It’s worth mentioning right at the top that Gilbert Hernandez’s Proof That The Devil Loves You isn’t a totally new comic. The book collects stories that have appeared previously in Love and Rockets: New Stories, Volume 3 #4, #5 and #6, Blubber #1, and Love and Rockets: New Stories, Volume 4 #5. I think if I’d known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have bothered with this book so just a heads up to anyone considering splashing out on this one, especially Beto fans like me who have probably read the aforementioned L&R comics: there’s some new stuff but it’s mostly a clip show unfortunately.
The titular story is the best one, though that isn’t saying much. Fritz plays a free spirit in a Palomar-esque township ruled over by an authoritarian sheriff. Because all of the stories in this book are movies Fritz appeared in, this one reads a bit like an arthouse film with intentionally clunky symbolism/dialogue/character motivations that doesn’t make for the most satisfying of stories. It’s sorta interesting and coherent at least.
Compared to what follows, the first story is a masterpiece! One story follows a group of weird creatures that go to Las Vegas and gamble. One feels like an extended dream sequence where Fritz meets the various characters she’s played in numerous movies (comics to us) over the years. There’s a silly sci-fi thing where Fritz fights an alien for some magic boots and then the book closes with another arthouse-y number where Fritz and A Guy talk tangentially about… stuff.
Underwhelming to say the least. I love Beto’s work but Proof That The Devil Loves You is one of his less impressive books full of baffling, half-baked and instantly-forgettable stories. If you’re interested in a Beto-r comic featuring Fritz, check out Maria M. instead.
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