Part of the crop of alternative comics to spring up in the ’80s, Love and Rockets has been going strong in different forms for over 20 years. The series follows numerous characters (predominantly Latinos, many bisexual) through their intersecting lives in and around Los Angeles. Jaime Hernandez writes psychologically realistic characters, with astute observations on life not often found in any medium.

This collection focuses less on L&R’s main character Maggie than on her best friend and sometime lover, Hopey, as well as her former boyfriend Ray. It’s a true-to-life comic, finding humor and poignancy in the quotidian, as the characters start new jobs and navigate the not always smooth transitions in and out of relationships.

Grade: A-

The Education of Hopey Glass is currently available.