halschrieve's review against another edition
5.0
The robot boyfriend story "Diana's Electric Tongue" is the crowning jewel of this collection. In it, Nowak follows a woman whose grief over getting dumped by her famous ex-boyfriend led her into a near-fatal motorcycle accident in which she has lost her tongue. Equipped with a prosthetic and with money in the bank from an art sale, she tries to embark on a new life with a robot companion called Harbor. Over the course of the complex narrative, she reminisces about her ex in ways that a human boyfriend would resent but which Harbor accepts and validates, and cultivates intimacy with a being that exists only to support her. As her friends question her sanity and imply that her new romantic partner is distasteful, Diana finds peace (and space from engaging with her own choices critically) in Harbor's arms. After learning that her ex is back with the woman he dated before her, Diana has to face that she may really have to move on. Harbor promises to always be there for her until she doesn't need him any more, in a melancholy poem that raises questions of his own consciousness around his existence as a disposable commodity in Diana's life.
This collection as a whole is full of diverse arrays of stunning, clean and fluid linework, woman characters full of complexity (vindictiveness, love, remorse, surviving weird child abuse, rage) and clean, intriguing stories that each contain the hint of a broader, absurd world. Women in these stories feel attraction and care for other women frequently, and also harm and perpetuate systems of oppression against each other--sometimes at the same time.
This collection as a whole is full of diverse arrays of stunning, clean and fluid linework, woman characters full of complexity (vindictiveness, love, remorse, surviving weird child abuse, rage) and clean, intriguing stories that each contain the hint of a broader, absurd world. Women in these stories feel attraction and care for other women frequently, and also harm and perpetuate systems of oppression against each other--sometimes at the same time.
stuckintheb00ks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
itsmytuberculosis's review against another edition
3.0
It was good ya know it was great props to Nowak I defs follow her on Twitter now. Art? Great. Stories? Wonderfully original. Characters? Dynamic and of all shapes and sizes. Always like to see that.
But I Did Not Understand A Single One Of These Endings And Maybe That's The Point But At This Point I'm Too Afraid To Ask.
But I Did Not Understand A Single One Of These Endings And Maybe That's The Point But At This Point I'm Too Afraid To Ask.
elenavarg's review against another edition
5.0
Girl Town is So ππΌ Damn ππΌ GOOD ππΌ
The main reason I picked it up from my local comics store was that the girl on the cover has the exact same body type as I do!! Soft tummy, thighs that could kill a man... You donβt see the body type I have often so I was really happy to see it ON THE COVER!!
And the stories themselves are funny enough to make you laugh, sad enough to make you cry and relatable enough to really make you feel! Highly recommended!!
The main reason I picked it up from my local comics store was that the girl on the cover has the exact same body type as I do!! Soft tummy, thighs that could kill a man... You donβt see the body type I have often so I was really happy to see it ON THE COVER!!
And the stories themselves are funny enough to make you laugh, sad enough to make you cry and relatable enough to really make you feel! Highly recommended!!
lordcheez's review against another edition
4.0
Good solid indie comic. All shorts have narrative drive, interesting conceits and attempt to say something about 21st century gender politics. Not all stories are fully successful, but overall great.
bookotter's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
comeundun's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I understand shooting for ambiguity, but there's a difference between leaving things open ended and having an unfinished story. I understand the endings of the stories, but I wish there was just a bit more to them. Literally anything. Give me a reason to care.Β
If I had to rank them, it would go:
1. Diana's Electric Tongue
2. Please Sleep Over
3/4. Radishes or The Big Burning House
5. Girl Town
It's a shame that the story the book was named after felt the least complete. If Diana's Electric Tongue hadn't come when it did, I would have DNF'd the book, which is saying a lot because it is a graphic novel and generally quite quick to get through.
If I had to rank them, it would go:
1. Diana's Electric Tongue
2. Please Sleep Over
3/4. Radishes or The Big Burning House
5. Girl Town
It's a shame that the story the book was named after felt the least complete. If Diana's Electric Tongue hadn't come when it did, I would have DNF'd the book, which is saying a lot because it is a graphic novel and generally quite quick to get through.
maisysbookshelf's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0