After a batch of sick kids, and a very sick me, I’m here with a review of BCWYWF #2, let’s take our relationship to the next level after the jump.

BCWYWF #2 The Relationship Issue
Writer: Carl Smith
Art: Brad Gischia, Nicole Bresner w/ Lily and Maddie, Anne Saucer, Timothy Conroy
Cover: DNS
BCWYWF logo: Michael Dambold

Be Careful What You Wish For or BCWYWF to the cool kids, is an anthology series from writer Carl Smith and several artists built upon a theme each issue. The theme this time is relationships. Not strictly romantic relationships either, with short stories broken up by written pieces, exploring the different types of relationships. Whether they are romantic, between parents and children, or whatever the case may be.
Get Brick is an excursion into a classic Herb Trimpe style Hulk story, with more of an examination of those who would use the monster without regard for the man. I’m simplifying for fear of spoilers. The Cattulets and the Muttagues is a Romeo and Juliet riff, only with cats, dogs, photographs, and puppets. It is also funny and kinda adorable. The Cat explores a change in a significant other not for the better, and leaves you waiting for what in the world could be coming next. The Widow takes us to the old west to introduce a mystery woman whose past (not of her choosing) sets her onto a very different future than she could have ever imagined. Plus we get a peek at a story that never happened, and being the type of dude that loves a peek behind the curtain I found it fascinating.
BCWYWF #2 like the first one is far deeper than you may be expecting to find in an indie anthology. By using a theme Carl and the crew can explore different angles of life and speak to different experiences in a way that both embraces and subverts expectations of comic books.
This isn’t a series of stories for the hell of it. This is a guy bringing us along with him as he observes, internalizes, and expresses what he has learned and continues to learn. And bringing us with him. With so much of the internet (especially the comics internet) dedicated to telling everyone else they are doing it wrong, but almost nobody actually trying to do anything different, Carl and his collaborators are doing something very different. It’s alternately sweet, funny, sad, uplifting, and cringe worthy. But so is growing up. So is life. Carl Smith brings color to black and white comics by letting his characters, and his own humanity through.
Pick up BCWYWF #2 here.
-Kris