Written by Beka (Bertrand Escaich and Caroline Rogue)
Illustrated by Crip
Letters by Tom Orzechowski
Colours by Maela Cosson
Translation by Joe Johnson
Production by Adam Grano
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.

This third volume in the graphic novella series has Julie, Alia and Lucie, the trio of young female leads, endure their own passions for dance, as their school introduces them to a new African dance, which incorporates movements from everyday life. The parallel with the girls already living and breathing dance is well envisioned, and the lighthearted comedy presents a surprisingly fun tale all in all.

Many of the gags last a page or three, but the overall narrative includes many different events, from a couple of parties to time at school to the introduction of some new characters- and the African dance class drummer steals the show in every scene he’s in. We see a bit of the home life for the girls, as well as the younger generation of dance class students, but what stands out are the glimpses suggestive of the sacrifice these girls undergo in pursuing their dreams. It’s never overly dramatic of course, but it is refreshing to see represented the awkwardness of balancing relationships and side jobs and family obligations alongside something that can be rather demanding all on its own, fun though it is. Great balance to the story itself, with many silly lines and situations.

Crip’s art is very vibrant, and makes thoughtful use of physical comedy. Some of the illustrations of the students lost in dance were actually very clearly lovingly rendered. His panel flow is very casual and almost calls to mind the house style for the Archie strips, and should easily appeal to those fans. I think Cosson’s colours were the real star here, with a colorful but muted haze on every page giving a calming effect to the wackiness of some of the scenes. Excellent incorporation of SFX as well, playing off the art like a medley.

This is another of those all-ages, family-friendly comics, and although the target audience is certainly young females there are plenty of gems to enjoy here. I cannot dance to save my life, but I’ve always enjoyed watching others and seeing the passion of others- all of which is well represented in these pages. Whatever our art, it should go hand in hand with our living, and seeing these young characters responsibly embrace that is a bit irresistible.

Tags: Adam Grano, Beka, Crip, exegesis, Jim Salicrup, Joe Johnson, Maela Cosson, Michael Petranek, Tom Orzechowski