WOTN Review: Love University #1 (Class-e)

The Compulsion is Strong in Love University #1

Love University #1 is the first in a bright, charming new series. Have you ever wondered how Cupids learn to do their jobs? After all, matching two people together is a big deal – and is probably not what you want to get wrong.

Well, wonder no further, for Love University seeks to answer those questions while exploring what drives us to love. And all while questioning human connections in general. It’s the perfect series to dive into if you’re looking for something light and different, especially in a world inundated with heavier comic writing.

Writing

Love University #1 was a fascinating introduction to the world and its characters. In short order, the readers are introduced to the main characters, the school, the plot, and even some of the potential fissures for later in the series. It was all expertly done.

Allison Chaney Whitmore is the author behind this series, and it’s clear that she spent a lot of time thinking about how to introduce us to the world inside her mind. The pacing was ideal, and the writing captured my attention immediately. It’s the right balance for a new series.

It felt like Love University #1 kept subverting expectations. First, there’s the plot itself; it’s nothing like you might assume upon hearing a brief description. Then there’s the main character and the whole subplot surrounding her. It’s all very clever when you think about it.

I was impressed by how they balanced so much in the first issue. And I was also impressed by the premise itself. This isn’t a typical tale about cute little Cupids flying everywhere. It’s something different. And I just know that it will make for a memorable series.

Art

Love University #1 boasted some bright, colorful artwork to accompany the plot. If you peek at this issue’s cover, you’ll get a good idea of what is in store for you. However, fewer hearts and more characters are strewn about the internal pages.

Carola Borelli is the lead artist for this issue. They’re responsible for all of the characters portrayed in this issue – and there are many of them. It’s impressive how they were all distinct despite their numbers.

Oddly enough, Borelli’s depiction of texture really captivated me. In the introduction sequence, there are several tents shown in the background. They’re almost lost in the background, yet they’re stunning. The fabric shown is beautifully drawn, and I can’t help but find myself hoping to see more excuses for things like this later down the line.

Then there’s Agnese Pozza, who provided the coloring for this issue. I already referenced the bright colors to be found here. Love University #1 has a color palette full of pinks and purples. That’s to be expected. But Pozza managed to weave in several other complementary colors and, in doing so, kept the series from becoming too monochromatic.

And finally, let’s talk about the lettering. Justin Birch provided the lettering in this issue, and they did an excellent job. There was a decent amount of dialogue in this first issue, and yet it all flowed nicely on the pages. It was exactly what was needed.

Conclusion

Love University #1 was a fascinating start to a memorable series. It quickly proved to be a highly entertaining issue, full of characters and subplots everywhere you look. The complexity already introduced makes me excited to see what the rest of the series will store.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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