Sully, the comic-book pseudonym of Montreal-based writer and artist
Sherwin Tjia, brings us a collection of short comics about a hipless
boy living in a hipster neighbourhood—although, honestly, he doesn’t
seem all that unhip. Nonetheless, Sully’s stories are charming
reminders of a time of youth that’s both hopeful and nostalgic, with
three archetypal characters: the self-portrait narrator, the
not-quite-platonic female best friend, the art student friend.
Tjia’s clean, crisp drawing style recalls Seth’s artwork, but with a
humour and warmth that makes these like Conundrum’s Archie comics. Tjia (also author of The World is a Heartbreaker, under
his own name) strikes a fine balance between sensitivity and maturity,
right down to the afterword detailing the characters’ grown-up lives as
curators and advertising directors.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2009.
