Hecate’s Will

A found family of New York City bohemians finds strength through art in this affirming if somewhat simplistic outing from Zanfardino (You Never Heard of Me). Guerilla artist Rebecca, aka Hecate, despairs at her inability to reach an audience through her admittedly roundabout method of putting up cryptic murals around the city. Resolving to drop la vie boheme and become a “normal person,” she internally monologues about how vapid such normies are. Despite her aims to go mainstream, her friend Mateo drags her into the local queer arts community to volunteer on a production of Rent (the script from which Zanfardino draws this comic’s themes and plot beats). As the troupe’s costumer, Rebecca kicks up romantic sparks with motorbike enthusiast-chanteuse Naomi and helps a trans actor decide whether to conceal his chest scars. Zanfardino’s dynamic, flowing art, tinted in a limited palette of diluted earth tones, adds visual appeal to the slight story. Her views of New York landmarks, streets, and crowds are as eye-catching as her cast of stylish artistes. Despite Rebecca’s lofty pronouncements, the plot doesn’t run deeper than the philosophy offered by the pot-dealing owner of a vintage clothing shop: “Isn’t art just proudly showing your scars to the world?” Those in need of such reassurance will find this worth a look. (May)