Subway Series [Paperback]

Leela Corman (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2002

Leela Corman's graphic novel Subway Series follows the exploits of Tina, a frustrated sixteen-year-old city girl whose affections are divided between two guys. The problem is, one has an out of town girlfriend and the other is a complete jerk. Add to that a bitchy adversary whom she once called a friend who's out to humiliate her, and now confused Tina doesn't know which way to turn. Subway Series is a teen Sex in the City. Tina doesn't know what she wants, but she's pretty sure it involves "getting it over with." With whom will it be? When will it happen? Subway Series depicts the more average teen experience: coercive, confused and mundane. Leela Corman's, lavish calligraphic drawing style, described as "Music to my eyes" by Scott McCloud, vividly brings to life this singular graphic novel showing real teen sex and angst in all its awkward splendor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Corman's (Queens Day) new work follows a group of Manhattan teenagers in the process of growing up, pretending all the while that they already have. Tina is looking for love but has no idea where to find it. Technically a virgin, she supposedly dates James, who's off studying in Florida. Meanwhile, she takes guitar lessons from Evan, a cute alt. music boy whose girlfriend is in Germany. Tina and Evan's growing attraction is buried behind the cynical fronts that all these teen characters maintain to seem cool. Tina and her girlfriends, brutally catty behind each others' backs, sit in diners drinking coffee and trying to impress each other with sexual braggadocio that actually betrays their inexperience. As Tina gets closer to Evan, James returns on a school holiday and things begin to heat up, but James is ultimately revealed as a rather nasty sexual predator. Corman's drawings are very cartoony and lack detail, but skillfully convey the confused emotions her characters seek to hide. Although sloppy in places, her strong graphic sense and knack for storytelling carry the book. Corman's reliance on showing rather than telling sometimes leaves the narrative sketchy and in need of explanation. But older teens and those who were once older teens should have no trouble relating to this tale.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Alternative Comics (October 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891867148
• ISBN-13: 978-1891867149
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,015,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Leela does Daniel., June 28, 2006

By 

Aaron "http://devilsmercy03.livejournal.com/" (San Antonio, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Subway Series (Paperback)

I picked up this book at a local comic book story, based souly on the cover, and back, which happened to be a refreshing style faced against all the superhero and babe-boobage, in which the store's customers manifest themselves. I went in looking for Daniel Clows and possibly Harvey Pekar. Neither were found, but this, this was a nice book to fall back on.

The presence of a Daniel clows influence is very prominent throughout the entire novel. The character of Tina is extremely reminiscent of Ghost World's Enid, though, a more commericalized and somehow realistic version. Tina's "friends" also inhabit the Clowes spirit, in bitchiness, and realism. The only problem is that it feels like Leela Corman is trying to hard to make her characters something they are not. Though, I will say, the Halloween party section is quite genius.

A major turning point in my mind was when it was revealed that these characters are in high school. A lot of the material that these people are going through is highly disturbing. I honestly don't know if this was the author's intention. It seems to remind me of Larry Clark's "Kids." Especially in one of Tina's episodes in which she has sex just to get through with it already. All of this, combined with the fact that the book could use a proper ending (which would be forgivable if it were certain there is going to be another instalment), it is hard to say whether I really like Corman's "Subway Series." It was, however, a blast to read, and get into the underground mindset of a witty comic once more.

3.0 out of 5 stars wow!, May 30, 2006

By 

sami717 "sam" (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Subway Series (Paperback)

This book, to me, is very interesting because it's a graphic novel that some girls can relate to. I mean like they have a bad life. I didn't expect anything like it. I opened it thinking it was just a regular comic book, but it wasn't. It's good for older teens to read because, to me, it tells you about the dangers of teenage life. For example, having low self esteem, drinking and having sex. It shows people what girls these days would do to feel happy about themselves. I think it's really bad to think that way about yourself. It's not good to have anyone under 14 reading it, even though it has a lot of bad content and is not good for anyone in my opinion. But I would not recommend it for other young teen girls to read, but for older teens from about 17 and up, because they would probably understand what is going on.