Review: Snotgirl Vol. 1- Green Hair Don’t Care

Quick Summary

Pros: The book starts with an interesting mystery and addictive storytelling. The satire is humorous and well executed. There is plenty of meaning in the story’s examination of social media. The artwork looks gorgeous and the character designs are incredibly creative.

Cons: Some portions of the read are confusing, which may not appeal to everyone.

Overall: This is the start of a series that has a lot going for it. An interesting premise, an addictive mystery, fun characters, smart writing, and plenty of humor make this an entertaining book to read. Plus, the visuals perfectly pair with the story and make for an equally pleasing aesthetic experience. Anyone who has knowledge and experience with social media should give this book a read.

Story

Snotgirl Vol. 1: Green Hair Don’t Care, Bryan Lee O’Malley, is a unique title that will hook readers in with a tantalizing mystery while also delivering some clever satire focused on the world of social media. The main storyline follows Lottie Person, a fashion blogger struggling with new rivals, the pressure of maintaining a social image, and a memory that has potentially been compromised by allergy medication. It is a story that uses a realistic portrayal of social media to highlight its flaws and give some wholesome warnings about how to approach life on the internet. This is done through satire and humor, which entertains from start to finish. Overall, this is a fun and addictive read that should easily appeal to anyone with social media experience.

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The book kicks off by giving readers something to look forward to and maintaining this curiosity throughout the read. The first chapter begins with a woman dying, yet everything about her “death” is cloaked under the shadow of mystery. Subsequent chapters then introduce characters like Charlene and a detective, both of whom seem to have some unexplained connection to the “death” that took place earlier. Sometimes these connections are confusing, which may be frustrating for some, but all of them work in getting you, as a reader, further invested in the greater narrative of the series. I was hooked on this book from the first chapter and was very satisfied with my trip through the mystery.

Social media plays a huge role in the telling of this story and allows O’Malley to travel down several avenues that would be inaccessible to other comics. His focus on this particular medium is able to succeed because of how competent he is with writing authentic online interactions between young adults. I’ve read many comics where a focus on youth culture ruins the book because textspeak and emojis are used in a way that no normal person ever would and make the entire work feel awkward as a result. This book does online interactions right, which allows it to then analyze the very culture it is depicting.

This analysis is primarily accomplished through clever satire, as each character’s involvement in the online world is lampooned through comedy. The satire is often biting and humorous, yet it is never unfair or critical to the point where integrity is compromised. It shows how a heavy focus on likes and comments can frustrate someone and even increase their depression and anxiety, yet does not go so far as to give blanket statements about the perceived evils of social media. This balance allows the story to maintain the realism of the world while still managing to deliver its message.

Along with this, the most insightful criticism of social media comes from showing how it can distort one’s reception of reality. Lottie is constantly referring to the separation between her “real” life and the life others see her living, she even goes so far as to claim that the person she is online doesn’t exist. Charlene’s story then demonstrates how this is dangerous; she idolizes Lottie’s image and is crushed when she discovers it is a façade. Though this is only a portion of the book’s total message, it is the side of social media that few other works understand, which gives this comic additional relevancy and meaning.

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Art

Though the story does well on its own, the artwork is just as important in maximizing the overall reading experience. Leslie Hung draws a beautiful looking book full of creatively designed characters and luscious destinations. It also helps that a book about a fashion blogger is filled with a unique assortment of clothing and a number of cool looking outfits. Mickey Quinn’s colors also enhance all of this and make the book as bright and colorful as one would expect it to be.

What really sets the book apart though is the way the art helps tell the story. Panels are drawn so that close-ups and layouts to give readers even more detail about what is happening to the characters. This book is clearly structured in a purposeful way, where small details give hints about larger pieces of the plot. I even began to speculate that the color of specific dialogue bubbles has something to do with the narrative’s central mystery. This already nice looking book is made even better by the way the art is utilized.

Continuity

Snotgirl Vol. 1: Green Hair Don’t Care is published by Image Comics, a creator-owned publishing company whose titles do not often crossover with each other. Thus, this title, like many other Image Comics, maintains its own continuity. This means you will receive everything you need to understand the story in this book.

The story here continues in Snotgirl Vol. 2: California Screaming (Review).