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CBG SATELLITES
The ADD Blog by Alan David Doane
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Damn You, Frida Kahlo
It's not really comics -- as I said, all Kochalka's illustrations are
full-page and alternate with full pages of Zura's poetry. The text
ranges from the sublime to the impenetrable, but it's always
intriguing. The best piece in the book is "Stuckey's," which benefits
from some witty Kochalka drawings and the arresting rhythm of Zura's
poetry.
I'm tempted to quote the passages involving life choices contrasted
with various starchy side-dishes, but really it's a delicate, heady
confection that you should experience for yourself. The piece is
laudable for its note-perfect recreation of the way we can empathize
with people we encounter only briefly, imaging whole universes of
their inner lives, and remembering them for years after our one,
brief, anonymous meeting. Yes, I am thinking of the beautiful blonde
girl who pumped my gas that day in 1991 when I bought my black Dodge
Shadow and drove to Ticonderoga just to give it a workout. I'll never
forget her. Don't tell my wife.
While Zura's writing makes DAMN YOU, FRIDA KAHLO worth your
attention, Kochalka's art definitely adds value to the presentation.
From the lovely, subdued cover to the charming illustrations for
"Dalai Lama and Me," to the great ass-pinching page in "Stuckey's,"
it's clear Kochalka was simpatico with Zura's intent and it's
definitely interesting to see someone who works so rarely with others
-- Kochalka -- do so seamlessly here. Grade: 4.5/5
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