Lola XOXO is in its third volume with the latest issue from Aspen Comics. From writer and artist Siya Oum, Lola is about a young woman living in a future United States which has been devastated by a massive nuclear event. In this volume she leads a group of survivors on a trek to find a safe place to live, and possibly find her father.
Starting out the book, I was a little confused at first. Admittedly, this is the first I’ve heard of the book, and being Volume 3 I’ve missed quite a bit of story. It doesn’t take long to get into the current plot and what’s happening, but there’s definitely a feeling of history from previous volumes that I need to go back and read.
As far as story goes, the book is good so far. I’m enjoying the dialogue, and the characters seem solid so far. It’s just the first issue, so it’s a lot of setting up for the coming story line, so we haven’t gotten into the meat of it just yet. Oum does give us some great bread crumbs though, some teasers of story to come that hooked me pretty early. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Where the first issue really shines for me is the art. The pencils and colors are beautiful. Oum gets a lot of detail into each panel, without clutter. Her figures are fantastic, and the costuming brings the world to life with so much cultural variety. The different groups of people feel unique, as if they’ve formed their own tribes and communities in the wasteland. The colors are subdued and soft, but it works perfectly with the art style.
The first issue is a great read. If you’re looking for something new, take a look at Lola XOXO. I’m going to have to go get the first two volumes now. I need to know where this all started.