So I’m sitting at home in Greece, looking at my book shelf which still houses a major section of my collection here. A lot of my classic graphic novels still live here, I noticed a gem I’ve not read in nearly 6 years. It’s really strange but the book that made me notice Judd Winick as a creator, also turned out was also his Magnum Opus. Judd, I’m sure will write some great stories in the future (hell I’ve reviewed one already on the Panel), however nothing is going to ever come close to ‘Pedro and Me‘. It’s one of the books that will enrich you as a person.

Judd came to prominence to the world of comic books and graphic novels as ‘that cartoon guy from MTV’s Real World San Francisco’. Seriously, probably the only reality TV series I’ve ever actually watched and really enjoyed. It was a slice of life, a peek into how it was like to live in another country at a pretty young age, so a lot of things we fascinating to me. My memory of the show is very sketchy at best (I was 15 years old and generally have the memory of a goldfish), however I do remember thinking Puck was a bit of an idiot.

‘Pedro and Me’ as you can imagine tells the story of Pedro Zamora and what he meant to his friend Judd Winick. It’s a biography and an autobiography rolled into one. Pedro Zamora was a gay Cuban immigrant who was HIV positive when Judd met him on the Real World. In his time on earth he truly made a difference to thousands of people around him and this is his story as told by one of his closest friends. Judd gives a brief account of where he came from and his background before diving and giving Pedro centre stage.

Without a doubt one of the most powerful stories to be put onto paper ‘Pedro and Me’ stands the test of time. Of course it should be pointed out that this story was in an era when the specifics about AIDs was still kind of sketchy. It wasn’t as bad as the 80s that’s for sure, however there still was and still is a decent amount of ignorance surrounding the subject. What makes it even more important is taking into consideration the fact that media wasn’t as gay accepting as it is now. There was no ‘Will and Grace’ or ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’. People were less accepting. Judd makes sure that when he discusses the specifics it doesn’t feel like you’re back at school, another great asset to this great tale.

What amazes me rereading this story was just how well Judd has crafted this story. The artwork is a perfect compliment to this incredibly sad story. The setup is perfect, as is the execution. You’ll find that you won’t be able to put it down until the very last page.

Fast-forward to 2000 when this book was released and you get the inside story. Judd writes and draws this series, which is in direct contrast to what he’s been doing for several years now (mainly writing superhero fare for DC comics), so it’s an even bigger treat. One of his absolute biggest gifts is his storytelling ability. When I say storytelling ability I’m talking about his fusion of pictures, pace and dialogue into a whole that is truly something only a talented person could achieve. The story never misses a beat. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you stop and think and ultimately it’ll make you cry, several times over. You owe it to yourself to go out and buy this book.

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