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Wednesday 20 July 2016

Giant Days, Volume 2 Review (John Allison, Lissa Treiman)


The delightful saga of first year uni students Susan, Esther and Daisy continues with our heroes shopping for budget dresses to the ball, fighting the evil Shaw family in Susan’s hometown of Northampton, and Daisy helping Esther revise for her winter exams. Meanwhile, Susan and McGraw give in to their badly-hidden desire for one another while poor Ed Gemmell sees his unrequited love for Esther continue unrequited as his Gothic beloved falls for a blandly hot invigilator. And why’s Daisy suddenly using American football lingo?!

I love love love how John Allison’s writing these characters! There’s definitely a focus on Esther in this volume but all the girls get some great moments. Daisy is so cute as she tries figuring out whether she likes boys or girls or both, experimenting with the unwitting Ed in a moment of rashness. Then later she acts as the academic voice of reason to Esther’s party girl mentality and the Friday Night Lights thing was totally out of the blue and hilarious. 

Esther’s face when she deploys her “drama field” in the Northampton nightclub was so funny, and McGraw and Susan are so adorable - I love how McGraw brings out the child in Susan when he builds her a sled, dragging her through the snow to get her out of her room. What a perfect couple. 

Ed finds his place at the campus newspaper but his quiet moment with Esther at the ball was so sweet (does she know?) and I felt his pain when he saw she’d fallen for the hot invigilator Ian. Ah, Ed and Esther - will they, won’t they? I hope they will! 

Lissa Treiman’s art is still the business but she only draws half the book with newcomer Max Sarin taking over. Sarin’s a fine replacement though and her lively style fits in perfectly with the melodramatic lives of the colourful cast. 

Sigh… Giant Days is still perfect. If you’ve yet to partake, I heartily recommend this series - enjoy a slice of comedic campus life today!

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