Proof That the Devil Loves You

by Gilbert Hernández

This book presents three Fritz one all-new, two revised and expanded from their initial comic book run. The titular story is a fable set in a world very reminiscent of Palomar. Then, Fritz plays an “astronette” on an existential mission through space. Three Fritz one is entirely new, while two of the tales are expanded from their original appearances in the ongoing Love and Rockets comic book series. The titular story, “Proof That the Devil Loves You,” is a fable about a free spirit, Bula, played by Fritz. Something strange is going on in a town very reminiscent of Palomar. Gisel and Kiki are determined to understand why the hamlet’s residents are acting so foolishly ― is it something in the air? And why can’t Gisel leave? But when there’s a violent turn, evidence points toward the supernatural. Then, Fritz plays the role of an “astronette” on an existential journey through space. Proof That the Devil Loves You is the latest in a series of graphic novels featuring Gilbert Hernandez’s character Fritz, a B-movie actress (and half-sister to his iconic Love and Rockets character, Luba) whose hourglass figure has earned her a cult following. While Gilbert often explores Fritz’s troubled life off-screen in Love and Rockets , for years he has also been “adapting” her exploitation films in various forms, including a series of standalone graphic novels that include Chance in Hell , The Troublemakers , Garden of the Flesh , Maria M. , and Hypnotwist/Scarlet By Starlight . Black-and-white illustrations throughout

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

96 pages, Hardcover

Published August 22, 2023

About the author

Gilbert and his brother Jaime Hernández mostly publish their separate storylines together in Love And Rockets and are often referred to as 'Los Bros Hernandez'.

Gilbert Hernandez is an American cartoonist best known for the Palomar and Heartbreak Soup stories in Love and Rockets, the groundbreaking alternative comic series he created with his brothers Jaime and Mario. Raised in Oxnard, California in a lively household shaped by comics, rock music and a strong creative streak, he developed an early fascination with graphic storytelling. His influences ranged from Marvel legends Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to the humor and clarity of Hank Ketcham and the Archie line, as well as the raw energy of the underground comix that entered his life through his brother Mario.
In 1981 the brothers self-published the first issue of Love and Rockets, which quickly drew the attention of Fantagraphics Books. The series became a defining work of the independent comics movement, notable for its punk spirit, emotional depth and multiracial cast. Gilbert's Palomar stories, centered on the residents of a fictional Latin American village, combined magic realism with soap-opera intimacy and grew into an ambitious narrative cycle admired for its complex characters and bold storytelling. Works like Human Diastrophism helped solidify his reputation as one of the medium's most inventive voices.
Across periods when Love and Rockets was on hiatus, Hernandez built out a parallel body of work, creating titles such as New Love, Luba, and Luba's Comics and Stories, as well as later graphic novels including Sloth and The Troublemakers. He also collaborated with Peter Bagge on the short-lived series Yeah! and continued to explore new directions in Love and Rockets: New Stories.
Celebrated for his portrayal of independent women and for his distinctive blend of realism and myth, Hernandez remains a major figure in contemporary comics and a lasting influence on generations of artists.

Reviews

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way past weird on the weird o meter....
But that's why I keep coming back.

[Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy these "Fritz Movie Books" as the surrealist vignettes that they are.

[Alex Memus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a letdown after the superb "Scarlet by Starlight".

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s worth mentioning right at the top that Gilbert Hernandez’s Proof That The Devil Loves You isn’t a totally new comic. The book collects stories that have appeared previously in Love and Rockets: New Stories, Volume 3 #4, #5 and #6, Blubber #1, and Love and Rockets: New Stories, Volume 4 #5. I think if I’d known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have bothered with this book so just a heads up to anyone considering splashing out on this one, especially Beto fans like me who have probably read the aforementioned L&R comics: there’s some new stuff but it’s mostly a clip show unfortunately.

