Always Raining Here

Gr 9 Up–It’s a recipe for a rocky start when a boy desperate to get laid propositions another who is stressed and on the rebound. This is the case for Carter and Adrian. But through time and circumstance, each gradually begins to grow and respect the other. By meeting the responsible theatre boy, Carter becomes more caring and supportive, while Adrian learns to relax a bit from someone so easy going. Even with its unabashed start, Always Raining Here is actually a slow romance that acknowledges the path to a healthy relationship isn’t always smooth. In their jump from Webtoon to print, Hazel and Bell have redrawn the first half in a matte sketchy quality reminiscent of their debuting style. The second part retains their cleaner, shaded phase. While not an unusual move for webcomics, the cohesion as a whole, and even in this second section, has some jarring moments. Once the redefined style settles though, it suits the laid-back tone much better. The dialogue’s quality never wavers from candid teen talk.