Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“Our story takes place in Austin, Texas. Home to conservatives, progressives, and our like-minded heroes, the newlywed Maggie and Adam.”
Some of us have only heard of couples breaking up over political differences, but if you want to read a firsthand account of how someone’s marriage almost (emphasis on almost) crumbled over a difference of opinion, Should We Buy A Gun is a good place to start. Authored by Dave Cowen and illustrated by Gabriel Wexler, the graphic novel follows newlyweds Maggie and Adam, a happy couple whose peaceful union is divided over gun ownership after being mugged by armed thieves.
The graphic novel begins with Maggie and Adam trying to conceive, and their trip to the store for a pregnancy test ends in the mugging. The incident shakes Maggie completely, triggering her into wanting a gun and questioning Adam’s nonviolent stance on things. As Maggie and Adam debate whether they should buy a gun, they decide to take shooting lessons first, and soon, Adam becomes hyper-masculine, trigger-happy, and willing to not just own a gun but use it over the mildest provocation. Dave Cowen and Gabriel Wexler comically capture this transformation of the couple’s views in Should We Buy A Gun. While Maggie works as a video producer at an NPR station, Adam is a counselor at Austin High, a public school. Readers get to see the complexities of gun control through the lens of this loving couple, who navigate fear, self-defense, shifting ideologies and even change in feelings for each other.
Over 300 pages long, the graphic novel also delves into the gun laws of Texas and the everyday chatter surrounding gun ownership between the protagonists’ friends and family. Some of the most relatable bits are when Adam speaks to his sisters and mother on group video calls, with his sisters scathingly condemning gun use while his mother is always more diplomatic, advising Adam to follow his own gut. The conflicting opinions and personality clashes – both between Adam and his sisters and between Adam and his wife – are humorously portrayed. Initially, Maggie appears to be the less progressive, more impulsive, and unlikable one, but as she researches further, she evolves into the more practical and level-headed of the two. The implication is obvious – knowledge is a great equalizer/rectifier.
The artwork in Should We Buy A Gun is simple, so much so that sometimes the characters look like they might have been drawn in Microsoft Paint. While the almost doodle-style, colorful artwork adds a playful, entertaining touch to the graphic novel, some of the more serious scenes do not have the kind of emotional impact one would hope for. I have a high bar for graphic novels when it comes to art, and Gabriel Wexler’s illustrations didn’t have the visual appeal I look for in the genre.
Ultimately, Should We Buy A Gun leans toward advocating gun control; however, the story presents both the pros and cons of owning a gun through its protagonists, letting readers draw their own conclusions. For readers who are ambivalent about gun laws or find themselves locked in an internal debate over gun ownership, this graphic novel offers a range of diverse perspectives that might help fence-sitters choose a certain side.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
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