Americana – Comic Review
It’s not often that you get an opportunity to review a comic book on which you have something of a unique perspective. When I was offered Americana by Luke Healy I leapt at the chance for that exact reason.
You see, Americana is an autobiographical comic of Luke’s attempt to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Why is that so exciting? Well, scroll down to the bottom of this page and look at my bio. Go on. Scroll down and back, I’ll wait… Get it now? I hiked the PCT back in 2015, the year before Luke. I think I might just be the only comic reviewer out there who has. Although I am totally willing to be corrected on that. Thru-hiking reviewers, give me a yell if you are out there.
Synopsis
The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2660 miles, from California’s border with Mexico to Washington’s border with Canada. To walk it is to undertake a gruelling test of body and spirit… challenge accepted.
This intimate, engaging autobiographical work recounts the author’s own attempt to walk the length of the USA’s west coast. Healy’s life-changing journey weaves in and out of reflections on his experiences in America and his development as an artist, navigating both the trail itself and the unique culture of the people who attempt to complete it.
Americana
Luke Healy’s Americana is an illustrated memoir detailing his time on the Pacific Crest Trail. There are chunks of text, but they are scattered sporadically among the whimsically illustrated sections. Used sparsely to convey more detailed sections of information. Luke does a phenomenal job of capturing the hunger of hiking a long distance trail. The pull of that ribbon of land stretching out in front of you, dragging you onwards. He also nails the hardships, both physical and mental, of being on the trail. One of the things I remember most about through hiking was the almost meditative state you get in to walking 20+ miles a day. Just the sound of your breathing and your feet on the trail. The frequent “heff” sound effects throughout the book reminded me of that.
The art was captivating. I feel certain that Luke must have taken photos of some points along the trail in order to have rendered them so perfectly. Throughout reading I kept nudging my boyfriend (who I hiked with) and showing him certain sections, both of us smiling fondly at the memories that it evoked.
Gallery
Every single one of these pages, in particular, brought a wistful smile to my face, remembering the exact moment I stood in that spot.
Now this isn’t to say that this book is only for hikers. The autobiographical aspect of Luke’s tale is accessible for all, much in the way Cheryl Strayed’s Wild (also about a hike on the PCT) was. Sure there are very personal elements to both stories, but isn’t that why we read biographies? To get to know someone else’s story?
Whether or not you’ll end up wanting to do a hike like the one Luke and I did after reading Americana, well I wouldn’t judge you if you did. Likewise, if you decide the threat of bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and constant injuries is too much to contemplate, well I won’t judge that either.
Americana by Luke Healy is available now from Nobrow Press.
