Stylish Vittles: I Met A Girl
By Tyler Page
Published by Dementian Comics
Tyler Page's graphic novel is an unapologetic love story set in Page's senior year as an art student at college. Page says he is on a "journey to define" himself with this work, which focuses on the little moments of doubt and bliss that accompany a new love.
Apparently autobiographical in nature, this ambitious work does an excellent job in getting the reader to invest in the characters and their relationship, and the sense of place established through Page's terrific background work depicting the campus of St. Olaf college is outstanding. Page's art-student ambitions sometimes get the best of him -- a journey through the cosmos to arrive at the college after many, many pages is a bit much -- but on the whole I found the novel engaging and irresistible.
Page's script convinces us of his growing attraction to Nanette, and the little bumps in the road of their relationship are hilarious and all too real. Page narrates the tale for the most part, and the occasional narrative switches to Nanette's POV were a little strange. Page seems to establish that this is his story then turns it over to Nanette at times; she often explains things Page never could have known at the time, which is a distracting narrative flaw, but not a huge one. The debates the couple ends up in over religion and the nature of the universe struck a chord with me, and on the whole the flow of the relationship is quite convincing.
Page's style is strongly, strongly influenced by Alex Robinson, Dave Sim and perhaps Scott McCloud, but Page's synthesis of their techniques is in the service of the story he is telling. The occasional panel struck me as odd, with the characters boldly posing superhero-style, but this seems to be meant as funny or ironic, and mostly works in the sequences in which it happens. Page's narrative honesty is quite refreshing, and reminded me of Tom Beland's True Story: Swear to God comics, where the male doesn't try to pretend he isn't a sexual being as he recounts the details of the relationship's early days.
The major flaw of this work is merely the fact that the novel ends with the words "To Be Continued." Stylish Vittles is a compelling story told well, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in the saga. Stylish Vittles will be solicited in the September Previews (which I believe comes out next week) and will ship to stores in November. If you're a fan of Box Office Poison, Jay's Days, or True Story: Swear to God, I strongly recommend you check this out. You won't be disappointed. Grade: 4/5