Subway series

de Leela Corman

Leela Corman’s September 2002 graphic novel Subway Series follows the exploits of Tina, a frustrated sixteen-year-old city girl whose affections are divided between two guys. The problem is, one has an out of town girlfriend and the other is a complete jerk. Add to that a bitchy adversary whom she once called a friend who’s out to humiliate her, and now confused Tina doesn’t know which way to turn. Time Magazine observes: “The teenage life that Leela Corman depicts in ‘Subway Series’ has less in common with the world of Archie and Veronica and more in common with the movie ‘Kids…” Most current comics about female sexual experiences focus on extremes of behavior such as abuse. Subway Series depicts the more average teen experience: coercive, confused and mundane. Leela Corman’s, lavish calligraphic drawing style, described as “Music to my eyes” by Scott McCloud, vividly brings to life this singular graphic novel showing real teen sex and angst in all its awkward splendor.