To go back to 'Bingo Love', and more of its story, its world, its characters, it feels like coming home.
Has it truly been years since I read the first 88-page paperback edition?The 'Jackpot Edition' expands and explores further avenues - into the characters' lives, spanning decades. The extra stories at the end - with different writers and artists - are all wonderful. They are so real, so human, and so positive and full of love! Gail Simone even wrote one, to my pleasant surprise, and of course it involves superheroes! It is absolutely adorable, and also sad and bittersweet, which suits 'Bingo Love' perfectly.
A lot of questions from when 'Bingo Love' first came into the world are now answered. Now I know the name of Mari's husband! And who her (five) children are. This time round I also noticed the inclusivity of both Elle and Mari's big families. For example, one member is wheelchair bound, and another has one arm. Pay attention to subtle details like this and it makes the experience of reading 'Bingo Love' even more enjoyable and like everything is bright and hopeful in life. Mari's one-armed, multicoloured-haired granddaughter, and possibly some of her other grandbabies (and Elle's), are queer too!
I already said so much - gushed ever so - in my review of the original 'Bingo Love' comic. Read it here for more. Much, much more.
I love 'Bingo Love, Volume 1: Jackpot Edition'. There is further to add to the story; details, blanks to be filled in the lives of Hazel "Elle" Johnson and Marian "Mari" McCray, and their bond. Their true love relationship, which contains many, many tragic elements but, despite everything, it never falters in pure, passionate, everlasting love, for over sixty years.
It is a beautiful, and important, love story.
They are meant to be together, always.
Final Score: 4.5/5
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