SWING VOL. 3 - graphic novel

GRAPHIC NOVEL WEEK



Putting the 'graphic' back in 'graphic novel.'

Married couple, Dan and Cathy, love each other very much. Dan will do anything to make his wife happy. Cathy wants to live the Swingers lifestyle.  Dan isn't convinced of this and Cathy is aware of Dan's reticence and she's willing to take it slow to get him acclimated to the world.

Dan works hard to remain positive, even despite Murphy's Law - if something bad can happen, it will.  He thinks at one point: "How can I say no to this woman? I love her so much. I'm upset, but I'm sure this has happened many times in the swinger lifestyle."

I'm not going to define what happened - if you're interested, you should read the book. But I do wonder ... if something 'bad' happens, even if it happens a lot due to the lifestyle, does that make it okay?

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this book.

The artwork by Yishan Li is nice.  It's got a modern style to it - not perfectly realistic but stylized with sharp, angular faces. There's plenty of nudity and sexual positioning and group sex (with some homosexual scenes). If that troubles you, then you might want to pass on this (and maybe don't consider reading anything about 'swingers'). If the idea excites you, just calm down a bit. It's still tamer than anything you might see on HBO or Starz.

The story by Matt Hawkins, felt unrealistic. Maybe it's because I don't know anyone in the swinger lifestyle (at least I don't know anyone who admits to it). Something about a young couple and this didn't come up earlier in their relationship, but suddenly one is ready to jump in and experience it all while the other has to be coerced (gently, so as not to seem like he's being coerced) felt like wishful thinking. I really couldn't get behind the story and it was quite one-dimensional - girl wants to be more playful sexually, with others, boy goes along because it's what girl wants.

Mostly my reaction was - "Eh."

The book includes a 20+ pages worth of Special Previews for other graphic novels (I'm not sure what they're called) that were more traditional sorts of fantasy with elves and fairies and the like.  I think I enjoyed these more than the main book because they seemed to be going somewhere with a story.

Looking for a good book? Swing, Vol. 3 by Matt Hawkins and Yishan Li is a nice-looking graphic novel with a story about a couple who 'swing' - one of them reluctantly. I'm not sure what tot take from this, but if it sounds interesting to you, then check it out.

I received a digital copy directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

Swing, Volume 3

author: Matt Hawkins

artist: Yishan Li

series: Swing by Matt Hawkins #3

publisher: Image Comics

ISBN: 1534316108

paperback, 128 pages

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