Customer Reviews

Girl

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Adult black & white graphic novel.

This is a relatively long book about Girl, a stripper, who makes a deal with a devil. The book opens with a scene of Girl buying some merchandise from "Cloven Hoof." Immediately after the visit to that special shop, Girl stops off at the Kat Kat club for some nude dancing. Afterward, Girl is fondled by one of her fellow strippers and her boss. A large amount of sexual activity occurs before Girl is able to eventually make the deal with the devil. In between (the buying of the merchandise and performing the ritual to make a deal), Girl wanders around in very skimpy revealing clothing, has men ejaculate onto her as she is attempting to leave a fast food restaurant, has an orgy in the back of a convertible along a city street, and in an alley, dances some more at the strip club, is fondled some more and finally, the ritual.

The sexy young woman asks for immortality in her current form. In return the devil/demon has some sexual fun with Girl. Girl will get what she wants, as long as she receives his "rapture" or finds a replacement. Girl must find a replacement (or offer herself up) every thirteen years, plus the first one, on the very next day. While playing with herself, the "camera" pulls back to reveal a man with a camera, who had been watching her. End chapter one.

The book includes four chapters. The second chapter sees Girl waking up next to that female stripper who had been fondling her earlier, a man burst into flames when he touched Girl without her consent (those with consent, apparently, do not burst into flames, that or they are demons), an orgy in the back of a car (yep, they were demons), some more dancing at the strip club, an introduction to an adult film producer who will lead her into that world, and the sacrifice of another. Chapter three ("The Pawn") sees some more orgies (for which Girl is paid for her services), some more strip dancing, wandering the streets in revealing clothing, and dreaming about filming an adult film. The fourth chapter is the last and so I'll just mention that some more of the same occur, plus . . .

Overall, the artwork is good, only slightly hindered by being black & white and the plot is, well, strange. The book includes exhibitism, voyeurism, devils/demons, orgies, lesbianism, etc.

It was in 1991 when I first came across Kevin Taylor and his creation Girl in a comic book store. I was old enough to enter the so-called adult section of the store and to say I was very disappointed with what they had was an understatement. Alot of the adult comics either were one-note sex romps or too much talking and not enough action. It took me seceral visits before I was finally able to find the one title older friends have been telling me about. Issue #1 of Girl was there to be picked up and read and later bought. From the first time I read the four-issue miniseries of Girl I was hooked on Kevin Taylor's work in the comic industry and have followed his work ever since.

This trade paperback, or graphic novel, collects the original four-issue miniseries published in the beginning of the 1990's. One thing this collection has over those original issues were some added scenes in the beginning of the story where Girl, or Jaleira which is her real name, meets her friends Jesse and Jill at the park. There's also a brief, but extremely hot and dirty interlude between her a few guys she knows in the neighborhood. This interlude really sets up the rest of the book for the reader. Kevin Taylor's book is definitely not for the prudish and the easily embarrassed. Kevin Taylor's artwork are full of clean lines and curves. And when I say curves I do mean CURVES when it comes to Girl. Taylor also doesn't skimp with the detail when it comes to the legion of men who lusts after our intrepid heroine Girl. Some have called Taylor's style as being over-the-top and anatomically impossible. Well, all I have to say is that its a bloody comic book and I for one won't nitpick someone of Taylor's talent with how he should draw his figures. The style works for the character and the comic.

The story is actually pretty interesting even though most readers will probably just skip forward from one sex scene to the next. These scenes are not bad mind you. They're actually pretty well done and even though some of the scenes have a look of extreme improbability to them they do put forward the extreme sexuality of the moment. The tale is one of Girl searching for a way to keep her smoking hot looks and figure and does so to extremes. She bargains with a demonic being for just such a fountain of youth, but in doing so she must now find someone to stand in her stead when its time to honor her bargain with the demon Malachi. This premise starts of as a simple seduce and sacrifice to something more complex with themes of Good and Evil making a mention. The premise also helps explain the many sexual encounters Girl comes across as she does so purposely in order to satisfy her bargain with Malachi. The rest of the story is pretty simple and even the most simple reader should be able to keep with the twist and turns. But in the end the story and plot really serves the main appeal of Girl and thats the steam, down and dirty sex scenes rife throughout the book. Each one becomes more and more extreme than the next until the final climactic final pages which would give any gothic-erotica film a run for its money.

