The Many Deaths of Laila Starr
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is a comic book series written by Ram V with illustrations by Filipe Andrade that was published on April 14, 2021, by Boom! Studios.
Background
The series was released during the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on the theme of death.[1] The series is set in the city of Mumbai where Ram V was born.[2]
Plot
The story is narrated by the god of life and follows three protagonists—a pregenant woman in labor, a woman at a college party, and the god of death. [3]
Reception
Tom Batten praised the series in the Library Journal calling it "A passionate and refreshingly unsentimental fable".[4] The Publishers Weekly review expressed disappointment in the series stating that "The opening pages ... brim with explosive energy before losing momentum."[5] Dustin Nelson praised the series in Thrillist calling it a "loving meditation on hope and the beauty of the present."[6]
Awards
| Award | Date | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eisner Awards | 2022 | Best Limited Series | Won | [7][8] |
| Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team | Won | |||
| Best Coloring | Won | |||
| Goodreads Choice Awards | Graphic Novels & Comics | Nominated | [9] | |
| Ignatz Awards | Outstanding Series | Won | [10] |
Adaptations
The Minnesota Opera created an operatic adaptation of the comic book series.[11] Commissioned as part of the Minnesota Opera's New Works Initiative, it will make its world premiere on Oct. 31, 2026.[12]
The adaptation features music by Kamala Sankaram and a libretto by Minita Gandhi.[12]
References
- ^ Kejera, M. L. (May 20, 2021). "The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr is a work of cyclical transcendence". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ Marquez, Sergio (August 8, 2022). "'The many deaths of Laila Starr': buscando el favor de la muerte" ['The many deaths of Laila Starr': seeking death's favor]. Las Furias Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ Pinder-Buckley, Destiny (Winter 2024). "Book Review: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Filipe Andrade" (PDF). Popular Culture Review. 35 (1). Policy Studies Organization: 213–216. doi:10.18278/pcr.35.1.9. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ Batten, Tom (November 4, 2022). "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr". Library Journal.
- ^ "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V". Publishers Weekly. November 12, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ Nelson, Dustin (July 13, 2021). "The Best Comic Books & Graphic Novels of 2021". Thrillist. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ Carter, Justin (July 23, 2022). "SDCC 2022's Eisner Winners: DC, Junji Ito, Lore Olympus, and More". Gizmodo. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ Babb, Tiffany (May 28, 2023). "The winners of the 2022 Eisner Awards are..." ThePopverse. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Graphic Novels & Comics!". Goodreads. 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ "2022 Ignatz Awards Nominees". Small Press Expo. 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ Tantimedh, Adi (October 17, 2024). "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr: Graphic Novel Gets an Opera Adaptation". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ a b Nelson, Dustin (March 20, 2026). "MN Opera's new season features world premiere comic book adaptation". Bring Me The News. Retrieved March 11, 2026.