By Delaf and Dubuc
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 978-1-84918-070-2
Well, here's something a little different. A book with cartoon panels about teenage girls aimed, primarily, at teenage girls. There's supposedly a growing interest in comics and cartoons with women and girls, largely but not exclusively in the Manga market, but there's still precious little directly created for them.
When I picked this up I did wonder whether or not it hold my attention, but I was instantly hooked by it's combination of humour and superb art. It focuses on three friends, all teenagers at High School, one of whom bears the brunt of the other two's shallow and more self-centred attitudes. It's told in single page segments with a punchline on each, but they flow nicely into a continuing story, which in this case is the ongoing battle between Vicky and Jenny over the affections of John John, while their put-upon friend Karine is having her own struggles with her boyfriend Dan. I think part of its triumph is down to its underlying narrative driving the characters, keeping you constantly engaged and interested in the outcomes, rather than it being a series of stand-alone gags.
It is genuinely funny stuff with plenty of added comic punch coming from the artwork. The three central characters are well written and all flawed in their own ways, creating plenty of opportunities for awkward and amusing situations as they all strive to make it through school. Foolishly I let my 11-year-old daughter read it before I did – she loved it and read it twice – but when I sat down with it I realised that there are themes in here that perhaps aren't suitable for her. My fault entirely as Cinebook clearly label it as a 15+, and rightly so. That said, the overall tone is one of humour and if you enjoy any kind of humorous sequential art then you're going to enjoy this.
And if you liked that: Books 1 and 2 are available over at Cinebook's website or via Amazon
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