The New Deal
The New Deal is a light-hearted graphic novel with just a touch of noir. It involves a bellhop named Frank who has a crush on a hotel maid named Theresa. They work at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1936. One night, two particularly notable guests check in. One is a rich and powerful man to whom Frank owes a lot of money. The other is a beautiful, mysterious woman named Nina who is endlessly kind and generous to the staff and who stands up for Theresa when Theresa is accused of theft. Initially, Frank and Theresa suspect each other of the theft, but they quickly become uneasy allies as mysteries, dangers, and temptations pile up around them in a crazy crime caper.
This story deals with class, gender, and with race. Theresa deals with sexism and racism. Theresa is also in the cast of a production of Macbeth. This was a real production, and frankly, I’d have loved a story just about the play. It was directed by Orson Wells starring only black actors and it’s a great thing to Google if you want to go down the 1930’s history rabbit hole (which, honestly, who doesn’t?). It’s fun to see something written in this time period that deals with class, race, and gender, but that isn’t grindingly depressing (the time period was called “The Great Depression” for a reason). The glitz of the Waldorf and the glamour of the mysterious guest gives the story a fairy tale glow and elevates it into a fantasy about mysteries, fashion, and jewels.
While there are hints of a romantic HEA between Theresa and Frank, I suspect they will go their separate ways. Frank, Lord love him, has no ethics and is dumb as a bag of hair, which is a terrible combination. Initially his advances towards Theresa are clearly unwanted, and she seems to ally with him more for convenience than anything else. They are a fun comedic duo, though, and Theresa’s battle of wits with Nina is utterly delightful. The art is pretty sparse (although Nina’s clothes are unfailingly gorgeous) but it is a satisfying short read with a highly entertaining setting and cast of characters.
– Carrie S
The Waldorf Astoria is the classiest hotel along the Manhattan skyline in 1930s New York City. When a charming woman named Nina checks in with a high-society entourage, young Frank, a bellhop, and Theresa, a maid, get caught up in a series of mysterious thefts. The stakes quickly grow perilous, and the pair must rely on each other to discover the truth while navigating delicate class politics. Eisner Award-winning artist Jonathan Case (Green River Killer, Dear Creature) writes and draws this brilliant graphic novel of petty crime, comic predicaments, and vast heart in a story that speaks to class, race, and gender barriers.
Historical: American, Graphic Novel
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