Curtis Paul was in a death metal band 15 years ago that was successful and made some waves, but now he’s living the suburban dream, with his wife and kids. When he meets up with his old manager, he realises he misses the life on stage, and the band gets back together, but can he manage adult responsibilities and his old life?

I love to dip into the odd graphic novel here and there, when I get the chance and this one caught my eye. The characters are all ducks, because why not? But no Howard The Duck here. This book was started as a zine years ago, and then later the artist and writer came back to finish the story. It has a QR code that you scan that takes to you to where you can listen to music from the book, which I think is very cool.

The story shifts from present day to the past, with the main characters life with his family, his missing playing music, not being able to get along with authority now, to his younger days with the band and why they fell apart.

I know I’m not really the target audience for this one. I’m not into death metal, though I do love ducks. And I’m not a middle aged man (or duck) grappling with mid life and misspent creativity. And yet, I think that there’s something very accessible and universal about the themes explored in this book. There are things we all give up too easily thinking there will be more time and friends we leave behind or people we think we can’t resolve things with. There’s moments in this book where our lead character cries because he misses playing so much, and I think that’s so relatable, when we feel we have to put down something creative that means a lot to us. The author calls it a “love letter to music, comics and creativity” and I think that’s a pretty apt summary. It’s a very vibrant and heartfelt story.

I loved the black and white art style throughout. It’s really edgy and moody, and works so well. And the idea of using ducks just works, with the facial expressions and reactions being so incredible and comic. I did find it hard to tell the characters apart, which tripped me up a little bit. And it wasn’t super clear when it shifted from present to past, for me. I also, personal taste here, find people complaining about their age or aging a bit dry, but it makes sense here.

Overall, a very fun, wild, vibrant book, full of genuine feelings of friendship and love of music, humour, and I think having the songs included is an inspired choice.

(This book does contain adult themes around drug use and also has swearing.)

Read It If: Whilst the styling is dark, edgy and metal, the themes of friendship, life changes and the things that give life meaning are universal. Plus, it has ducks in a metal band.

With thanks to Black Panel Press for the copy of this book for review.