Angie Bongiolatti – Mike Dawson
Written by: Max Szyc
Remember how good it felt to be released from the confinement of high school? After years of being force fed other people’s opinions, the liberating world of post-secondary education can seem daunting. Let’s face it: college is a massive place. It even allows students to go to the washroom whenever they please. Who wouldn’t find that freedom terrifying? While some decide to lay low, others find countless ways to take advantage of their new environment. One common example is students’ desires to express their political beliefs. But with so many social justice crusaders on campus, students unfamiliar with politics may feel awkward and left out – especially when they’re forced to interact with these politically inclined individuals. While Mike Dawson’s latest graphic novel is not set in a college, it still manages to perfectly convey how being politically indifferent – and acting awkward because of it – can carry forward into everyday life.
Angie Bongiolatti, Dawson’s third graphic novel for indie publisher Secret Acres, takes places in New York months after the tragic events on 9/11. The book takes readers back to a time when you could taste the tension in the air. It was a time when George Bush frequently appeared on television to discuss an impending war on terror, start-ups across the city folded left and right, and activists rallied to protest the World Economic Forum’s decision to meet in the city as a sign of “solidarity”. It could have made for a dated tale straight out the gate, but Dawson marvelously captured what things were like. Considering today’s political climate regarding events in Ukraine and Russia, Bongiolatti stays relevant as the problems of yesterday seem to keep echoing into the present. Throw in sections that illustrate an anti-communist essay by Arthur Koestler, and readers can expect a book that’s soaking in political ideology.
Despite sounding somewhat intense for the casual reader, Bongiolatti manages to be a wonderfully entertaining read thanks to its mixture of politics and easily digestible slice-of-life storylines. The book stars a sprawling cast of interconnected characters who are bound together by Angie Bongiolatti. As a college graduate working at an ‘eLearning’ company teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Angie finds solace in attending left-wing political rallies. These rallies serve as a linchpin for the overall story, which attracts characters from both her past and present. While prospects of romance might be the impetus for some of the cast’s actions, Dawson’s ability to cleverly inject political undertones makes the book feel both fresh and relatable.
Despite various storylines that might initially appear disconnected, Angie Bongiolatti weaves its various storytelling methods into a profound and memorable ending. It also doesn’t hurt that the book is funny as hell. With razor sharp dialogue and gorgeous art to boot (looking something like a gritty mix of G-Man’sChris Giarrusso and Top Shelf mainstay Alex Robinson), it’s a mystery why Dawson hasn’t hit the big time yet. After releasing last year’s masterful Iron Bound by Brendan Leach (easily one of 2013’s best comics), the up-and-coming Secret Acres is clearly becoming a publisher to watch. Despite today’s ever-changing political landscape, Mike Dawson’s Angie Bongiolatti might just help make sense of it all.