High fashion with a touch of phlegm.
Snotgirl marks Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley's first monthly comic. And if this first issue is any indication, it's a format he should have tackled long ago. Regardless of your attachment to O'Malley's previous works, Snotgirl #1 offers a funny, compelling, and downright weird look at the world of fashion blogging.
Snotgirl revolves around the bizarre double life of blogger Lottie Person. This trendy writer is utterly obsessed with projecting the ideal image to her massive audience of [redacted] followers. But if the idea of reading about a self-absorbed Millennial/social media maven doesn't sound appealing, know that there's a lot more to the series. Lottie is also a chronic self-loather who struggles to create meaningful relationships in her Twitter-dominated life. Plus, there's the fact that she suffers from severe allergies, hence the "Snotgirl" moniker.
The series works precisely because it spins so many plates at once. On one hand, Snotgirl is an intriguing character study of a young woman struggling to figure out what it actually means to be an adult. Leslie is far too confused and adrift to be anything other than a likable, tragic character. On another, it's a goofy comedy very much in the vein of the Scott Pilgrim books (albeit one more influenced by the blogosphere than classic video game culture). And as this issue moves along, it also develops shades of intrigue and mystery that morph into into a very different sort of story. All of these elements combine to form a comic that feels fresh and different.
O'Malley doesn't draw this book, but he has found a worthy partner in newcomer Leslie Hung. Hung's art gracefully conveys the transition between Leslie's public facade and her troubled personal life. The book is full of gorgeous, elegant depictions of fashionistas preening for their fans, but also intimate, unflattering shots of Lottie curled up and dripping with snot and tears. Like Scott Pilgrim, there's a strong manga influence to the book, but one that achieves a much different and more graceful effect than the stylized, hyper-kinetic visuals of the Scott Pilgrim books. The lush colors don't hurt, either. Mickey Quinn's hues are always a great complement to the varied moods of the story.
This issue also stands out in the way the way social media posts are integrated into the art and the dialogue. At this point, including Twitter posts in comics is nothing new, but here it helps draw a perfect contrast between the two halves of Lottie's dual life and convey her frantic text chats with friends in a way that's streamlined and easy to follow.
The Verdict
Snotgirl could scarcely be more different from Bryan Lee O'Malley's past comic book projects, and yet its sheer weirdness, creativity and heart will appeal to fans of Scott Pilgrim and Seconds. This first issue is a strong debut for O'Malley and artist Leslie Hung, one that suggests this series will have no problem standing out among the increasingly competitive crowd at Image Comics.
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