Item: Heart in a Box
Rating: 4.50
Author: quirkycat

by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClarten

When the Man with No Name breaks Emma's heart, she wants to die. But you never die from these things; you just want to. In a moment of weakness, she wishes her broken heart away and a mysterious stranger--who may or may not be totally evil--obliges. But emptiness is even worse than grief, and Emma sets out to collect the seven pieces of her heart spread across the country, a journey that forces her to face her own history and the cost of recapturing it, and leads inevitably to a confrontation with the Man with No Name himself!

Reviews:

Heart in a Box serves up a complete story of heartbreak, recovery and the effects those have on the world. Like the butterfly wings of the chaos theory, one person's acts -- random, violent, kind, insincere or hearty -- impact others and multiply in ways and directions that frequently defy description." - Comic Book Resources (CBR)

"This book is magical. It reminds me of so many stories and yet manages to be wholly original. Be good to your heart and grab this comic with both hands." - Big Comic Page

"A slice of life story with magical realism, Heart in a Box is smart storytelling, but it’s also just so very raw. Like real raw." - Women Write About Comics

"With Heart In A Box, Thompson & McClaren pull off the kind of smart story telling and allegory that transcends the genre and medium with a comic that almost anybody could enjoy...Heart In a Box in one of the best comics of 2015 which feels like nothing else in the medium, but is still warm and familiar. It has a casual complexity that is as inviting as it is engaging and emotionally affecting." - Nothing But Comics

"It’s brilliant – so far, it’s one of the two or three best comics I’ve read this year." - Comics Should Be Good

Summary:

Emma's heart has been utterly broken. It feels like she'll never be whole again – like her life would be better if she felt nothing. So one day, a mysterious stranger appears and offers to take all her problems away. All she has to do is wish her heart away, and it'll be gone.

Obviously, Emma quickly learns that life with no heart is not worth it. Thus begins her journey to track down all the pieces of her broken heart, one step at a time. Will she succeed and become whole, or will she give up?

Review:

I have been meaning to read Heart in a Box for FAR too long. And clearly, I should not have slept on this story because it is amazing! Heart in a Box is heartbreaking (forgive me, but it's true), compelling, and shockingly human.

The story is split into distinct parts, with each piece of her heart (seven in total) having it's own adventure and story. In many cases, the pieces come with a lesson for Emma to learn. Through Emma, the readers also learn.

There is something in Heart in a Box that everyone will find relatable. It could be the over-encompassing breakup. It could be the familiar loss. Or the disconnection. Or even her connection to a cute little stray cat. Whatever it is, it will draw you into this story.

Highlights:
Broken Hearts
Lessons Learned
Grief and Complex Relationships

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Heart in a Box

by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClarten

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Feb 19, 2024

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