pickRuins follows a New York couple on a sabbatical to Oaxaca, Mexico. Samantha last visited in her 20s and the contrast between what she had hoped her life had become and what her life is now forces her to confront her tragic past and future. George is reluctant to have children or explore, and sees only more reasons to shut out the world in the violence that follows a teachers strike. Both are presented with opportunities to change, irreversibly. 🦋
pickThe comic at its best. This story couldn‘t have been told this well in any other format. It is a fine physical object as well, with great paper, cover, binding, and print on the page. The color and page layouts are great. The characterization and leitmotifs make all of the actors pop. A great work. My highest recommendation.
pickA very beautiful and complex comic set. On the surface it follows the Monarch Butterfly on its migration to Mexico, while also following an American couple's sabbatical trip to Mexico to write a book. But both husband and wife have some secrets they aren't sharing with each other, & both might need to follow the Monarch's lead & cocoon themselves in Mexico before they can fly, whether they emerge and fly the same direction is another question.
Very true.... plus look, the bookstore is on their map (our kind of travel map!)
so-soA couple travels to Oaxaca for her sabbatical after he is laid off. She is revisiting her past, and he is trying to regain his footing. I probably set my expectations too high based on its winning the Eisner award for best graphic novel. I loved the interludes- both the butterfly interludes and the portions of Samantha's book that we see. The main plot, though, just didn't do it for me.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the butterfly interludes were the bulk of the book.
Ruins | 
