Jaime might be the only writer I've ever read that portrayed the lives of young punk rockers in a way that is honest, yet romantic in the sense that Jaime's ability to convey the punk scene and lifestyle is obviously from personal, intimate experience, conveying the grass roots level that is the basis of so many music scenes that eventually become some social catch word. His story of Maggie and Hopey is at times a love story, a tragedy, and a coming of age story of two punk rockers on a realistic, local level. Not some glamorized fantasy of rebellious triumph.
If you have never read Love and Rockets, here is what I most sincerely recommend (and I know I will get complaints about this): assuming you start with Jaime's first collection of "Love and Rockets" titled, "Maggie the Mechanic", skep the first story arc called "Mechanics". Instead skip about a hundred plus pages and start with the second story arc titled "Locas". Why? Because you will be disappointed otherwise. The "Mechanics" story is well drawn, and is interesting in a historical context of what began "Love and Rockets", but it is also what I would call a premature practice story. It was Jamie's first story and the elements don't make sense with everything else that follows after it. If you start with "Mechanics" you won't find what you were hoping for.
If you have never read Love and Rockets, here is what I most sincerely recommend (and I know I will get complaints about this): assuming you start with Jaime's first collection of "Love and Rockets" titled, "Maggie the Mechanic", skep the first story arc called "Mechanics". Instead skip about a hundred plus pages and start with the second story arc titled "Locas". Why? Because you will be disappointed otherwise. The "Mechanics" story is well drawn, and is interesting in a historical context of what began "Love and Rockets", but it is also what I would call a premature practice story. It was Jamie's first story and the elements don't make sense with everything else that follows after it. If you start with "Mechanics" you won't find what you were hoping for.
Jaime absolutely nails this panel. The intense dynamic of the moment when Hopey reveals her attraction to Maggie and her lesbian sexuality is utter perfection. When I first saw this panel in 1985, it floored me in how capably Jaime handled this moment. I was barely fourteen at the time, but even then I knew that this was captured perfectly. The way it's framed, the amount of information given, that bead of sweat and the expression on Maggie's face, and the angle of the two figures. Perfect.
Hopey, Terry, and Zero on their tour.
I've always loved this image for the way it projects a blue collar, urban romanticism. It's rare to see this context of subject matter in any art except perhaps couture fashion spreads from Italian Vogue, yet here we see it with a wonderful understated quality and without pretense.
Cover for "Love and Rockets" #24
Maggie, my fourteen year old crush.
I've always loved this image for the way it projects a blue collar, urban romanticism. It's rare to see this context of subject matter in any art except perhaps couture fashion spreads from Italian Vogue, yet here we see it with a wonderful understated quality and without pretense.
This was the promo image that was being heavily advertised in comic magazines like "Amazing Heroes" and "The Comics Journal" in 1985 when I was thirteen years old. Along with the awards and extremely favorable reviews it received, it was hard not to be intrigued. The first issue I bought was number 13 it blew my mind. I was an instant fan.
Maggie, my fourteen year old crush.
Perfect chapter opening.
For being such a recognized force by the alternative literary comic book scene, it's cool that Jaime and Gilbert both acknowledge the influence that superheroes had in their development in becoming comic book artists.
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