Hogbook and Lazer Eyes

Actor and comedian Bamford (Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult) crafts a narrative that at first appears impenetrable but soon reveals itself as eminently heartwarming. The genesis of the title is revealed within the first few pages of a cartoon love story by way of animal narrators and courtesy of the OkCupid aliases of Bamford and her husband Cassidy. The story traces their tentative beginnings, their relatable bumpy road to marriage, and the challenges they face, both quotidian and crucial—ranging from noisy neighbors to managing bipolar II disorder. The chronology of their relationship is framed loosely by the observations of their canine companions, wonky, adorable, adopted senior pugs. This device telegraphs a sense of the elements that create a good life, be it pet or human, such as simple earthly pleasures, casual companionship, and support in tough times. As the years go by, pups age, ail, and die, new dogs join the brood, and new bonds form. The dense, documentary nature of Cassidy’s artwork is reminiscent of the chockful underground aesthetic of R. Crumb, while the mildly absurdist tone of the couple’s interactions recalls the mood of Keiler Roberts’s acerbic self-chronicles.