Thirsty for Love by Carmen Pizarro and David Ocampo
Independently Published (2022)
48 pages; $15.00 perfect bound collector’s edition of 100
Reviewed by Joshua Gage
Thirsty for Love is a clever monster graphic novel written by David Ocampo and illustrated by Carmen Pizarro. When Emily goes missing, her friend Josie thinks she knows what happens. She’s aware of the new girl, Charlotte Smith, and suspects she’s responsible for Emily’s disappearance. When she confronts Charlotte, Josie discovers that her suspicions are not only wrong, but that the truth is far worse than she could ever imagine.
The story of Thirsty for Love is succinct but elegant. Ocampo’s writing and dialogue makes for a strong teen story of monster horror. However, the real star here is Carmen Pizarro and her art. The minimal use of color combined with a distinct style makes for a very unique read. Pizarro only uses three or four colors throughout this whole story; however, she’s able to get the most out of those colors to affect the tone of the panels and the emotions of the readers. Also, her unique style is also quite effective for the story, especially at the end when the monster is finally revealed in her true form.
Thirsty for Love is a short graphic novel (only 48 pages) and reads very much like a short story. That being said, it’s a really fun story and one that will engage YA and possibly older middle-grade readers of horror, as well as more mature readers looking for a fun, light horror story about high school, cliques, romance, and blood-sucking monsters. David Ocampo has written an engaging tale, and Carmen Pizarro’s art and color work really stands out in this clever graphic novel.
