There is a lot of pressure to be Bryan Lee O'Malley right now. Back in 2010, he wrapped up what would become his magnum opus with the "Scott Pilgrim" saga that inevitably was also turned into one of the most technically impressive cult films of this decade. His mixture of contemporary nerd with video game culture and metaphorical angst, he has honed his craft in such an impressive way since his debut with "Lost at Sea." But how do you follow up one of the most iconic graphic novel series in modern culture? It's quite simple. You open a restaurant.
"Seconds" follows the journey of Katie, who is 29 and on the verge of opening her second restaurant. This is sparked from the occasion when her current establishment, Seconds, sees her friends disappear as they grow up. During this time, there's encounters with strange mystical creatures in her apartment above the building and an eclectic group of coworkers who are more immature and unable to take her ditsy advice. As she begins to panic and realizes that things aren't going right, she turns to a voodoo-esque ritual that involves the four step process: 1. Write your mistakes, 2. Ingest one mushroom, 2. Go to sleep, 3. Wake anew. It becomes a whirlwind of joy and occasional chaos as she strives to form the perfect life, business, and relationships. Yet, she is never satisfied.
The story plays into all of O'Malley's strengths and possibly even expands upon them in some of the most ambitious, mature ways that author has ever portrayed. The story is essentially a study of existential crises as the youth of 20's is about to be replaced with the responsibilities of being 30. Through fantastic symbolism, the interpretive scenery of this singular location turns into a psychological war zone of bliss and terror. Katie's enthusiasm throughout makes for compelling turns as the story turns into more vulnerable territories. Things become overtly supernatural, but it doesn't sacrifice character. Instead, it enhances it.
For the first time, O'Malley's initial run is entirely done in color as well. Where the "Scott Pilgrim" and "Lost at Sea" stories didn't necessarily need benefit from color, this one is rich with beautiful scenery that often indicate moods, important plot points, and give beauty to the impressively drawn art. There are points where the animation seems sloppy, but it is all rooted in consistency in enviable ways reflective of Katie's struggles. There's plenty of clever subtitles to indicate character traits and a lot of stylized movement that helps to keep O'Malley feeling like the fresh, insightful voice of graphic novels. He may embrace the contemporary nerd, but he gives them poignancy and depth that overshadows any gimmicky behavior. Every major role in the story is given something memorable to say.
Most of all, in a time where the author could have easily continued to make video game-riffing stories, he strove for something deeper. Along with excellently drawn food porn, it is a story that exists in an almost entirely different world. By relying on the supernatural, he explores themes that are often conflicting, but true to life's greater purposes. It is a story that needs to be read a few times to be fully appreciated. It is an existential drama with a lot of comedy and more proof that if O'Malley has one amazing trait, it is making some of the most magnetic female characters that are rich with humor, yet are still vulnerable enough to have layers. He creates stylized dramas with thought and it gives "Seconds" the edge, especially as the themes become more blatant and the creativity reaches fruition.
"Seconds" is an ambitiously striking story that continues to show his strengths as an artist. However, it also shows his maturity as a writer by allowing dissection of relationships and aging to be discussed without seeming forced. He masters the art of metaphors and proves just how creative he can be when unleashed. It is a wondrous spectacle that leaves the reader with awe and demands to be thought about. It is a layered puzzle, which is at first intriguing but eventually unravels into a beautiful statement of turning 30 unlike anything else. If this is his opus for aging, I cannot wait to see what his take on midlife crises (though this book plays into that sort of) are in a little over a decade.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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