Doomboy

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A lonely metal fan called "D" stands on a beach playing his guitar for his lost love as a way of asking her forgiveness. Under the name "", he plays Doom Metal,

“..this extreme type of metal with a real slow tempo and crunchy guitars playing these sounds you don't hear in other kinds of metal. The music and lyrics work together to give this feeling of despair and horror and looming danger.”

's music is picked up on an unused radio frequency and although no-one knows who he is or where he comes from he becomes something of a local legend. In the meantime he must deal with his own grief, conflicts with his friends and some local lads who are out to get him after he saw something he shouldn't out in a field at night.

Mexican writer and artist Tony Sandoval does a masterful job of telling stories with pictures. The characters are drawn scratchily in ink, coloured with delicate water colours in a limited colour palate which works especially well in the scenes of storms over the ocean. There are some interesting images, like the literal hole in D's heart after his girlfriend's death and the mysterious sound he hears appearing as a school of giant floating molluscs.

Due to the style it's a bit hard early on to tell some of the characters apart or figure out who is male or female, to the extent that I didn't realise at first that one of the male characters was gay. You sort of get used to it as the book goes on.

is a melancholy, story about love, loss and the way music can help you through tough times, illustrated with some beautiful art. It's suitable for young adult or adult readers.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Published: November 1 2014

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