It was difficult for me to relate to Open Bar, a cartoon by Eduardo Medeiros. The story is about two childhood buddies raised as brothers, and all they have been through up until and including the time when one of them takes over their father’s bar.
The book deals with sexual violence, love and death in a way that has never affected my life. In childhood, I was close to a few friends but we never got so close as Lenny & Beardo. We didn’t even discuss certain topics or fight over them.
Lenny Beardo and Lenny are heroes in their own right. The two are imperfect individuals in a flawed world, and their only goal is to survive in the bar. But life gets in their way. In addition, I don’t really drink and have had a couple of drinks in the past, but I never spent much time in bars.
The translated dialogue (Script Localization By Jarrett Melendez) was originally published in Brazil. It reminds me of an independent film script with lots of bantering and bickering. It’s a long, complex story with a twist that is both upbeat and positive.
Medeiro’s highly stylized art and story telling are the absolute highlights of Open Bar. This type of art reminded me of great 1950s modern art magazine covers and illustrations.
The color selections are often a major factor in the success of these modern graphic novels. This is mainly a pink/orange color with some bursts of color and greys.
Although my life had little to do with that of Beardo or Lenny, I still admired how Open Bar is told. I’ll pay for the drinks!
Written and illustrated by Eduardo Medeiros
Published By Oni Press