Pedro & Me: A Turning Point

Jim Roush
Jeremy Starr
Nic Donnay

In November of 1989, Pedro’s blood test came back positive for the HIV virus. Pedro was only seventeen. Pedro appears contemplative with the bowing of this head and the gazing stare into space which leads us to believe that Pedro is confused and overwhelmed with the severity of the situation. In the panel, there is a solid black background and the larger size of the panel emphasizes the significance of the events taking place. The expression on his face is similar to the look he had when his mother died, so this helps the reader make a point of reference to his emotions. As far as the font used in the text, it is the same as is used throughout the book, so the reader must rely solely upon the image for any dynamic emphasis. Also, unlike most other frames, this is a close-up of Pedro’s face, which makes the focus is all on his emotions. This panel sets the tone for the rest of the book.