I think back on the story: I think about how loving someone can make you fearless, make you selfless. The use of color can’t be underestimated here: the majority of this book is more or less brightly colored and when it’s not it’s a visual clue that something isn’t right, something is out of sync and it leads the reader to new dilemmas and fears. Panels that are less detailed that may include a comedic moment or where someone is being cheeky don’t ease into the background. You can easily pick up visual clues to who is who and who belongs to what club: supernatural or human. Blue, Hamal, and the world they inhabit is gorgeously illustrated but not overpowering or seeking to overwhelm you. Blue isn’t one hundred percent sure of who or what it is, this void, this dark place that is overgrowing but when he learns Hamal may be affected by it he steps out to attempt to do something about it.Īfter rereading the comic, I’m still on the fence on what makes this book stand out more to me: the artwork or the story? Young’s art is fluid. Good natured, sweet Hamal who is as generous with his time with folks who are flesh and blood as he is with the many ghosts that haunt the area. There’s a strange and very dark phenomenon happening that’s unsettling the inbetween-ers like Blue and starting to seep into the physical realm where Humans reside, and it is something connected to Hamal. Blue is very much dead and Hamal can see ghosts. Before I forget - it’s also a ghost story! Blue is in love with his best friend Hamal, who is good with his hands and works with all manner of plants and things that grow out of the earth. While describing Taproot, I’d hate to pidegonhole it…this comic is many things: it’s a queer love story, it’s a story of growth, of the transitions in life (AND after) and maturity. Having read the earlier version of this work and reading this newer, updated version I can assure you this version is even better than the original: remastered and ready for new fans to read and love. Once upon a time Taproot was a webcomic, and it has evolved to its final form, Young’s first graphic novel - an LGBT character driven drama that you should pick up.

I’m familiar with her Yellow Hearts webcomic running on Sparker Monthly. If you’re a fan of webcomics, then Keezy Young’s name and art might be famillar to you.

Writer & Artist: Keezy Young/ Letterer: AW’s Tom Napolitano/ Roar (Lion Forge)Įditor’s Note: This is an Advance Review, if it piques your interest be sure to pre-order the comic, due for release this September.

Taproot graphic novel