Review by Ian Keogh

Where we go when we sleep at night is a question many have pondered, and at the dawn of comics Winsor McCay came up with one suggestion in his memorable Little Nemo in Slumberland. Well over a century later the lush illustration counts among the greatest comics, so anyone taking it for inspiration is setting the bar very high.

Ben Humeniuk’s Waking Life employs the premise of a world where anything can happen and substitutes Robbie Boone for Little Nemo. Robbie travels to the magical dreamworld every night. He’s befriended the magical princess and puts up with the irritating Max, but has now reached an age where he’s no longer enchanted with the possibilities. In his waking life he’s a loner, ridiculed for his drawing of fantasy creations, and preferring to do that in the hopes of a career in animation than concentrating on academic studies.

It goes without saying that Humeniuk is no McCay artistically, but that’s only going to be a reference point for very few readers. His drawing transmits Robbie’s emotional conflicts, and while not greatly expansive, also shows the possibilities of a magical world.

That, however, isn’t the primary concern as after the introduction Humeniuk’s focus is on Robbie trying to reconcile his own desires with the expectations of others, primarily his mother and Princess. With the early introduction of the nightmare equivalent to the Princess’ kingdom, Waking Life looks to be heading down a predictable path, but Humeniuk swerves away from that and into another idea where the inspiration is obvious, but the treatment charming. It turns out that instead of internalising his problems, perhaps Robbie ought to pay more attention to the princess.

Book One establishes the cast and situation well for a young adult audience, and will leave them wanting to learn more. As yet Book Two isn’t available in physical form, but the download version can be bought from Humeniuk’s site.