Lolajean Riddle
Posted on April 5, 2005
This is a character study in two parts, written by John Dunning and illustrated by Mardou. The first: an excursion into the inner life of a young, passive woman; her obsessions and her relation to the world about her. The second: this woman’s vicarious life as a young, active man; and in turn, his obsessions and his relation to the world about him. It’s a somewhat self-satisfied but substantial story with literary aspirations, which mixes the spirit of the Beat Generation with trash pop-culture, and though it has its excesses and false notes, provides sophisticated writing and an unerring sequentialism that incorporates a Crepax-like elegance into a Tomine/Clowes narrative style.
When freelance illustrator and 'self-mythologiser' Lolajean Riddle returns to the solitude and imagined dangers of The Ann Bolynn Motel (sic) for another of her working weekends, progress on illustrating her masterwork – ‘an authoritative sexual biography’ – is halted by the arrival of the equally pseudonymous Kurt Nicole-Smith, a writer and kindred spirit. The flirtatious, narcissistic kooks make an immediate connection, sharing an all-too-brief period of Lost In Translation-like intimacy, before returning to their respective lives – Lolajean to her boyfriend and a cosy village life of, if not quite quiet desperation, then tolerable mundanity; Kurt to Hollywood, and a drunk, wired and horny rapture.
Charming as Riddle is - and however intentionally elusive, ambiguous and obscure the read - failure to focus theme is its major flaw. Also absent is the satisfaction of an inner conflict resolved – does Riddle genuinely crave personal liberation? Or is she content to romanticise it, indulgently identifying with Anais Nin and others, incorporating their attributes and values in a bid to sidestep her own deficiencies and negotiate her day? That such a question is asked of this ambitious comic speaks volumes for its courage and skill. As Nin herself once wrote: ‘Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage’. The same goes for creativity. Respect to Lolajean Riddle - she deserves a shot!
This is a character study in two parts, written by John Dunning and illustrated by Mardou. The first: an excursion into the inner life of a young, passive woman; her obsessions and her relation to the world about her. The second: this woman’s vicarious life as a young, active man; and in turn, his obsessions and his relation to the world about him. It’s a somewhat self-satisfied but substantial story with literary aspirations, which mixes the spirit of the Beat Generation with trash pop-culture, and though it has its excesses and false notes, provides sophisticated writing and an unerring sequentialism that incorporates a Crepax-like elegance into a Tomine/Clowes narrative style.
When freelance illustrator and 'self-mythologiser' Lolajean Riddle returns to the solitude and imagined dangers of The Ann Bolynn Motel (sic) for another of her working weekends, progress on illustrating her masterwork – ‘an authoritative sexual biography’ – is halted by the arrival of the equally pseudonymous Kurt Nicole-Smith, a writer and kindred spirit. The flirtatious, narcissistic kooks make an immediate connection, sharing an all-too-brief period of Lost In Translation-like intimacy, before returning to their respective lives – Lolajean to her boyfriend and a cosy village life of, if not quite quiet desperation, then tolerable mundanity; Kurt to Hollywood, and a drunk, wired and horny rapture.
Charming as Riddle is - and however intentionally elusive, ambiguous and obscure the read - failure to focus theme is its major flaw. Also absent is the satisfaction of an inner conflict resolved – does Riddle genuinely crave personal liberation? Or is she content to romanticise it, indulgently identifying with Anais Nin and others, incorporating their attributes and values in a bid to sidestep her own deficiencies and negotiate her day? That such a question is asked of this ambitious comic speaks volumes for its courage and skill. As Nin herself once wrote: ‘Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage’. The same goes for creativity. Respect to Lolajean Riddle - she deserves a shot!
36 A4 pages, £2.50 - check availability at mardouville.livejournal.com and www.smallzone.co.uk