FML, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David López

(You can also read this review in Spanish/También puedes leer esta reseña en español)

I had heard great things about FML, the comic scripted by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David López, especially on Entre Cómics, one of my favorite podcasts for finding reliable recommendations. As if that weren't enough, it also scored an Eisner nomination this year. So, I was expecting a masterpiece and while I found a story very different from what I had imagined, its quality didn't disappoint me in the slightest. 

It is hard to describe exactly what you will find within the pages of FML. It has elements of a youth adventure story à la The Goonies or Stand by Me, a few supernatural touches, a heavy dose of slice-of-life, a dash of underground metal storytelling, and a solid serving of a bildungsroman. Still not entirely sure what it is about? It doesn't matter, because discovering all these elements (and many others!) and seeing how they blend together is one of the greatest pleasures of reading this comic. 

FML has some frankly brilliant moments. It is a story that, when it's good, is soooo good. DeConnick keeps many balls in the air at once and juggles them exceptionally well. Inevitably, things occasionally get a little too tangled, causing a slight dip in the pacing and, above all, clarity, but the final result remains outstanding. 

However, what I liked most about FML are its characters. There are a lot of them, they are very diverse, and highly interesting. Despite how 'peculiar' they might be, they are all perfectly characterized and incredibly believable. Interestingly, Riley (who is the supposed protagonist, though your guess is as good as mine) is perhaps the one who flies under the radar the most. Personally, I absolutely loved Patty (Riley's mother) and her friend Amy, as well as the dynamic between them and the secrets slowly revealed about their past. 

David López does a truly phenomenal job on this comic. He handles the stylistic shifts like nobody else, and his close-ups are stunning. The volume I read (a digital Advanced Review Copy) also included some highly interesting extras (and I'm usually not the type to pay much attention to those things). A special shout-out also goes to Cris Peter's coloring, which is simply superb. 

FML is already available in its entirety in English as single issues (eight in total) and will be released as a collected trade paperback in a few months. I haven't heard any news yet about a Spanish publication, but I'm sure it won't take long to be announced because it is a highly recommended read.