Giant Days #52 Encourages Us All To Follow Our Dreams

Esther has ventured out to London for a job interview in an effort to get a taste of adult life. She sees all that her friend Shelley Winters has and wants to grow up to be just like her. The thing is, Shelley isn’t as put together as she seems. Being an adult often comes with sacrifices. Esther is still full of dreams and hope. That wide-eyed optimism hasn’t been crushed by the powerful monotony of a daily office job. Maybe there’s another path for Esther.

You have to admire Esther’s attitude and perseverance. She understands that she’ll have to get a job sooner or later, but that doesn’t mean she has to sell her soul to do it. There’s a terrific exchange between her and the recruiter that I’m sure has gone through the minds of many people sitting in an interview.

Where Giant Days #52 really excels is when Esther’s mind wanders, seeing what her life could be like in the corporate world. Artist Max Sarin shows a grown up Esther walking confidently in a red pants suit. She has a look of disdain on her face as she speaks about the lackluster big money and cocaine party she recently attended. It’s such a contrast to the present day version of the character that it’s almost unsettling. It’s no wonder she practically runs out of there.

Although she can put on a flightly appearance at times, Esther has her act together when it comes to common sense. More importantly, she knows what she has to do to help her friends. She realizes that Shelley has tremendous potential as an author and sets a plan in motion to get her to the right place at the right time with the right people to help make that happen. We should all be so lucky as to have a friend like Esther.

Writer John Allison fills this issue with wisdom. It’s encouraging to read as it’s pushing us all to follow our dreams as we see Esther push Shelley out of her comfort zone. Also, did you know “twerk” is the new name for “network”? Giant Days is fun and educational!

The cartoony elements of Giant Days are emphasized in this issue to great effects. For example, Esther gets a peek of an erotic novel Shelley’s written and hearts waft up from its pages. As she tries to look away, they flow farther and farther, trying to get to her eyes. There are also loads of fantastic facial expressions that perfectly encapsulate what a character is going through in an almost over-the-top manner. This lines up well with the overall tone of the story so it’s never distracting. It only works to add to the emotion of each scene.

Esther and Shelley visit a black metal show in an explosion of energy and intensity. Although you don’t hear the music, you can practically feel it thanks to letterer Jim Campbell’s work. The singer’s words flow across the page like with guttural passion.

While Giant Days #52 is focused primarily on Esther’s adventures in London, Susan and Daisy are having fun back home with a visit to the spa. This is an uncomfortable idea for Susan, but she quickly warms to it. Colorist Whitney Cogar shades these sequences with soothing pinks that go hand-in-hand with the environment.

It’s amazing how Giant Days drives home a message without being overt about it. It’s weaved into the fabric of the story in an organic way. This makes for an inspiring read that can help push people to pursue their dreams. It’s also pretty hilarious in it’s usual sitcom style. Man, I love this comic.

Giant Days #52 from Boom! Studios is currently available at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.