With all the pressures of the past few years – the flip-flopping restrictions, the never-ending anxiety, the overwhelming sense of loss – who honestly hasn’t fanaticised about walking away from their responsibilities? Just living in the moment; doing what you want with no fear of consequence.
That’s pretty much the situation that workaholic German scientist Magdeline (Mag) Trälimer finds herself in in A Thing Called Truth, a five-issue comic miniseries from Italian comic creators Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli, the couple behind raunchy queer comedy Alice in Leatherland. Volume 1 of A Thing Called Truth releases today in trade paperback format, published under Image’s Shadowline imprint.
For the record, Mag’s free-spirited existence isn’t really a product of her own agency. On the cusp of a potentially world-changing breakthrough, after seven years of sacrifice (including of her marriage), she’s forced out the door by her Big Pharma bosses, so they can exploit her altruistic work for maximum profit.
With no way to fight back, and the realisation that she has completely forgotten her ability to enjoy life, Mag accepts an out-of-character adventure that fate throws her way: a road trip across Europe with Dorian Wildfang, a resourceful, highly charming woman who has also stepped out of her everyday to complete a very unusual mission. Dorian is hungry for new experiences, and seems to live by the principle of “Carpe Diem.” The only rule upheld by the odd couple pairing of Mag and Dorian? No questions about the other’s past.
A Thing Called Truth is officially described as “a chaotic LGBTQ+ road trip” – which is a great way to catch my attention, I’ll be honest. As it is, it’s quite difficult to slot this comic series into any specific genre, as it offers fast-paced vicarious fulfilment alongside quiet moments of character introspection, and even a burgeoning romance. A Thing Called Truth is breezy, colourful and fun. And quite emotionally affecting.
Credit must go to artist Romboli, whose ultra-expressive style radiates kinetic energy (even in those sombre, contemplative moments) without ever sacrificing clarity. Romboli isn’t afraid of play either, with Mag and Dorian’s travels occasionally summed up in a single frame, where our heroines are transformed into chibi-style characters speeding over a map.
For the record, while LGBTQ+ themes pop up in the course of Mag and Dorian’s exploits, mostly they’re present in the character of Dorian herself – who is queer lady catnip. Statuesque Dorian’s cool exterior and devil-may-care attitude masks an assortment of relatable insecurities and fears.
As a side note, the soul-searching nature of road trips make them a great canvas for exploring LGBTQ+ issues, and there have been a several comics and books that have done so in recent years. A Thing Called Truth is one of the newer entries in this sub-genre, and it’s a special treat for women who love women – or really just anyone looking for some heart-warming escapism.
A Thing Called Truth is a trip worth taking… with one caveat: the collected issues 1-5 aren’t the full story; in fact, it’s clearly just the start. While the trade paperback ends on a satisfying high point for Mag and Dorian’s unlikely pairing, the book’s opening pages hint at a lot more action and plot twists to come.
That said, if the story of A Thing Called Truth did end with one collected volume, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Readers can make an educated guess about what leads to the dramatic prologue, but hopefully we’ll get to experience more of Zanfardino and Romboli’s vision for our heroines in future comic issues. There is clearly a lot more self-reflection required from Mag and Dorian, as well as several hefty loose ends to tie up.
In addition to physical print edition out today, A Thing Called Truth is available for purchase across multiple digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle/comiXology, Apple Books, and Google Play.
As a sampler, you can also read the first issue of A Thing Called Truth online here. It’s 100% legal, promise.