graphic novel | The Hanslick Girls

July 13, 2020

Surface Preparation: Jennifer Muro, Thomas Krajewski, & Gretel Lusky’s “Primer”

“This has to be the first summer in forever without a major superhero movie,” said Eleanor, panting in the dry heat of July.

Dania nodded. “Well, how do you expect to release a superhero movie when no one can go to the movies?”

They were sitting out on the stoop in front of the house, the shadow of the building falling in front of their feet. Even under the shade, they fanned themselves. It was a slow summer day, the kind where a trip to an air-conditioned cineplex, to watch the latest batch of digitally costumed hunks punch things, wouldn’t have been amiss. But with the drive-ins needing the twilight to be seen, there were no heroes to shield them from the midday heat.

January 13, 2020

Forward, March: Rey Terciero & Bre Indigo’s “Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy”

It had been two weeks since their discussion of Louisa May Alcott’s seminal novel, Little Women, had ended with Gwen’s surprise reveal of its graphic novel adaptation. The modern retelling –– Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo –– was published in 2019, to mark the 150th anniversary of the novel. As the cover made clear, the story had been updated to a modern New York setting, with an interracial March family and an expanded supporting cast.

“Most of the plot points match, at least to start out,” Gwen had explained. “You have the major scenes –– the opening at Christmas, Meg going to Vanity Fair, and so on. The second half is where the adaptation loosens.”

July 8, 2019

Bespectacled Fighter: Sarah Graley’s “Glitch”

“I suppose I shouldn’t have left the book out without expecting that one of you would pick it up,” Eleanor said.

“I mean, obviously,” Dania agreed. She held the book out, showing off the bright design on the cover. “You think I’m going to stay away from the book with the badass lady with the fire hair on the front?”

Eleanor sat down, with a chuckle. “I guess not.”

November 5, 2018

And Everything Nice: Dana Simpson’s “Phoebe And Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm”

Normally, Gwen’s parents would hire a babysitter to take care of Hazel when they wanted to go out. But things had come up suddenly, and they knew that Gwen would be home at her apartment that evening. Besides, Eleanor and Dania had always expressed a fondness for Gwen’s younger sister –– “more than Gwen, sometimes,” her mother had joked.

It was for this reason that Hazel found herself standing in the living room of Gwen’s apartment, wrapped up in her thermal coat and scarf, with a backpack full of activities.

“Hey Hazel!” Dania said, jumping up from the couch. “How have you been!”

“Doin’ good,” Hazel said. She shuffled into the room, with Gwen close behind her.

Tag / graphic novel