Giant Days Volume One is a clever book about three best friends who could not be more different. They are three people who would never have been friends if they had not been roommates/neighbors in university. They are three girls who are ready to take on the world. That is, if they can stop causing dramas, survive a night of partying way too hard, and look around them and see the consequences of their actions. You know, typical 20-somethings just trying to get through the day. Fun, goofy, but serious art by Lissa Treiman illustrates the day-to-day fun, tears, parties, colds, and love.
John Allison was introduced to me by the book Steeple, which was one really screwed up ride. It was a good idea to read that first (though I did not know it at the time) as it prepared me for anything that was going to come up in any other graphic novel of theirs. However, these two books are opposites when it comes to execution of stories. Giant Days is a realistic look at growing up. Three girls: the homeschooled naïve one, the goth/pretty/drama girl, the leader who is in love with her arch nemesis (a one-sided nemesis relationship) and does not think things through to the possible result of her actions. And Steeple is a realistic/supernatural combination that blew my mind how on the nose and out of this world it was at the same time.
The fact our main characters are three women dealing with much of what we still are dealing with today (a “rate the hottie” website, the “boys will be boys” attitude and the one male that might be decent getting the brunt of all the “She-woman-man-hating” temperament) is an interesting twist by a (I am assuming) male author. This, and the over all theme of the book, makes it (for me) feel aimed more towards females (teens to adult). Yet, at the same time, anyone can enjoy. It is just a book about life and what we get ourselves into. It is relatable to most readers.