Kevin Taylor succeeds in creating a character in Girl who is both an extremely sexual and free individual and matched equally with a brain to match. Jaleira (Girl) will become Taylor's muse in his later works and her hot adventures doesn't end with the story in Girl, but will continue on with future graphic novels. Girl may have been published originally in 1990-91, but it still continues to be popular in the comic industry and those who are mature enough to read such books without making a mess.

Girl is a graphic novel about a nymphomaniac dancer that makes a bad deal with the devil. She flits from one sexual encounter to the next, ravishing the souls of her partners in the process. Fortunately, her demonic possessor has some powerful enemies ready to help Girl out. All in all, not the most original plot in the world but enough to keep the story going.

The illustration is rough and not particularly sophisticated. However, it crude format matches the content fairly well. The subject matter is extremely explicit and Taylor uses the power of illustration to show scenes that could never happen in real life. Some people will not care for the scenes with the semi bestial demons, others will be interested in it's "over the top" nature.

If you are looking for novel about a sexually uninhibited woman, who is open to anything and always ready for more, you are going to love Girl. If you are looking for sophistication illustration, try Eric von Gotha instead. If you are looking for complex characters and plot, try Laura Rees.

The heroine's name is Girl. Voluptuous to the point of gravity-defying, strong-willed and ready for anything, she works in a sleazy strip club, loves the music (and philosophy) of Prince and dabbles in black magic in her spare time. Is that the girl of your dreams? If so, this book may be for you.

The art work isn't polished, but it has a raw energy that befits the wild situations Girl gets herself into. Most of these I found to be quite hot, though (for me) the demonic sex was sometimes more yucky than erotic. I took away one star for the uninvolving supernatural gangsters subplot--I found it just got in the way, but then this isn't the sort of book you read for the plot.

The art, at first, looked to me like something I could have drawn over the weekend..... but that was only a quick flip through the book. As I got involved in actually reading teh interesting situations Girl found herself in, I became a huge fan, too, of the art. The simplicity of the line drawings, while not always top knotch, show how dimensional an unshaded form can become. While the sex is amazing and over the top, the story that almost sprung to life, felt too much like a side story. I would have preferred more involvement in demons and violence, or none at all. Great book, however, that is artistically inspirational as well as entertaining.

If you really get into the story, this might be pretty good. The art looks like an X-rated daily comic strip, which will probably turn a lot of people off. The sexual content certainly isn't lukewarm, and if you're into ridiculously voluptuous women and guys with penises half the length of their legs (on average), this could be your bag.

This story chronicles the adventures and of a self empowered, strong willed and cunning heroin namely "Girl." Even though the art at first glance may seem technically simple, there is something intense about the way the details seem to communicate a passion and hunger that is reflective of our society and culture (the desire for illusion.) This power and intensity is an unique quality that exists in all of Taylor's works. The story draws readers into a world that shows that none of us are the victims that others would have us believe, or we may have others believe. The strength and fearless nature of "The Girl" exemplifies how true experience and growth comes from the taking of risk. Another overwhelming theme that pervades many of Taylor's works, "The love of one's own image" Taylor better than anyone tackles this tough question. "Who do you think you are?" Within our own mind is a vision of ourselves that is as clearly exaggerated as the drawings that have captured the imagination of the world.

Kevin Taylor intentionally exaggerates the physical attributes of the characters and sets up exaggerated situations in the story. It is intentional because it is a form of communication, and he is very effectively communicating erotic fantasies here. In the physical form it is obvious, with the men's appendages all being oversize. Story-wise, Girl loves the sex, even after having those oversize appendages brutally shoved in to her. "Girl" is meant to erotically tantalize males thru exaggeration. It does that with exaggeration to spare.

Hey, I like large breasts and erotic artwork as much as the next guy, but Kevin Taylor's work is not particularly good or imaginative and all his women look like they should sue their plastic surgeons for doing such a LOUSY job on their breat implants! Sure, drawing are fake, but do the characters have to also LOOK fake?