Life Is Beautiful is David Alvarado’s one-person anthology of short comics.

In this volume, David collects comics originally published in NewCity (one of Chicago’s free alternative newspapers). These one- and two-part stories all exist within the same universe, but due to their original publishing restrictions (being published periodically, weeks apart), they tend to stand on their own.

Teen Dreams follows the plights of teenagers as they navigate social situations with friends, annoying parents, and the pressures of high school.

Dynamic Stories From Another Dimension are science fiction tales that turn out to be episodes of a television series within the Teen Dreams universe.

Papi’s World focuses on the owner of a pizzeria in Teen Dreams…who is a total creep.

David’s story telling really excels in this comic! As we meet awkward character after awkward character, each one is new with their own back story and their own anxieties. Each character feels very real, even when the situations they find themselves feel bizarre. In the comic’s notes, David says a lot of these situations are based on his own teenage years, which may explain how his writing feels so natural.

Author/Artist: David Alvarado
Publisher: self-published
Page Count: 32pp
Size: 7.25 x 8.5
Notes: saddle-stitched, color
Date of Publication: 2017