My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris
Fantagraphics Books. 2016.
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is a narrative told by Karen, a 10-year old girl living in Chicago at the end of the 1960s. Karen's favorite thing is monsters, in fact she portrays herself as a female version of Eddie Munster instead of a regular girl, and hopes that a real monster will come along and fully transform her and her family so that all of their problems will be solved and they can live forever.
But while the monsters of late night television movies are her safety net against the complications of her own life, other, real, monsters intrude. A woman in her building dies mysteriously of a gunshot wound. Was it suicide, or murder, and if the latter, who committed the act? She decides to unravel this mystery and uncovers secrets involving underage girls being used as prostitutes, nazi death camps, and more mysteries. She encounters discrimination against race, sexual orientation and class. Criminals, would be rapists, back stabbing friends, and cancer also exist as part of her life.
My Favorite Thing is Monsters is an astounding piece of work, let alone as a debut. The art is absolutely stunning and the writing matches it perfectly. Layered and complex, with well rounded characters, it's completely involving. Part 2 arrives in February 2018. and I can't wait.
1 comment:
I've had this one on my 'maybe list' at the library for some time. Your review convinced me to finally give it a shot. Thanks.
Creating Your Vintage Hallowe'en: The folklore, traditions, and some crafty makes by Marion Paull is a fun little book as well.
Happy Halloween!
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