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A review by adorableautist
The Complete Girls with Slingshots by Danielle Corsetto
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Girls With Slingshots was my favorite webcomic in high school. I remember repeatedly refreshing the webpage on days the comic was due to be updated, desperate to get the next tidbit of these characters' lives. Like all great slice of life stories, it provided a source of comfort and consistency for me, a young queer woman in the trenches of late teendom and early adulthood.
Upon revisiting the series, however, I can't say it has aged particularly well, but perhaps that has become part of its appeal. It was, in many ways, the quintessential mainstream progressive webcomic in late 2000's and early 2010's. It attempted to address topics of race, queerness, gender, sexual liberation, and even capitalism, all through a lens that is deeply of its time. It is frequently awkward in its handling of issues, but also incredibly sincere, giving an honest look at how many of us were processing these topics at that particular moment in history.
The characters are usually a good balance charming and unlikable, and the 'problematic but lovable' protagonist Hazel carries the comic's various stories and conversations well. A few of the characters, namely Hazel and Candy, will cross the line into outright villainous behavior a few times. This impacts the comic's otherwise wholesome tone, but generally the comic strikes a good balance of a lighthearted sitcom that also tackles serious topics that mainstream media was not even acknowledging at the time.
Upon revisiting the series, however, I can't say it has aged particularly well, but perhaps that has become part of its appeal. It was, in many ways, the quintessential mainstream progressive webcomic in late 2000's and early 2010's. It attempted to address topics of race, queerness, gender, sexual liberation, and even capitalism, all through a lens that is deeply of its time. It is frequently awkward in its handling of issues, but also incredibly sincere, giving an honest look at how many of us were processing these topics at that particular moment in history.
The characters are usually a good balance charming and unlikable, and the 'problematic but lovable' protagonist Hazel carries the comic's various stories and conversations well. A few of the characters, namely Hazel and Candy, will cross the line into outright villainous behavior a few times. This impacts the comic's otherwise wholesome tone, but generally the comic strikes a good balance of a lighthearted sitcom that also tackles serious topics that mainstream media was not even acknowledging at the time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault