Wow, the thing about Laterborn is this: You look at the comics and you think, "these are pretty simple drawings"...but then, you read the content and they are some of the best written stories you've ever read. No, really. "Who Are You," is a comic about the teacher that taught him to stand up for his beliefs, and "Lucy Marsh," is the story of another teacher's grief. There's also a short story about a drug-trip gone bad, but it's not cliched or boring. Everything Jason attempts here is executed perfectly. You've never heard of this zine, but you've gotta check it out! Five stars!

Laterborn #5 is another collection of sweet, perceptive comics, this time focused on Jason's high school and college life. In the comic "Lily," he manages to perfectly capture that very first relationship. Not the Craig Thompson "Blankets" kind of romance, but the one even before that. That barely teenaged foray into the world of dating. The awkwardness of "Mom, will you drive me there?" and staying up late on the phone like it was your lifeline. There's also a comic of unrequited love, and one about why people choose to die in Sausalito. These comics, while often sad, understand something very basic about human nature.

Jason's 6th issue is intensely nostalgic. The comics are about his first tour with a band, playing Nintendo in college, how popular music has stayed with him over time, and various dreams he's had. The drawings inside are the same as those on the cover; they're pretty simple. But somehow Jason structures his comics in a way that seems warm. His stories make you feel kind of nostalgic yourself, especially if you were an alternateen who listened to the Smashing Pumpkins, and Pearl Jam.