Writer/Artist: Mike Cavallaro
Publisher: Image Comics
If you missed the Previews solicitation of Parade (With Fireworks), it’s understandable. This book is a strange duckling within the Image Comics line... but it's not an ugly duckling. Hardly.
You should expect a comic like this to be published by Top Shelf or Oni Press, but not by the dealer of Spawn, Strange Embrace and The Walking Dead. I for one keep a close eye on the Image Comics section every month in Previews because Image has dared to provide a vast variety of genres these last few years.
For Parade Mike Cavallaro handles all the art chores by himself, a feat which earns my highest admiration. This is a personal story told to Mike by (I'm guessing) his grandfather Francesco Cavallaro on one of those family gatherings we've all experienced. Those old stories are always fascinating to listen to as a kid, but are such stories interesting for a general public? I believe so, because those stories can provide a personal perspective on recent history. And since we can’t learn from the future, the only thing we are left with is the past, which we should cherish and keep alive.
Parade (With Fireworks) is mainly set in an Italian small town in 1923; a community struggles with "what tune they are going to march to." It’s a time when neighbours, friends and family are caught in a political dilemma. The Fascist movement is growing strong, but, on the other side of the political spectrum, so is socialism. Two totally different political viewpoints that can not co-exist are now tearing up a small village.
The Fascism versus Socialism theme is hefty and can easily be overwhelming, but Parade (With Fireworks) focuses on the human emotions of friends and family without without becoming an extensive political pamphlet.
A marching band walks to their homes when they’re done for the day, literally escorted by two groups. With each group on one side of the street, the marching band is caught in the middle. Gato and his men are busting the band's balls to get them to play some nationalistic songs. The other group, which includes the mayor, hates Gato and his Fascist gang. When the tension gets high, it is the maestro of the marching band who speaks up. He agrees to play some music but not the music Gato and his men wants to hear. The situation then escalates, resulting in some heartfelt drama.
The issue contains twenty-six pages, all gorgeous to look at. Cavallaro has a clear drawing style that hints of French Graphic novels like Tin Tin, although his ink lines are slightly more expressive. The drawing lines Cavallaro uses are minimalistic, like in animation, but highly effective in creating detailed backgrounds and human emotions. Speaking of backgrounds, they are beautifully colored with just the right color palette to create a warm and nostalgic atmosphere. The construction of the pages feels more European than American, which means there is a straight forward approach to composition without any wild camera angles. Don’t mistake this style to be boring, because it makes you focus on the story rather than the artist's talents.
The dialogue is passionate, and the lettering and balloon placement excellent. I really like the sepia color of the letters, which really fits well with the art.
Parade (With Fireworks) is a warm story with excellent art that is worth your money.
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