Second Thoughts

The first work by the Swedish cartoonist Asker to hit the American scene tells the story of Jess and John, two strangers whose paths cross at an airport when they are both at a crucial moment in their romantic relationships. They never meet again, but their stories parallel and diverge as they decide whether or not to leave their respective girlfriends—Chloe and Sofia. Unfortunately, Chloe and Sofia are both musicians and look incredibly similar—whether by design or Asker's occasional character-design stumble—so the reader may be left wondering for pages on end if they're actually the same troubled girlfriend two-timing the protagonists under different names. At heart, this is a fairly simple tale of love lost, reconsidered or recaptured. Asker's art is unquestionably the star of the show, with his stark black and white line work carrying the emotional weight of the story, although a little clearer storytelling might have given the story more impact. (May)