By d. emerson eddy — It can be difficult being “different” growing up. Even in more artistic, accepting theatre groups, the '80s and '90s could be a challenge. Though there have been great strides over the past two decades for equality and acceptance for everyone outside of a cis-het bubble, but we've still got a long way to go in order to make sure that everyone can feel welcome and comforted within society. Luisa - Now and Then by Carole Maurel, as adapted by Mariko Tamaki and translated by Nanette McGuinness, takes a hard look at compromise and hiding who you are in a rather interesting way.

In what's an otherwise straight-forward slice-of-life story of a 30-something in Paris, Luisa - Now and Then throws a monkey wrench into an adult Luisa's life when she's confronted by her teenage self, confused after finding herself in the city. It gives us an intriguing insight, not just into the awkward navigation Luisa makes of her present day interactions, but of the disappointment that her younger self sees in how her older self has given up on certain dreams and hidden away a part of herself in her attraction to women. 

It's a direct situation where I think a lot of us find ourselves questioning as to how a younger version of us would look at where we are today. It also gives the adult Luisa that kick in the butt that she needs to push forward and accept herself, regardless of what parents, friends, or a broader society might think. Plus, there's a ton of humor in the scenes between the two Luisas and the present day Luisa's helpful and openly lesbian neighbor. There are some rather interesting scenes as the confused younger Luisa tries to navigate modern day Paris, with multiple changes to the world that have happened since the '90s. It gives an added fish-out-of-water element that helps inform the overall culture shock as the two Luisas try to reconcile their perspectives later.

Carole Maurel's art falls into a style often used in European historical and autobiographical tales, tending towards a simplified and somewhat scratchy cartoon-like appearance. For a North American reference, her art reminds me somewhat of a cross between Adrian Tomine and Fabio Moon. It lends itself to a fair amount of expressiveness, that becomes even more interesting with the application of grey washes for flashbacks and a combative dance of pink and yellowish color schemes representing the older and younger Luisas.

Overall, Luisa - Now and Then by Maurel, with Tamaki and McGuinness, offers up an entertaining tale of a woman trying to find herself and imparts an important lesson that we need to accept ourselves for who we are, regardless of any outside interference.

Luisa - Now and Then
Writer & Artist: Carole Maurel
English Language Adaptation: Mariko Tamaki
Translation: Nanette McGuinness
Publisher: Humanoids - Life Drawn
Release Date: June 20, 2018
At 32, Luisa encounters her 15-year-old self in this sensitive, bold story about self-acceptance and sexuality.
Single, and having left behind her dream to become a renowned photographer, she is struggling to find out who she is and what she wants. In order to help and guide her younger self, she must finally face herself and her past. When Luisa finds herself attracted to a female neighbor, things become even more complicated... Insightful and funny, this is a feel-good coming-of-age story.
Price: $14.49
Buy It Digitally: Luisa - Now and Then
Buy It Physically: Luisa - Now and Then

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.