Love and Rockets: New Stories #5
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThis 2012 collection presents the fifth volume of the Love and Rockets: New Stories series, an annual anthology from Fantagraphics that continues the long-running saga of Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez's interconnected characters. The book features new installments in the lives of Maggie, Hopey, and the Palomar community, including storylines involving characters like Fritz, Luba, and Vivian "Frogmouth" Solis, as well as the return of Al Castor and other denizens of the Hernandez universe. As with previous volumes, it offers a mix of ongoing narratives and standalone tales that showcase the brothers' distinctive storytelling styles and evolving artwork.
In "Somewhere Outside the U.S. Border," Jaime Hernandez crafts a quietly tense narrative where a series of mysterious phone calls from Mel, the Cobia Club owner, unsettle Vivian as she waits for a connection that never comes. Meanwhile, Tonta’s unexpected visit to Vivian’s home takes a sudden turn when a gun left in the dresser fires by accident, setting off a chain of events that leads to a shocking moment at the club, where Borneo’s attempted assassination of Spropp reveals a chilling link to the earlier incident. The story unfolds with Hernandez’s signature emotional precision, drawing out suspense through small, telling details.
In "Tonta," a quiet evening unfolds as Jo, a young woman navigating her own rhythm, spends time with her reclusive friend The Gorgon before heading to a punk show. The night blurs as she steals liquor to bring along, shares a moment with her favorite punk singer, Eric Lopez, and then fades into memory—leaving behind only the echo of a night that changed something, though what exactly remains unknown.
In "Proof That the Devil Loves You," the story unfolds through alternating scenes of actress Fritz filming a Palomar-inspired movie and Killer’s quiet time in the same town, revealing how the real Palomar is refracted through the lens of a Hollywood producer’s nostalgia and bias. The tale blends drama and satire, weaving together fiction and memory in a way that feels both intimate and dreamlike.
In "Crime Raiders International Mobsters and Executioners," Vivian is caught in a web of tension after receiving mysterious phone calls from Mel, the Cobia Club owner, while Tonta’s unexpected visit stirs unease with a stray gunshot and a hidden gun. As the line between personal intimacy and danger blurs, the arrival of Borneo, Sugar Bear, and Tito sets off a chain of events that pulls Vivian deeper into a world where every gesture carries weight—and every weapon might be the last.
In "And Back Again," Killer returns to Palomar with Guadalupe and Jimmy, stirring quiet tension as old connections shift. Pipo shares quiet moments with Fritz and Chelo, while Dom reflects on Fritz’s role in the strange, lingering legacy of *The Proof That the Devil Loves You*, all unfolding in the familiar, weathered rhythm of the town.
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Reprinted in The Best American Comics #2014 (2014), Tonta #[nn] (2019), Proof That the Devil Loves You #[nn] (2023)
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