The titular story is the best one, though that isn’t saying much. Fritz plays a free spirit in a Palomar-esque township ruled over by an authoritarian sheriff. Because all of the stories in this book are movies Fritz appeared in, this one reads a bit like an arthouse film with intentionally clunky symbolism/dialogue/character motivations that doesn’t make for the most satisfying of stories. It’s sorta interesting and coherent at least.

Compared to what follows, the first story is a masterpiece! One story follows a group of weird creatures that go to Las Vegas and gamble. One feels like an extended dream sequence where Fritz meets the various characters she’s played in numerous movies (comics to us) over the years. There’s a silly sci-fi thing where Fritz fights an alien for some magic boots and then the book closes with another arthouse-y number where Fritz and A Guy talk tangentially about… stuff.

Underwhelming to say the least. I love Beto’s work but Proof That The Devil Loves You is one of his less impressive books full of baffling, half-baked and instantly-forgettable stories. If you’re interested in a Beto-r comic featuring Fritz, check out Maria M. instead.

[Joseph Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of possibly related stories. Admittedly, the ridiculously large boobs took me out of it. Most of the stories are pretty forgettable. The first third with the small constrained village seemed the strongest, but the story seemed unsurprising. The animals on a trip to Las Vegas was mildly entertaining, but again didn't have much payoff. The female competition did seem like a novel way of describing either the fashion industry for models or movie industry for actresses. The last meta part in the datey conversation just seemed annoying to me, as if the author didn't really know how to sell their ideas without resorting to text dumps. If I knew what this was, I would have read something else.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like with Blubber, I dig Hernandez’s art. I just have no clue what’s happening in the story. The surreal opening sequence was at least intriguing and kept moving along, but then the gear shifting into several other unrelated and ungrounded vignettes that certainly convey some emotional registers (longing, isolation, dread, confusion, and probably more), I can’t really figure out WHY any of that matters to the totality of this as a singular work. I still haven’t read any of Love & Rockets directly but it here past two forays have been me feel like that just might not be for me.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Beto as the books come out, I didn't remember or recognize the two expanded stories. Taken as a whole, this is a surreal meditation on life and purpose as only Beto can do. I won't pretend to fully follow or understand it, but it help emotional weight by the end.

[Neil Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seldom truly understand these, but I always come back for more

[Doug Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book! (Nice design with a satin-y finish.) By my count, it's the 7th in the Fritz film series; unlike the first five entries, it consists mostly of previously published material, now collected in book form for the first time. The series format is a standard book size—a pulp fiction aesthetic—so the artwork appears smaller than in earlier publications.

Longtime fans will recognize the stories ‘Proof That the Devil Loves You’ (from New Stories 5), ‘Las Vegas Lace’ (from Blubber #1), a space ‘astronette’ short from L&R IV #5 (inspired by Sandra Bullock in Gravity?), ‘Untitled’ from New Stories 6, and ‘And Then Reality Kicks In’ (from New Stories 4), plus one page borrowed from New Stories 7. There's a single new story sandwiched in the middle that looks like a meta Fritz parody (no doubt accomplished with film trickery or CGI, to allow the actress to occupy all roles). It's all run together without story titles or separation but with some light narration as a connecting thread. This is Fritz at age 40.

There's great stuff here. Will it work as a single piece? For now, it gets the benefit of the doubt. By and large, these stories were excellent in the context of their original issues, typically intercut with other ‘real world’ (non-B-film) storylines that added depth and contrast. In fact, the foul-mouthed, body-dysmorphic fantasy ‘Untitled’ won an Eisner!

Note that there was also a reference to this title in L&R IV #5, as a DVD collecting 5 stories (being watched by Fritz's daughter Rosy). So that might be the working concept of what this is: an anthology film, like Black Sabbath or Boccaccio ’70. What's unusual is that this collection makes Fritz herself (the actress) the subject of several stories—blurring the line between fiction and autobiography within the world of her B-film output.