Our Colors
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
A mesmerizing coming-of-age and coming-out graphic novel by the genius writer-artist of the Eisner Award–winning breakout hit My Brother’s Husband
Set in contemporary suburban Japan, Our Colors is the story of Sora Itoda: a sixteen-year-old aspiring painter who experiences his world in synesthetic hues of blues and reds, governed by the emotional turbulence of being a teenager. He wants to live honestly as a young gay man in high school, but that is still not acceptable in Japanese society. His best friend and childhood confidant is Nao, a young woman whom everyone thinks is (or should be) his girlfriend; and it would be the easiest thing to play along—she knows he is gay but knows, too, how hard it is to live one’s truth in their situation.
Sora’s world changes forever when he meets Mr. Amamiya, a middle-aged gentleman who is the owner and proprietor of a local coffee shop, and who is completely, unapologetically out as a gay man. A mentorship and friendship ensues, as Sora comes out to him and agrees to paint a mural in the shop, and Mr. Amamiya counsels him (platonically) about how to deal with who he is. But it won’t be easy. Mr. Amamiya paid a high price for his freedom of identity, and when a figure from his past suddenly appears, it becomes a prime example of just how complicated life can be.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Eisner winner Tagame (My Brother's Husband) returns with an affecting coming-of-age/coming-out saga, presented in 21 episodic chapters. Sixteen-year-old Sora Itoda, an earnest high schooler in suburban Japan, has artistic aspirations and a penchant for dreamily relating colors to his emotional state ("All the colors of the world seem to brighten when he's near"). Fearful of rejection or ostracism, Sora keeps his same-sex attractions, particularly to hunky classmate Kenta Yoshioka, hidden from friends and family. Things brighten when he befriends an understanding, openly gay middle-aged café owner, Mister Amamiya, who hires Sora to paint a mural in the café. But when a figure from Amamiya's past reappears, conflict and painful misunderstandings ensue. Eventually, with the support of his understanding childhood gal-pal, Nao, and with the wise counseling of Amamiya ("Nobody comes out just once"), Sora is able to start living more authentically. While hitting many familiar story beats, Tagame's intimate narrative mixes pathos with a healthy dose of melodrama, and his supremely confident artwork, replete with genial character designs and dynamic panel compositions, lend it gravitas. It's a poignant story that should delight devotees of queer comics, with nice crossover appeal for YA readers.
