Everyday people going through their lives may not seem to be traditional narratives for comic books. But when you look back on the comics you loved growing up did they all contain men and women in tights, or were they more like Cathy, whose biggest challenges were her dog, her boyfriend and her weight. Or The Family Circus where the focus was on the daily lives of children and their beleaguered parents. What makes a comic book memorable is the connection it makes to the reader. Someone who’s just trying to figure out his life, or finding his purpose, or dream job can be the best sort of tales to bond with.
JJ Hernandez who’s also known as Gordidon quit college to follow his dream job. Not knowing exactly what that was, he parked himself on his parents’ couch until a phone call changed his life. In issue three of the comic book ‘Adventures of a System Administrator’ JJ finds that there’s more than one way to be a superhero. Subtitled ‘Inside Job’ JJ enacts a plan to keep the small company he works for from going under. While his boss listens and goes into action, his coworker Rik panics and questions JJ’s sanity. But JJ is secure in his ability in dealing with technology. Overall he’s an average guy, who loves his family and even picks up his mother’s medication. Being from the Dominican Republic is noted in this issue. And while representation is important, JJ’s cultural heritage isn’t some dogmatic selling point. Rather we all may know someone like JJ and that’s what inclusiveness means, the ability to see yourself in someone who may not be from the same place, speak the same language or look similar, but is doing the same things you are.
Further in we see JJ at the pharmacy, being the dutiful son. He seems to put on a metaphoric cape and is able to detect troubles with technology. While making a commentary on how businesses utilize their free Wi-Fi JJ gains enough confidence to give advice and maybe get a date. On that note the lives of the IT department aren’t exciting, but that seems to be the point. Sometimes the little things you do that make up a life isn’t about saving the world. It’s about spending time with your family, indulging in hobbies and having downtime. Then it’s back to work on Monday where people call about issues with their computers that would make you think if breathing weren’t automatic, these people would be dead. Someone’s printer cable is in a place where a three year-old would have better sense than to put it there. And there’s the lazy guy in the office who pretends he’s busy, yet attempts to undermine those who are actually good at their jobs.
This latest installment of ‘Adventures of a System Administrator’ ends on a cliffhanger and it’s exciting. We find the hacker, but am still unsure of his identity. Each issue gets stronger, more entertaining and informative showing that independent comics have some of the best narratives around.
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