Side by Side: The Journal of a Small Town Boy by Mioki

"Evan and me are best friends.  He's the blond.  We're young, but we know our place in life.  It's Side by Side."-Opening lines.

Warning: This is an Adult Graphic Novel Review.  Further, it is a Gay Adult Graphic Novel Review.  If this is not you cup of tea, well, you have been warned.

This is the story of Rick and Evan, two blue collar small town boys who are best friends.  Rick is gay.  Evan says he's not.  This makes for some interesting but frustrating times, until Evan gives Rick what he really wants for his birthday.  Now, they are lovers.

It is an idyllic time, young, beautiful, in love with your best friend, but with graduation, Evan leaves their small community for the city.  Idiot Rick takes awhile of dead end jobs, meaningless sex, and familial abuse before he joins Evan in the city.

Evan has a few friends in the city as well.  When he first arrived, Billie and Charlie, another set of young gay men, but, not, mind you, a couple, rescued Evan from a trio of gay-bashers.  Now, the three musketeers fold Rick seamlessly into their lives.  Billie and Charlie are exotic entertainment at a gentleman's club, and if not prostitutes, well, their affections are negotiable.

Together, the boys take on such issues as intimacy, monogamy or the lack there of, the sex trade, pornography, and working for a living.  Mostly, they just have sex.  Lots and lots of hot steamy sex.


That brings me to the books only lack; a strong plot line.  There is very little tension, no conflict, not much angst.  And that is the only thing I can complain about in this book.

Now, for what they do right: The Art.  Mioki is a truly gifted artist.  His style is uber-realistic; if anything is off about the art it is that the four main characters are so gorgeous.  And each is beautiful in their own way; you can tell them apart by more than just hair style.  While all are more of less the same type, the portraiture is sufficient to not confuse them.

If I had to describe his style, I would say it was what Patrick Nagel was doing before he wandered into stylized perfection.  His anatomy is spot on, no distortion of proportion.  His line is simple and clean, the colouring is used to make things pop into the third dimension. He does complete but simple backgrounds, unless the backgrounds (like the city skyline at sunrise) are the point, then he is lavish in his detail.

And make no mistake, this is not soft core; about 50% of the book is dedicated to the various ways to fit the male body together.  This makes this book a limited market, but if it is your cup of tea, then it is a hot toddy with lots of Jamison.

The Lavender Quill
Gay Non-Fiction

Is It a Choice?
The Martian Child
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality
Gay Tales of the Samurai


Gay Fiction.

Son of a Witch
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Raised by Wolves: Brethern
Raised by Wolves: Matelots
Raised by Wolves: Treasure
Raised by Wolves: Wolves
Master of Seacliff 
Ransom
Forbidden Colours
Lord John and the Private Matter
Lord John and the Hand of Devils
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade

Comics and Graphic Novels

Midnightman
Still Side by Side
Side by Side
Fogtown
Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love
The Authority: Prime
Hellblazer: Highwater
Midnighter: Anthem
Midnighter: Killing Machine
Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather
Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather (part 2)

Recommended: Yes