Ojo

Reviewed by Russell Purdy
March 5, 2006

Author: Sam Kieth Illustrator(s): Sam Kieth, Alex Pardee, & Chris Wisnia Publisher: Oni Press Review Rating: Recommended

Ojo has been described as a touching and forlorn tale of Annie, a girl who just can't seem to be able to keep any pet for long, before they meet a premature end. The story concentrates around the house of Annie's grandfather, where Annie and her sister, Melissa spend most of their time. Melissa constantly torments Annie, and after a row between the two girls, Gramps separates them by building Annie her own little room. At this point she finds Ojo in some of the boards used to create her new room. Whatever species it may be, Ojo is only a baby, and Annie takes it upon herself to try and keep one thing she loves safe from harm, if only to prove to herself that she can.

I wasn't touched by the story, but I did find it enjoyably despairing.

No matter what may draw you to reading Sam Kieth's work; be it the moments of craziness in the art, the genuinely human-like characters, or perhaps the storytelling itself which jumps between the absurd to the grim, Ojo is a definitive bit of story that is solid solid from start to end.

Preview(s) (Click image to enlarge) :

Image courtesy of Oni Press.