Mothballs

Sole Otero, Andrea Rosenberg

Book cover for Mothballs
Book cover for Mothballs

Mothballs

Mothballs

Sole Otero, Andrea Rosenberg

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Description
Buenos Aires, 2001. When Vilma passes away, few friends and relatives care to attend her funeral. This conspicuous absence sparks the curiosity of her 19-year-old granddaughter, Rocio, who moves into the house her grandmother has left her. In this home haunted by memories, she delves into Vilma's life and uncovers a family history shrouded in tragedy.

Moving seamlessly between Italy at the beginning of the 20th century and Argentina at the beginning of the 21st century, Mothballs draws a poetic comparison between the lives of grandmother and granddaughter. Both women are strong-willed and ambitious, eager to forge their own way, but face pressure from family and society to conform to the paths set for them. At a crossroads in her own life, knowing well the isolation her grandmother felt, Rocio seeks to break free from the chain of history. Mothballs chronicles fraught family dynamics with rare nuance and sensitivity, sprinkling in moments of tenderness, vulnerability, and whimsy amidst the pain, a showcase of tour de force cartooning that marks Sole Otero as a major talent in the global comics scene.

Critical Reviews

Mothballs is a profound, captivating work, which tells us about family, guilt, fears and the search for a way that prevents repeating the mistakes of the past.--Jon Spinaro "El Diario de Navarra"

Otero's brightly colored characters are doll-like yet full of passion, outrage, and schemes, and her storytelling is just as bold and memorable as the drawings. It's an impressive achievement.-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review"

Sole Otero recounts her dive into the tragedies of her family, against the backdrop of Argentina in the crisis of 2001.--Tommaso Koch "El País"

A majestic book that portrays the tribulations of a family saga that moves between Italy at the beginning of the 20th century and Argentina at the beginning of the 21st. A sharp reflection on the concept of family and what surrounds it.--Borja Crespo "El Correo"

An exciting and colorful reflection on family and identity.--Gemma Veiga "Elle Spain"

A moving family saga from Sole Otero about uncovering violence and betrayal in one's family tree, with humor and heart-warming moments permeating throughout.--Lydia Turner "Broken Frontier"

Otero's Mothballs is an unflinching look at family, love and choosing your own path. It stayed with me long after I read it.--Eleanor Davis (The Hard Tomorrow)

Publishing Information

Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Pub date: 2024-08-13
Length: 336 pages

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