Graphic Novel Reviews: Two Graves Volume One: Wish You Were Here

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Title: Two Graves Volume One: Wish You Were Here
Published by: Image Comics, Inc.
Written by: Genevieve Valentine
Illustrated by: Ming Doyle, Annie Wu
ISBN: 978-1534325975
Ages: 18+

Buckle up for a road trip of despair.

Emilia wants to take her mother’s ashes to the sea. A personification of death offers her a ride. People die along the way.

The action of the story in Two Graves Volume One: Wish You Were Here is simple, but the exploration of the characters is the true force of this graphic novel. Loyalties are tested. Characters speak in clipped dialogue that withholds truths and feelings. Emilia and the personification of death have both a sympathetic relationship and a toxic one. They are intertwined in ways of mutual benefit and mutual destruction. The push and pull of which character is more dangerous than the other keeps the story exciting.

Two Graves is not an uplifting tale. Much of the story is involved in mysterious dialogue and melancholy situations. The tone is introspective and reads almost like poetry about loneliness. There are moments of action in the form of fight scenes and revenge, but Two Graves is more concerned with thoughtful philosophy and character development. The ending provides a twist that proves how interconnected the two main characters are. After six chapters, Two Graves offers a satisfying conclusion with enough leeway to continue into a volume two, but this would be a satisfying read as one volume purchase.

The artwork is moody and atmospheric. Smoke and shadows cover the face of the personification of death adding to the mystery and melancholy of the story. All panels are full color, and the use of blues and yellows add to the visual emotion of the graphic novel.

Another highlight of Two Graves is that the graphic novel features girl power. There are four strong women of color including the main character. Their conflict adds the action to the story and helps Emilia understand where she fits into this world of ever-encroaching mortality. Their interaction also defines a subplot about sacrifices for power.

Two Graves Volume One: Wish You Were Here is recommended for ages 18+ as the graphic novel deals with heavy themes of death, murder, morality, depression, loneliness, and loss. Each chapter ends with magazine clippings that ponder what living and dying means, which slow the story and disrupt the plot. Two Graves is a modern myth about what living and dying mean with a thoughtful plot, enjoyable characters, and fantastic art.

Best for fans of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series and Gerard Way’s The Umbrella Academy.

Angela Dabrowski
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