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Jun 19, 2015 Issue #53 - April/May 2015 - Tame Impala By Zach Hollwedel

With the map of the United States drawn increasingly in rainbow colors, it’s high time for a collected edition of Ed Luce’s self-published comic series about a San Francisco-based gay former wrestler.

Wuvable Oaf, a roughly 260-page hardcover edition published by Fantagraphics, answers the call. Written and drawn by Luce, the comic chronicles the life and escapades of the titular Oaf, a burly, hairy, music-loving gentle giant looking for love while caring for his dozens of cats. Luce’s writing is as endearing as his protagonist, sweet and humble, well-intentioned and genuine.

Sure, the comic is sexualized, but so many are these days. Luce’s depiction of Oaf’s love life isn’t overly graphic; it’s tasteful, honest, and quite often funny. As a protagonist, Oaf comprises the perfect portions of sweetness, shyness, and nervousness to endear and make him relatable to any and all readers who have ever had a crush or fallen in love. The fact that he is gay both is and isn’t relevant to the reader’s experience. Granted, one cannot disregard Oaf’s orientation or the setting in which his story takes place, but Luce’s work is universally applicable. Gay or straight, there’s much to wuv about Wuvable Oaf. (www.wuvableoaf.com)

Author rating: 6.5/10