Wuvable Oaf

The cover of the hardcover of Wuvable Oaf

I'm finally getting around to another piece of my CAKE haul from last year! This month’s selection is a charming love story about a bear in San Francisco and his friends (and lots of kittens). Wuvable Oaf by Ed Luce was originally produced independently, but it was published last year by Fantagraphics Books in a gorgeous hardcover with some excellent supplemental material. The fanfare that met this production was well deserved yet insufficient. Individual issues of Wuvable Oaf and other assorted merchandise about the character are available on Mr. Luce’s website.

With surreal touches that would make the story a fantasy in the hands of a lesser writer, Mr. Luce tells the story of one character’s search for love with plenty of room for several intriguing supporting characters and an exploration of fascinating subcultures rooted in both the reality of the story and our own. Ignorance of pro wrestling and metal music does not make the jokes any less effective, either, which is a rare treat. At times touching and hilarious, usually both, the romantic backgrounds of the central couple are explored as they take tentative and exuberant steps towards getting to know each other.

Intimidating in his design but endearing in his personality, the main character, the titular Wuvable Oaf, is both archetypal and one of the most original creations in comics. A bear with a heart of gold, he is innocent enough to order waffles at a severe haute cuisine restaurant at which patrons are invited to slaughter their own meals and care deeply about stray cats that display unnerving psychotic tendencies. As he woos the musician Eiffel and the reader learns of his relationship history, we long for him to succeed even as we laugh out loud over painful and sweet developments in the unfolding story threads.

Included in this volume are short stories that explore the supporting cast (along with flights of fancy that eschew reality altogether to explore hardcore science fiction and fantasy versions of the characters) and The Official Handbook to the Oafiverse, making this the perfect starting point for new readers and a reminder to old readers of why they enjoy this series so much. It is available wherever books are sold and can be purchased at Amazon and the publisher’s website.