Love letter from 1972
by Monica Mei V. Cariño on June 23, 2009
Two-time winner of the National Book Awards Arnold Arre has a gift of characterization.
His latest graphic novel, Martial Law Babies, tells a riveting and action-packed tale about a group of middle class children trying to find their own identity.
Deemed as the “Children of the New Society,” the characters include Allan, the perennial love-struck and idealistic protagonist, Carol, the high-strung girl who later becomes an adult star, Rebecca, the intelligent yet sarcastic voice of wisdom, and the seemingly carefree and naïve best friend, Francis.
The story opens with a weary Allan waking up and writing a blog entry in the early morning. Then, a series of flashbacks make up the bulk of the book, from their young years of playing tex under the hot sun to their post-graduation wide-eyed idealism and finally, their realizations working in the daily grind.
From their youthful idealism to their world-weary experiences as “20-somethings,” the reader witnesses the growth of each character. Once a wide-eyed child seeking love and attention, Carol grows up to be misunderstood. On the other hand, innocent and righteous Allan becomes jaded.
Through a girl’s first experience with her “monthly visitor” and first heartbreaks, Arre makes sure the characters are indeed human and relatable.
This is where the beauty of Arre’s novel comes in. He does not just rely on pulling the nostalgic strings of the reader, his accurate depiction of emotions, nor his intricately drawn characters. He makes the story appealing by depicting the confused nature of adolescents in a crisis-ridden country.
One can’t help but notice Arre’s use of small details that allude to succeeding events and distinguishable fads of that era. When the plot becomes heavy, the effective use of shorts in between chapters provides comic relief as well as food for thought.
Even with simple words, the conclusion truly tugs the heart. It provides closure to the rollercoaster ride that is Martial Law Babies. With amazing skill, Arre writes an unassuming 243-page love letter to the youth of his generation.
Rating: 
4.5 of 5 gs
