Li'l Depressed Boy #15

Every time I see that silly little smile, I cannot help but grin.  There is just something about the simplicity of Li’l Depressed Boy that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling in my gut, even if it is one of his more melodramatic moments.  This issue especially left me anything but depressed.

If you are unfamiliar with Li’l Depressed Boy (LDB for short) then let me fill you in:  the comic follows our plushy protagonist, an every day kid drawn to look like a sack doll.  It is a slice of life comic that centers on LDB’s everyday woes:  his love life, work struggles, that kind of thing.

Li’l Depressed Boy is not some mope fest; it’s just the kind of day-to-day stories that you or I could tell.  So don’t judge it strictly by the title.

I think part of what makes this comic so charming and so endearing is the approach Steven Stuble and Sina Grace take to the character.  If you’ve ever read Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics (you really should have if you have even a passing interest in this medium) you’ll recall the section where McCloud outlines just why simple characters like Mickey Mouse, or LDB, are so successful.  Readers or viewers are able to imagine themselves more easily as a simple, cartoonish character than they are a detailed photo realistic rendering.  Simply put:  we can see ourselves in LDB.  So not only is his characterization empathetic, but the actual cartooning behind his design is as well. 

The rest of the comic follows this “simple” strategy that I find so endearing.  The dialogue is sparse and snappy.  It’s down to earth, real, and used only where it is truly needed.  The opening page is spectacular.  You can learn so much about LDB and find your self with his same goofy grin just by following the wonderfully warm artwork.

LDB is a comic that is worth checking out on any day, but this Wednesday’s issue is especially worth it.  On display is the charm, grace, and simplicity that makes this one of my favorite titles every time it comes out.

I challenge you, even if you are not a fan and have not been following Li’l Depressed Boy, to read this issue and not smile as LDB and Spike hold hands or gasp audibly at the reveal on the final page.