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Mambo

Claire Braud

Identity (Psychology) Social Interaction Comic Books

A day in the life of Petula Peet sends the reader in a whirlwind of absurdity where we meet her pet tiger, a naked stranger who rides his horse beside the road for all to see, secretaries wearing leopard suits and men dress and behave like women, offering impromptu musicals and professing love. Everyone in the volume seems to be constantly running from something. The plot goes in all directions without making much sense, exposing a twisted logic which seems to reveal humanity in its most raw form. It deals with the difficulties in various relationships, especially with things like shyness, discomfort, and fear of the unknown. Dressed like characters in a bizarre circus, the people are hidden behind wigs, glasses, fake eyebrows and layers of makeup. The characters struggle to lay bare their true selves both literally and figuratively, to finally dare to be noticed by each other, creating both a new-found strength and a sense of fragility.