Polarity

by Max Bemis

[celinenyx]

Summary: Tim is manic depressive, and when he has a mania, he feels like a super hero. But then he finds out that he is a super hero!

What I liked:
- A manic depressive super hero is a tough subject matter. On one hand you can't trivialise the mental illness, but on the other, you can't get too deeply into it either. Max Bemis handles the subject respectfully and doesn't sugar-coat the reality of living with a mental illness
- Gah, it's such a good read! Tim in his depressive state is heart-breaking. Whether he is drugged, manic, or depressed, he still has a fabulous sense of humour
- The art is very angular and expressive. It makes Tim look even more haunted
- Like most books about mental illness, Polarity's ending is bitter-sweet. I thought it was a perfect ending
- Polarity is very much about the "hipster" generation. I'm not sure this would interest people who aren't familiar with the hipster phenomenon, but for me it was pretty hilarious. Tim tends to be very critical of his generation, but relatives his opinion towards the end

What I didn't like:
- There wasn't a lot of page time for Tim's love interest Lily to become a fully rounded character. Their banter is adorable, but we never fully grasp her personality
- The last volume was a bit weird action-wise. I didn't necessarily dislike it, but I don't know whether I truly liked it either

Verdict: A manic depressive super hero you can root for struggling with friendships, drugs, love, and saving his generation. Probably best suited for twenty-somethings