A ridiculous book to make sense of a horrible world

Aditi Mali's "The Complete Shampoo and Daddy" offers a collection of graphic short stories centered on the complex friendship between a rabbit named Shampoo and a pig named Daddy. The characters are far from conventional heroes; they are prone to destructive acts, such as setting pages of their own book on fire, and are often grotesque. Yet, Mali's narrative draws readers in by mirroring universal human anxieties.

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Mali’s collection of graphic short stories essaying the deep and troublesome friendship between a rabbit and a pig is entertaining, dark, depraved and an example of the mastery of book-making.

The book delves into fundamental questions about existence, food, and the struggle against pervasive sorrow. Mali imbues even mundane activities, like drying laundry or considering eating a jackfruit, with a distinguished narrative style. The stories, though quirky, possess a meditative and fable-like quality, resonating with simplicity and depth. Even a seemingly random appearance by Narendra Modi adds to the book's unpredictable nature.

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Shampoo and Daddy are plagued by the questions we are plagued by – what to eat, how to eat it, what to do with ourselves and how to fight the all-consuming envelope of sorrow that sometimes descends on us.

Mali's artistic style is deliberately jarring and rudimentary, eschewing conventional beauty for honesty. The uneven panel edges and simply drawn carrots contribute to a unique world-building that feels authentic. This style, honed through her online art, uses a "statement lack of aesthetic beauty" to convey funny, wretched, and everyday stories. The book creates an intimate experience, allowing readers to connect with the flawed protagonists despite their imperfections.

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Mali’s art is jarring – consider the close-up of the two creatures on the cover, for instance – and only very occasionally beautiful.