Love and Rockets, Vol. 18: Locas in Love

Love and Rockets #18

by Jaime Hernández

Jaime Hernandez's character-driven "Las Locas" narratives explore the lives of a three-dimensional cast of two urban Mexican-American women, Maggie and Hopey, living in Southern California. Also starring the would-be superheroine and irrepressible Penny Century, a wealthy babe with an eye toward immortality ("Wotta name. Wotta phenomenon, " as one of her paramours so aptly describes her).

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Romance, Sequential Art

120 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

About the author

Jaime and his brother Gilbert Hernández mostly publish their separate storylines together in Love And Rockets and are often referred to as 'Los Bros Hernandez'.

Reviews

[Deb]

It was an interesting read. I picked something up from the Love and Rockets collection a year ago since people suggest the series. I would pick up another one in order to understand more, but it was easy to get through. I love the drawing style and I love when color is shown such as with the Maggie and Hopey parts. Hopey gives me predatory vibes toward Janet. Brombo (the guy who was with penny century) gives me incel vibes and I didn’t really like how most of his story arc was narration instead of conversation happening between the characters. Learning about Isabel’s past was an interesting thing as well. It’s seems difficult to find copies, but I’ll definitely be on the hunt got more.

[Will Hines]

Jamie Hernandez' art is simple, cool, beautiful and human -- this is my favorite collection of his stuff.

[Al McCarty]

When I read Jaime I spend a lot marveling at his impeccable drawings. I am in awe of the nuanced characterizations. I hear in Ray’s first person narrations the story of a soul not unlike my own. And the lives of Maggie, Hopey, Penny, Izzy, et al, keep spinning on…

[StrictlySequential ArtNarrative]

"You think it would work out? A boney girl that likes fat chicks and a fat girl that likes fat chicks?"

Sounds too good to be true...

[Catherine]

loved this. beautiful in its simplicity visually. contains the multitudes of humanity. funny too.

[Batmark]

http://morethansuperhumans.blogspot.c...

In this collection of post-Love and Rockets stories, Hopey's brother Joe and his girlfriend Janet are planning to drive to Vegas to get married, but their car breaks down and only Maggie can fix it. But Hopey takes a shine to Janet and does what she can to stall the repairs. So instead, the four of them go to a pool party hosted by Norma, one of Costigan's ex-wives, and their daughter Negra. Meanwhile, Ray is reintroduced as living alone in L.A., where he tells the reader about his on-again off-again, torturous relationship with Penny Century, Costigan's current wife. Maggie begins doing some secretarial work for Norma, and Hopey begins a friendship with Guy Goforth, whom she met at work. Izzy, whose book, The Secrets of Life and Death, has just been published, also makes an appearance--and grows to be 20 feet tall in the process(!). Finally, Penny breaks the news to her friends that Costigan has slipped into a coma and may never wake up.

After the so-so tale in Whoa Nellie!, Locas in Love is a refreshing return to form for Jaime. It's particularly nice to see the gals in color for once (courtesy of the Maggie and Hopey Color Fun story at the beginning of the book). As with every other Love and Rockets book, this one is highly recommended.

[Marfield]

Ray and Penny? Really? Their relationship is written nicely and as always Jaime's clean style and playful comic strip affectations add joy to what could be rote relationship & sex scenes. Jaime gives a nice depth to Penny's life, but I do think Ray is being used as a prop to do this. I don't think it adds much depth to his character especially since later on Ray's longing for Maggie and Frogmouth gets more attention. I think Ray's film noir narration is awesome as always, it's just that this storyline didn't have much lead up nor did it have follow through later on. Maybe a misty reflection on a fling with Penny would have been more appropriate than a devastating, off and on relationship. Don't get me wrong, I adore Love and Rockets like crazy and you still should read this, I just think in the wider scope of the series the story is a little off.

[e]

a strange and graphic graphic novel, from the perspective of a handful of women, though the author is male. the leads are rough and somewhat hard to connect with, because of their brashness. i didn't like the first story or two but found the rest more enjoyable, perhaps simply because i had calibrated my expectations.

[Famousperson]

The awesome incredible dream-setting story "The Race" is contained within this book-- really sticks to your ribs! Maggie and Hopey are adorable and sexy.

[kubby]

i'm not too familiar with jaime's world(which is why i picked it up), but could still follow along quite easily. and it was a fun read

[Csquared]

I have read this over and over. Hopefully some day I'll have the entire series. The stories move quickly, are entertaining, charming and I fell in love with the characters. A classic.

[Morbus Iff]

I like the Locas, but it might be time for me to move on.

[Bridget]

Good entrance point to the series. If you're not sure if you want to start from the beginning with L&R, this is a good place to stick your toes in.

[Steven]

Las locas are interesting women and they are no more interesting than when they are in love, especially with each other.

[patty]

Having missed the Love & Rockets series the first time around, I want to read more. Fun stuff.