core this story is an emotional journey and I think the art nails that perfectly.
The first thing to point out is that this story is free to read (link at the bottom) so really there’s no reason for you not to check out. I honestly see it being picked up for an anthology one day since it would be the perfect addition to the right collection. It’s a nice short story that really highlights the strengths of the medium so check it out.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Jesse Young Artist: Anwar Madrigal Letterer: Thomas Mauer Website