Review by Karl Verhoven
In the 21st century the subject matter applied to graphic novels has grown to encompass almost every genre that comes to mind, yet considering the enormous popularity of the film or TV romcom, very few graphic novels tackle the subject. That’s obviously a puzzle to Jamie S. Rich, whose bibliography contains several smart explorations of romance, and this is another. The title is attention grabbing, and revealed as somewhat contrived, but his hit rate remains high.
Will Ares is a divorce lawyer, whose services film producer Evans Beatty has used more than once, as he has a weakness for marrying the leading women in his films. They’re becoming younger and younger. Carrie, the latest of them is already planning her wedding with Gigi Averelle’s bridal service before the previous wife is actually divorced. It’s what brings Will and Gigi together. He’s knocked back when trying for a date immediately, but they eventually come to an accommodation based on whether or not the marriage actually goes ahead. With both now having a greater than usual vested interest, Rich throws in complications on all sides.
Charm oozes from every page, provided by Megan Levens before you even read Rich’s dialogue. Her cartooning isn’t quite Archie-style simplicity, although she’d be a perfect fit on Archie, but has that same instant clarity and connection, a technique that seems effortless, but which requires considerable compositional skill. There are no shortcuts here. The cast are seen from distance and placed in surroundings that are shown, rather than hinted at
Given the genre it’s important the characters resonate, and Rich ensures the dialogue sparkles and they come across as likeable. That does work slightly against him in Gigi’s case, as while her views may be entrenched, she’s hardly the Ice Queen she describes herself as. The contrast of Will’s romance-destroying job and his actual idealism is highlighted, as is his justification of “the way I see it, I’m making true love possible. I am opening the door for someone to get out of a wrong choice they’ve made, making it possible for them to make the right one”. You’ll also wonder if Rich has ever personally used lines like “You’re a wake-up call, a reminder of how real beauty is when there’s no silicone or airbrushing”.
Rich keeps the characters and situations fresh, and the only possible mistake is not tying up one mystery when everything else is neatly wrapped. The oversight’s not a major point, and Ares & Aphrodite should hit the spot for anyone who enjoys their romcoms.
