I’ve been enjoying Rob’s work on an anthology he edits and contributes to called “Three,” so I was excited to check this solo show out. It’s sort of a Winsor McCay meets Archie Comics, by way of Jordan Crane vibe, with an absolutely affable and inviting art style. The book is crammed full of emotive facial expressions, generous motion lines, and not a shred of dialogue. It really shows a creator at the peak of confidence, an effective storyteller who can completely rely on visuals alone to tell a feature length story. It’s technical and stylish, brimming with nice perspective shots, some silhouetting, slick panel transitions, and plenty of dynamic closure in the gutters. Overall, King For A Day is totally entertaining, but also delivers a solid life lesson. It suggests that truly being “king” of your own world is not about commanding the world. No, it’s not about control, adoration, or fame, but about simply enjoyment. Once you make that mental jump and learn to relinquish control to the unpredictable ride that life presents, the happier you’ll be. It’s a lesson better learned sooner rather than later in life. King For A Day uses such an effective rush forward, through sing-songy panels and full page spreads, there’s forward motion full of kinetic energy, just like the brief life it depicts. Grade A.
