Graphic Novel Rec - The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal

[+ quoththeraven]

This terrific webcomic by EK (Eleanor) Weaver, which ended two years ago, is available for free on the internet or in print form for money. (This will remind me to order the print version.) Here's the description:

 

In the span of a single day, Amal calls off his arranged marriage, comes out to his conservative parents, promptly gets disowned, goes on a bender... and wakes up the next morning to find TJ, a lanky, dreadlocked vagrant, frying eggs and singing Paul Simon in his kitchen.

 

TJ claims that the two have made a drunken pact to drive all the way from Berkeley to Providence. As it happens, Amal promised his sister he'd be there for her graduation from Brown University. And TJ, well... TJ has his own reasons.

 

The agreement is simple: Amal does the driving; TJ pays the way - but a 3500 mile journey leaves plenty of time for things to get complicated.

 

Amal is Indian-American; TJ is either a hipster or a hippie wannabe. The graphic novel tells their cross-country journey. It's been nominated for this year's Lambda literary award for graphic novel.

 

Here's some panels: First meeting

http://tjandamal.com/comic/img/comic/13.png

A glorious (and infrequent) color spread.

 

http://www.tjandamal.com/comic/img/comic/133.jpg

Getting better acquainted (there are NSFW pages, although they are sporadic):

http://www.tjandamal.com/comic/img/comic/154.png

These aren't sequential pages, but close.

http://www.tjandamal.com/comic/img/comic/157.png

Drama:

 

http://tjandamal.com/comic/img/comic/321.png

[+ WmClarke]

Looks like a fun read. Thanks for posting!

[MsGuy]

TJ and Amal is one of the best. I happened onto it about half way through their trip and followed it to the end. I still remember feeling a bit sad when I realized the author was winding it up.

 

There are a few uneven patches, not really bad, just not as good... but the bulk of Amal is well thought out and well executed.

 

Well worth your time even if you're not usually into graphic novels.

[WolfRamNHard]

Looks very interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks!