One of the many, many regular pleasures of reading brand new Love and Rockets comics is seeing how Maggie Chascarillo - the central character in Jaime Hernandez's stories - has changed her look, while always remaining 100 percent Maggie.
Over the 40+ years of Locas stories, Maggie has slowly grown older, while constantly changing her look and style, just like we all do over time. She gets different hair cuts, her weight goes up and down, she carries herself in different ways. Always different, always Maggie, down through the years. The fact that she has always been absolutely and instantly recognisable as the same character is a testament to Hernandez's vast skills.
The next generation of Tonta doesn't change that much, but she has lots of time. Hopey also obviously changes, and because we don't see her as often as we used to, it's always a little surprising to see how much sharper and more wiry she's getting every time. But only a little bit surprising.
The latest issue of the most excellent comic in the world just came out last week, and because she's going through a transitional period - (it wouldn't be shocking if the planned marriage never quite manages to happen) - Maggie is changing her look again. While her hair cut isn't short enough to start any new revolutions, she looks more confident and outgoing when she changes from a comfortable long dress to hiking gear. Even if she can't get up the pole.
You can't judge a book by its cover and you can't judge a Maggie by the way she dresses, but to see a comic character change and grow over many, many years - like most of us manage to do - is always an absolute delight.
(Also a delight: Beto's tale of the fate of Rex in the new issue. Just the best comic, man.)
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