A review by literatehedgehog
Princeless, Vol. 1: Save Yourself by Jeremy Whitley
4.0
Savor this feminist comic, in all its deliciously brazen and empowering ways. Princesses don't need to be saved by princes! Princesses don't need to be - shouldn't be - fair and lovely and mild! Dragons shouldn't be raised to strategically loyal and vicious beasts!
Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)
Spoiler
[Or other princesses...? Hmm, I wonder about this.]Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)