A Great Big Visual Hug - Andrés J. Colmenares - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Andrés J. Colmenares
GENRE: Sequential Art Collection.
PUBLICATION DATE: September 10, 2024
RATING: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A cute little collection of comics that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. If you know Wawawiwa comics, you know what to expect. A great gifting option.


I’ve been a fan of Wawawiwa comics since many years now. Author Andrés J. Colmenares, who is a self-taught illustrator from Colombia, describes his work as a "visual hug" [Cue: the title of this compilation!] and he is absolutely right. The art is always cute and the content is always endearing.

The main feature about these comics is that they personify not just animals but also objects that we would never think of in a anthropomorphised way. Think toothpaste tubes, avocados, cola cans, the planets, balloons, body organs, and so on with human sentiments – ridiculously funny, but Colmenares manages to make them sweet.

This latest collection contains some of the most liked comics from Wawawiwa’s Instagram page. At about 200 pages, this is much longer than Colmenares’ earlier Wawawiwa compilation, ‘When Sharks Attack With Kindness’, which had about 128 pages. Both the books are adorably uplifting!

I had already seen many of these comics before, but they are so heartwarming that a repeat read never hurts. Some of the strips are funny, some are thought-provoking, and some are just ‘awww’-inducing. While the animal-based ones are my favourite, all are delightful.

Most of the strips have a fresh feeling, with only a few seeming a bit repetitive. At the same time, I wish there had been a few new comics also in the set. If a reader can see the same content browsing through the Wawawiwa site or the Instagram page, why would they buy the book?

The illustrations are exactly as you can see on the cover – kawaii-style cute!

This needn’t be a book you read from start to end. You can just flip to any random page and get your dose of a daily smile.

Much recommended. As a wonderful combination of heart and humour, this would make for a wholesome gift to loved ones of any age, to family as well as friends and colleagues.

My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing the DRC of “A Great Big Visual Hug” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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