Heartbreak Soup (Love & Rockets) Paperback – February 10, 2015

I had to read this graphic novel for one of my American Literature Graduate Seminars. I easily enjoyed it!Gilbert Hernandez’s characters in "Heartbreak Soup" first appear to represent typical Latino/a stereotypes, but these stereotypes are almost always subverted in his narratives because although they are familiar, Hernandez’s characters are richly complex. By re-presenting how both Latino and Latina characters behave and are perceived in public and private spaces, Hernandez’s Heartbreak Soup subverts and demystifies not only Latino/Latina stereotypes but gender stereotypes as well. This re-presentation brings out complexity and depth in the characters making it difficult for the reader to categorize or read these characters as just mere stereotypes.Whether it is the Latin Lover, the Spitfire, or the Macho man, Gilbert Hernandez’s Heartbreak Soup manages to bring complexity to these characters. The graphic novel takes many familiar archetypes turned into stereotypes by Hollywood and popular culture and adds very real humanistic components to them. In doing so, the reader’s own perceptions, and perhaps subscriptions to certain stereotypes, are dispelled and subverted. The graphic novel both familiarizes and de-familiarizes the reader to portrayals Latino and Latina in popular culture making it difficult for readers to simply categorize many of its characters. The characters in Heartbreak Soup are certainly more “real” than most characters in Hollywood film and television, and are more accurate representations of not only Latino and Latinas but human beings as well.

These are great illustrated stories. They have the feel of true literature. The drawing style is almost naive but sophisticated in its graphic clarity and concise storytelling. I marvel at Mr. Hernandez' ability to convey emotion through a simple series of panel designs. Great memorable characters and heartfelt dialogue. As I read I got the impression that these are true stories, although a bit exaggerated. Originally released monthly, bi-monthly as 32-46 page comicbooks. These stories are true classics of the comicbook form, and now released as Graphic Novels. Fantastic Comics!

I’ve always loved this graphic novel and it was a fun experience to watch it on the Kindle!

Good quality

I never understood the appeal of Archie comics, whose stories preferred loose hangs over high stakes. Heartbreak Soup made me see such stories differently thanks to Gilbert Hernandez's (oop, prentencious word coming up) genius.While there are prominent characters (Luba, Tontazin, and Israel now being some of my favorite comics creations), the true star of the show is the secluded and archaic town of Palomar.The great characteristic of this comic is the time spent in this town. You view the world of Palomar through decades, seeing the initial cast grow into the lovably troubled adults they were destined to be. They marry, leave, and mentally collapse, whilst even more eccentric yet wholly believable characters are introduced.The time spent inside the comic is compelling, and so is the author's time spent outside of it. This comic starts off exceptional, yet one of the most rewarding aspects of this read is seeing Hernandez grow as a storyteller. Each chapter becomes more inventive and defined than the last. By the final chapter, it feels undeniable that this is a work of (uh-oh, here we go again) genius.Palomar is a world that I know I will revist, and I encourage you to do the same.

Amazing

As I write this, I'm laughing at the fact that the product page, just below the product information, contains an ad for an Amazon Prime Book Box for Kids. Wake up world, comics (graphic novels) aren't just for kids -- think the Pulitzer-winning Maus, for example, which is amazing literature that all adults should read to learn this important news flash. And then there are books like Heartbreak Soup, which is ABSOLUTELY NOT for "story time" for children, but is ADULT content for mature readers only.I got this as part of a "banned books" bundle, and there is no question as to why this was banned -- due to graphic portrayals of nudity and sex, foul language, and difficult subject matter (e.g. multiple instances of pedophilia -- though to its credit, it strayed from the expected "boys are lucky when it happens to them" falsehood, and devoted a chapter to how psychologically damaging it was to one victim).Some people will assume that my negative review is because I'm a prude. Well, it's true that I'm a prude (and proud of it), but that's not why I gave it a negative review. It's very rare that I stop a book without finishing it, especially one so acclaimed, figuring there will be a payoff if I keep going. So I stuck it out, trying to look past the adult content to see what else was there. And I can see some of the reasons people like it -- the aging and gradual development of the characters, for example. Unfortunately, I never felt enough attachment to any of the characters to care.My ultimate impression is a bit of an odd one -- it reminded me of one of my mom's old comic books -- an Archie, or Little Dot, for example -- short stories about life in the "real" world, where nothing really happens (or maybe like Seinfeld, but not nearly as funny) -- but in an armpit of a town in Mexico, with an R (or X) rating. It was like what I imagine a soap opera to me -- and is definitely not a type of entertainment I enjoy.I don't enjoy interpersonal drama, especially not shallow (and filthy) teenager drama. Some people will see reflections of their own lives (or perhaps, will be grateful they didn't have such lives), but I do not. I read to escape, to be uplifted, or to learn. This book gave me none of those. I read through to the very end, and felt no payoff. Even looking past the adult content, I couldn't find enough there to recommend. This is flat out not my type of story, and would normally receive only one star.I did, however, give it a second star due to some brilliant, laugh-out loud lines and moments:"...provoking her drunken father to drag the physician outside where he would beat him to death with a live ocelot""Assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, drinking in public, swearing in front of a chicken before seven...""I guess she found the mole with hiccups I hid in your dresser.""The life of an accordion teacher is not quite as mundane as you would imagine...""Mom needs some money for, ah, dinner tonight..." "Last time you pulled that one you bought yourself a parachute."One character putting a panther in a full nelson...Very small payoff for 292 pages, and hours of my life I'll never have back.

Really interesting read

Esta historieta-río (en su día comparada con "Cien años de Soledad de Gª Márquez) va tejiendo una red de historias bien hilvanadas que, en ocasiones, sorprenden por su original planteamiento. Recomiendo los dos primeros volúmenes de "Palomar" (imprescindibles) y "Río Veneno". Es un cómic que entronca con el realismo mágico y crea una atmósfera, a ratos inquietantes, que consigue sumergir al lector en la historia. Junto con "Locas" de Jaime Hernández, son obras que todo lector de cómic que se precie (salvando gustos, filias y fobias) debería tener en su tebeoteca.

Der Schwarz-weiß Comic ist eine Ansammlung von Kurzgeschichten, relativ verkopft und zwingt zum mitdenken: keine leichte Kost (und auch noch auf Englisch!) aber wenn man sich reingefuchst hat wird man belohnt....

Best comic love characters.