’20 Years Young’ opens with the artist, Aaliyah Lachel’e (she/they), reflecting on their creative journey so far, sifting through the experience of growing up and no longer approaching art making with the carefree joy she had felt as a young creator. This segment concludes with Lachel’e stating that the work she’s been making is both about and for her younger self. A sentiment that she says feels strange to her, but is embraced all the same, with the line ‘this one’s for her’ leading into the collection of stories.
The comics then follow intermingling personal narrative with the fictional tales of two young girls, Sarah and Julie, bonding over a mutual interest in ponies and fashion dolls. This connection of themes is effortless, weaving the struggles of getting older with the nostalgia of being young.
Overall, the narrative flow throughout the anthology is pitch-perfect.
Thematically, each story builds on the last with grace. Visually, word balloons guide the reader from frame to frame, mingling with the imagery in a way that supports instead of competing or distracting. Every detail in every frame feels necessary and character-building. Lachel’e provides looks into the characters’ rooms, and notes written on lined paper with doodles that feel true to things found in the margins of middle school homework.
This attention to detail is in every line made, even the design created for the end pages, which features a collage of everyday items tying together the autobiographical comics and the fictional adventures of Sarah and Julie. A Ventra card, a pony keychain, gum wrappers, broken crayons, etc. There is a playful familiarity within the imagery, endearing and exact.
’20 Years Young’ takes these excellent narrative pieces and improves upon them further with great style choices that round out the anthology.
The cover is Riso printed, which off the bat establishes a vibrancy that Lachel’e holds to over the 6 stories found inside. Lachel’e understands what materials to use to bring a story to life.
And alive these stories are! While the bulk of the comics illustrated within the anthology are crisp black line work, two exceptions really make the collection sing.
As a young artist, getting a little dirty was a part of the fun. Getting paint and ink stains on your hands, under your nails. The magic is found in making a mess and seeing an image emerge from that mess. Lachel’e understands this sensation perfectly, demonstrating this return to childhood magic via the use of materials that emulate working with crayons and trying new things.
So, the decision to approach two of the comics with a different brush style is truly epic. The two-page pencil/graphite styled comic titled ‘8/20/24’ is stunning and immediately eye-catching for the different approach to mark-making. It has the tactile charm of traditional art.
For that reason, ‘Tiny Hooves: Mega Magic’ is the perfect concluding story for this collection. This comic is created with media that gives off the feeling of crayons and inks, embracing a sort of childlike whimsy and a return to the kind of artist Lachel’e says she misses being:
Carefree. Drawing for the joy of it, creating for the rush of seeing worlds come to life, not defined by artist statements and deadlines.
’20 Years Young’ is a must-read for every artist struggling through their 20s, wondering what it is that they’ve gotten themselves into. The dialogue is humorous and heartfelt, the illustrations are fantastic, and the overall product is a knock-out.
May we all find time to embrace childhood and really get into the debate about Battle Girl Super dolls or Patriot Gals.