An Introduction to “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr”

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is a 2021 miniseries and graphic novel written by Ram V and illustrated by Filipe Andrade. Published by Boom!, The series follows the complex journey of the Goddess of Death, as she navigates the messy world of human mortality. #lailastarr 1/6

The series received multiple Eisner nominations in 2022 and has since garnered strong sales, a deluxe reprint, and something of a cult following. 2/6

For V, the story had been percolating in the back of his mind for quite some time before he felt he’d acquired enough life experience to approach it. “I think I had come up with various versions of that story long before I even started writing comics, to be honest.” 3/6

“There were early versions of short stories where it was “Krishna comes down to Earth!” and whatnot, but I suppose it really turned into Laila Starr when I had this kind of need to write about death, even as a teenager. And I always felt I couldn’t because I hadn’t experienced enough of it” 4/6

Returning to the story with the perspective of age and the confidence acquired through a stellar career as a comics writer, Ram V uses Laila to explore poignant themes of culture, society, and, above all else, mortality. 5/6

Laila Starr is thus a heavy read at times, but it’s a compelling and thoughtful treatment of an important subject and a story that still finds spaces for levity and beauty and grace. In the unit ahead, we’ll aim to bring all of these aspects to light. 6/6