Betty Bluesby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 Rice's girl, Betty, gets lured away by a Fat Cat. He gives up on playing jazz and runs away, only to find a friend that helps him fall in love with music (and life) again. But is it too late for Rice and Betty?Don't let the cartoon animals fool you, this is a comic for mature readers. The characters are all adults. There's implied (off-the-page) sex, drunkenness, and an act of sabotage. The muted color palate really does a lot for the seriousness of the comic and the grown-up nature of the story. The designs are easy to tell apart and tell what animal they are. Some personifications work better than others, especially in the face (in general) and expressions. I love the married couple, who have a bit of a run-in with the consequences of Betty and Rice's decisions. It's humorous, and I like that they come out ahead. I also like that they are a genuinely happy couple -- happy with each other. Betty is not the type of woman character that I like. However, I like that she learns to appreciate what she had. I'm also amused that she was lured away by a literal Fat Cat (both senses of the phrase are in play). The cat, on the other hand, is very one-dimensional. While his personality fits with the plot, it would have been nice to have him genuinely interested in her for her and not as his latest arm candy. Rice is interesting despite being very typical in his personality and reactions. His owl friend is my favorite character. He's the kind-hearted giant character, but he also has a strong sense of justice and is willing to take matters into his own hands. His involvement (and what he shows Rice) also shoves a bit of pro-nature / anti-industrialization into the mix, which works well as a catalyst and provides a good moment of humor afterward. I was quite surprised by the ending. I don't want to say anything that will give it away. I just was not expecting what I saw on the last page (and the narration in panel before that). I'm not disappointed by the end, but it's yet another reason this is a story for a mature audience. As a side note, I'm also thrown off by Rice playing jazz, when he could just as easily be playing blues, which would tie in better with the title and theme. The format is large (typical graphic novel size), hardback with nice paper. The $18.99 price is a bit steep for me, but I'm not a huge fan of Dillies in general. Fans will want to check out this earlier work. It's a well-done comic in story and art, but it won't be for everyone. Written: November 27, 2013
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