The Eternal Smile review
In The Eternal Smile, Gene Yang and Derek Kirk Kim make an excellent team, expertly combining writing and artwork to put together three short stories that say a lot. I was really taken with Kim’s talent. I had read Yang before so I knew what to expect but the diversity of Kim’s drawings really impressed me.
The first story is by far the weakest. A young hero sets out on a quest to bring the Frog King’s head back to his love, the princess. Should he succeed he wins her hand and the kingdom. Though everything is not as it seems and in the end he must make a choice. The script is entertaining if predictable.
The last two stories are where these artists really show what they can do. In the title story, a greedy frog builds a church to an eternal smile in the sky. Layered in a funny, dime-store comic style is commentary on exploitation, religion, entertainment and power. The use of color in this story is especially impressive. I won’t spoil the ending but I will say that how Kim paints the final pages make for a beautiful ending – the type that’s leaves you with a smile.
As much as I enjoyed “The Eternal Smile”, the final story is the book’s best. In this story Yang and Kim show what a great team they make. Kim perfectly illustrates Yang’s brow-beaten secretary. Kim boxes her in her panels like she’s boxed in her cubicle. She is cherubic and small but an email from a Nigerian prince asking for money makes her bigger. She answers the email and complies with the requests. Just that simple concept alone makes me love this story.
Through each story could easily turn dark, Yang and Kim don’t let that happen. After a week of indie comics and a vampire book, I was happy to see an eternal smile.
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I agree, the first story was the weakest, and the last story I found the most enjoyable. Overall, though, an excellent collection and highly recommended!