NaBloPoMo Day 11: Review: Johnny Hiro : The Skills to Pay the Bills by Fred Chao

PUBLISHER:
Tor

This is the second graphic novel in the adventures of Johnny Hiro and I have to say this one was my favorite. Maybe because I’m used to Chao’s world that combines impossible monsters and action situations, with real world experiences seen through Johnny and Mayumi’s eyes, or perhaps it is  Chao’s comfort with the characters and his courage to delve deeper into their emotional landscape.

This volume finds Johnny and Mayumi a few years older in their lives and careers. Johnny continues to work as an underpaid Sushi chef while Mayumi continues to try to succeed in the publishing industry. The couples challenges really reflect the time and the city that they live in. Thanks to a generous friend the couple are able to live in a city that stimulates them creatively yet is terribly expensive. Johnny finds himself worrying more and more about his finaces and his future.

These situationsbring some much needed person growth to Johnny’s life. Between the awkward knowledge that Mayumi is best friends with one of his ex’s to a confrontation with a boss over his workload, Johnny comes to realize the role he plays in the creation of his world and the presence of faith and trust in his future.

This was a wonderful book, full of fun and poignant moments and comedy. I’ve really enjoyed this journey with Johnny.