HARU

A bird and a boar embark upon an adventure and encounter a fearsome foe.

In this first entry in a new graphic novel series, Haru, a blue, flightless bird who uses they/them pronouns, is picked on by the other birds (“Are they even a real bird?” “Looks more like a blueberry!”). Their best friend, Yama, a kindhearted pig, does her best to offer Haru warmth and reassurance, but their confidence falters nevertheless. One day, after chasing an errant paper airplane, Yama discovers “the heart of briar,” which “glows with darkness” and has a mysterious past. Frightened by this heart that’s wrapped in thorny brambles, Yama tries to rid herself of it by throwing it into the water, but it magically reappears and slowly infects her with negative, unkind thoughts. Haru and Yama soon find themselves having a wild and thrilling adventure through an unusual shopping mall, befriending an anthropomorphized mushroom and a firefly, and ultimately coming up against a terrifying nemesis who harbors his own secrets. Latham’s tale is lush and evocative, recalling the quirky whimsicality of Hayao Miyazaki and striking an original balance between contemplative and exciting. The muted, earth-toned palette stylishly plays off the dreamy, lyrical text, which brims with alliterative descriptions. Despite portraying no humans, Haru’s world is familiar, with mentions of electricity, Google, and an automobile; perhaps in later volumes, this intriguing but undeveloped element of the worldbuilding will be explored further.

A series opener that both enchants and captivates.