Rooftop Blues – Book Review
by Ethan Deal
I love graphic novels, and this one drew me in immediately. From the cover to the description and that one impactful quote: “You’re not alone anymore.” I knew this was one I wanted to read. I’m grateful to the author for a review copy. Now let’s talk about it (spoiler-free).
Some stories start with a premise that sounds impossible to approach lightly, and somehow find the humanity in it. Ethan Deal’s Rooftop Blues is one of those stories.
This graphic novel starts with Chuck and Talulah, two strangers who meet on a rooftop at the worst time of their lives. Instead of doing what they came there to do, they start talking. That conversation becomes a strange life raft: messy, funny, awkward at times, and sweetly surprising.
The book has a dark comic edge, but Deal never makes light of the serious subject matter. Chuck’s psychosis, Talulah’s depression and grief, and the suicidal thoughts of both characters are all a part of who they are, but neither character is reduced to a diagnosis or a tragedy. Broken people trying to understand pain, loneliness, fear, and the strange possibility that someone might actually see them.
The humor is one of the book’s greatest strengths. The banter between Chuck and Talulah is sharp and often absurd, as real conversations can be when people are trying to survive something overwhelming. But the comedy never completely cancels the heaviness out. But it does lend the story an air of veracity. Sometimes people do laugh at the worst of times. Sometimes an odd conversation, a cup of coffee, or just somebody staying can mean more than a perfect speech ever could.
It also tackles some tough topics surrounding mental health in a way that feels authentic and relatable. It could also help open doors to some touch but neccesary conversations in life. And it illustrates how sometimes, we just need to hang on for that person who reminds us we’re not alone anymore.
The comic art in black and white fits the intimate, emotionally raw mood of the story. The close-up facial expressions and quieter panels allow the dialog to have an impact, while the city setting and rooftop opening provide a fitting sense of isolation. The connection between Chuck and Talulah is quick, but the story understands that people in crisis do not always meet under neat or ordinary circumstances.
At its heart, Rooftop Blues is about those small, complicated ways that people help each other carry on. It is dark, romantic, weird, funny, and at last, compassionate. Be aware that the story deals directly with suicide, depression, grief, psychosis and mental-health treatment, but those comfortable with those themes will likely find a lot to appreciate in this unconventional story of two lonely people choosing to remain.
Rooftop Blues is a graphic novel to remember, with a big heart beneath its grimly funny surface.
You can get it for yourself here on Amazon.