You feel most at ease hovering far above the ground. Until that day, the day no one will allow you to forget. What’s more you’re a teenage girl and believe you’re being stalked by a ghost. But things should be looking up for Jules Maroni in “Cirque American: Girl Over Paris.†After all she will be able to redeem herself and spend some time with her almost boyfriend. Still specters are lurking.
Taken from the world of Gwenda Bond’s novel “Girl on a Wire†what writer Kate Leth gets right throughout this comic is Jules’ anxiety. On a wire seems to be the only place where she is most comfortable. However, when that serenity is taken from her, by what seems to be unforeseen forces the insecurities set in. After all this adaptation takes place after the events in Bond’s book. It’s always challenging to deal with the tone and narrative voice of a character not of your own creation. But Leth navigates not only Jules, but her friends. It also helps that this scenario takes place in a country other than the original setting. Leth can add to the complexity of this story without intruding on what has been read in other works by Bond.
In the world of young adult fiction you cannot take your audience for granted. For those who choose to pick up a comic geared towards the young-set expectations are high. Even Archie and Jughead are changing. Jules genuine fear despite being able to do things in the air that people are barely capable of doing on the ground touches on the irony of being a teen today. At the same time you don’t want to pigeon-hole your readers. And like Jules, Leth is careful not to stumble. Alongside the storyline is artwork by Ming Doyle. It’s not easy to capture the excitement and terror of seeing a high-wire act in a comic book, but Doyle does it. With clean lines and rich colors Doyle and his team of artists bring an aspect of the circus to life. It’s a glimpse of a world the reader may never know about and Doyle makes it come alive.
Essentially “Cirque American: Girl over Paris†manages suspense and innocence quite effortlessly. What will keep you exploring this world are the cliffhangers. Just who is this spirit that has targeted Jules? Will Jules be able to shake off her past failure? And will she and Remy get something special going?
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