Self / Made

NPR -- Groom serves up his story's twists and turns, even the more predictable ones, with a light touch. Even as he questions the nature of capital-R Reality, he manages to resist self-important dramatics. As a result, while Amala's story isn't as profound as he might have hoped, it's intricate and unpredictable enough to be consistently engaging. Of course, some part of the credit goes to artists Eduardo Ferigato and Marcelo Costa. Ferigato's designs for the characters and their worlds are vivid and capable. If he's a bit inconsistent - particularly when it comes to drawing Rebecca - his figures generally exude energy and spontaneity. Costa had a delightful job cut out for him (who wouldn't want to color a succession of video game scenarios and drug trips?) and he makes the most of it.
Aided by the artists, Groom sustains a sense of lightheartedness and a lack of pretension that excuse the familiarity of his central concept. Amala may not be the first self-aware character to come along - or the tenth, or the twentieth - but she's a likable addition to this quirky subgenre. Self/Made makes questioning the nature of reality a fun way to spend an afternoon.