Many Deaths of Laila Starr

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Told with the tone of a fairy tale or fable, this story strikes me as something Neil Gaiman could have written, though he might have side-stepped the chapter narrated by a cigarette. And he probably would not have side-stepped the advancements or changes in the world that should be evident in a timeline that runs all the way up through the 2080s. Also, because of the repetitive nature of the story, I didn't find anything interesting or exciting in the plot.

Ram V brings another rich layer of humanity to the story—and in the process further humanizes the divine…This is not just a story about life and death. It, like life itself, is an experience.” —ComicBook.com I wasn’t taken with Filipe Andrade’s goopy, funhouse-mirror-style art though I liked the colourfulness of the comic overall. Indian mysticism is nothing if not colourful and I liked that reflected in the visuals. And, even if Ram V’s writing continues to leave me unimpressed, his observation of why funerals are so ritualised because it’s the one aspect of death we have control over, is a pretty smart one (unless he’s just repeating something someone else said). Struggling with her new-found mortality, Laila has found a way to be placed in the time and place where the creator of immortality will be born… Okay so this is ASTONISHINGLY GOOD. The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is a visual treat and emotional ride. Author Ram V. and artist Felipe Andrade deliver this incredible story set in Mumbai, playing with Hindu mythology through characters that are fun and comical enough to keep the otherwise heavy, existential themes of the graphic novel from dipping into melodrama. Plus it is absolutely gorgeous to look at, with a sharp art style brought to life in heaping doses of arrestingly bright color palettes. When Death (visually represented as Kali finds herself laid off because a boy has been born that will put an end to death, she is sent to live a mortal life and decides she must kill him to allow death to continue. We follow Death as she finds herself without a purpose and living through several of her own deaths, and through this immortal being grappling with the emotions of those with a finite lifespan we must ultimately confront the question if death itself does have a purpose in life.

Beautiful, poignant, indie comic about questioning the meaning of defying death. The art is very unique and gorgeous. My attention slipped a bit for a moment in Darius' adolescent years, but the beginning of this story and the end are very strong. I like the message that, for some, chasing immortality leads to missing moments with the people that make life meaningful to begin with. So the skinny gist is that the goddess of Death is forced into early retirement because it looks like a baby has been born who will introduce immortality to the humans. She gets put into the body of a young woman who just died. Enter Laila Starr. Laila Starr” is so many things at once that if you don’t read it in the right headspace or you rush through it, it becomes a little forgettable. Instead, take your time, and savor the art, the writing and, well, everything else — the graphic novel has a lot of things going on. However, “Laila Starr” is more than the sum of its parts; its sleeper diasporic cultural references, gorgeously fluid art and Hindu mythology-inspired storyline work to create something bigger. In teaching an immortal being what it means to die, the anomalous graphic novel series gives readers a new lens on living. Estos cómics son una obra maestra. Son hermosos y te dejan con una sensación de lo hermosa que es la vida y los pequeños momentos que la hacen lo que es.

I'm very happy that my first blind grab this year was this title. I don't think I've been as pleasantly surprised by a one volume story since I read Daytripper a decade ago. I love how as story moves, Laila learns lots of valuable lessons about mortal life and at one point she even forgets what she wanted to do. Each issue teaches us some lessons and small things about life. Also the ending of this story was beautifully done. Ram V's writing is very smooth, pacing is amazing and artwork is very colorful and unique which captures the atmosphere of Mumbai perfectly. This story begins with setting the premise perfectly. As Laila (death) starts to live in human body, she gets indulged in pleasure of mortal life. Because she was death, now she can also see ghosts, spirits and even hear the crows which makes her life more unique. We also get to know life of Darius in various stages. Laila meets him many times, sometimes without knowing him. The most interesting thing about each issue is that each time Laila meets Darius, two incidents happens and the way they happen was so interesting to see.

In terms of art, it’s as colourful as India and the religion of Hinduism whilst having a warm and nice colour pallet, so that you can feel the heat of India and the emotions of the story. The art was really great.