Ghosted in L.A. #1 is published by BOOM! Studios, written by Sina Grace (Iceman), illustrated by Siobhan Keenan (Clueless, Jem and the Holograms) with Sina Grace, colored by Cathy Le, and with letters by DC Hopkins. The issue follows Daphne Walters who in the process of moving to Los Angelos for college, a school she picked so she could be with her boyfriend, at the behest of her best friend Kristi.
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But once in L.A., nothing is quite as picture-perfect as Daphne hoped. Her best friend Kristi is jealous of her life and is unsupportive of her decisions. And while in L.A. she has an extremely rude roommate and her boyfriend broke up with her right after she finished unpacking. While running away from her boyfriend and avoiding her horrible roommate, Daphne finds herself exploring the strange and beautiful Rycroft Manor. But it holds its fair share of secrets and a whole host of supernatural guests.
When Ghosted in L.A. #1 was announced, I was extremely excited for it. The premise is pretty unique and where Daphne is in life reminds me a lot of when I first went to college. I went to college in Lousiana, and while I did not follow a boy, I was far from home and for most of my first year, I felt pretty alone. However, there are a few things about the story that feels unrealistic, and I don’t mean the ghosts occupying Rycroft Manor.
The accusation from Daphne that Kristi is just jealous seems out of left field and when Kristi doesn’t deny it, it feels less like a teenage/college drama and more like a Disney Channel movie for pre-teens. Similarly, Daphne’s conflict with her roommate feels too comical and extreme to be relatable. I have had some bad roommates, but no one is that cold right off the bat.
Besides that, Ghosted in L.A. #1 is still pretty adorable. Part of that is due in part to Keenan’s art. The art has a cartoony feel that works for the light-hearted nature of the comics. Additionally, Le’s coloring is downright perfect. The decision to drastically change the color palate once Daphne is in L.A. is brilliant and helps add to the overall themes of the book – L.A. is a new, bright beginning for Daphne.
Despite its flaws, Ghosted in L.A. #1 is a fun and light-hearted adventure and a unique take on a lot of the things we all experience as we grow up. While this issue suffers from a lot of bizarre moments and dialogue that just doesn’t quite fit, I truly believe and hope the next issues in the series will get this story right.
Ghosted in L.A. #1 is the bones of an amazing book that skirts the line with the supernatural, similar to Snotgirl, is right around the corner. This book is a good twist on a slice-of-life comics, so despite the lower score, I will be picking up the next issue and I recommend everyone give this issue and the following a chance, even if it is for the art and coloring alone.
Ghosted in L.A. #1 is available now at comic book stores everywhere.
Ghosted in L.A. #1
TL;DR
Despite its flaws, Ghosted in L.A. #1 is a fun and light-hearted adventure and a unique take on a lot of the things we all experience as we grow up. While this issue suffers from a lot of bizarre moments and dialogue that just doesn’t quite fit, I truly believe and hope the next issues in the series will get this story right.
