Kate Glasheen

teen/adult graphic novel loosely inspired by the real life experiences of the trans/nonbinary author - set in the post-industrial collapse of 1980s Troy, New York, with splendid, lyrical text provided in the voice of gender-nonconforming teen Claire Dunroe, raised Irish Catholic with supportive friends but less supportive family; Claire questions whether she/they may be attracted to girls and whether she/they might not be female at a time when people didn't have language to describe nonbinary/trans people, fueling a severe case of alcoholism which places her/them in a youth rehab facility with a very helpful therapist and potential crush / heroin addict Erica (TW/CW: underage drinking, family alcoholism, homophobic comments and cruel abuse from teachers, language)

This is completely brilliant and completely heartbreaking--the artwork, the story, the text are all amazing. I had trouble keeping the male-presenting characters apart (since I apparently don't much pay attention to names, eye/hair color or hairstyles), but contextual clues were enough to keep the story flowing.

Highly recommended.… (mehr)

Told in six parts (denial, acceptance, boundaries, relapse, homecoming, commencement), Constellations is Claire's story of identity, alcoholism, and rehab. Claire encounters bullies at school and at home, but in rehab, Claire finds wisdom, empathy, humor, and pain in others' stories, as well as from the teens' counselor, Charlie. The art was created with pencil, ink, and watercolor, and Glasheen uses a creative layout of panels, air frames, insets, full bleed, and notebook paper backgrounds to create a truly rich visual experience. A powerful story of identity, friendship, addiction, and growth.

Quotes

It's just a drink but it's magic. Tap it against your night like a wand, and what started out like any other evening transforms into an adventure. (17)

Will any of these people people doing these things to me grow out of it? Or will they just get bigger, taller, wider? Will their insides stay small when their outsides expand? (48)

"Using didn't make you feel good, it just hit the pause button on feeling bad. And those bad feelings? They'll be waiting for you every time you sober up." (Charlie, 66)

"Pete, I don't even know if I want to be who I am. How do you stand up for something you don't really like?" (Claire, 112)

"Pain is a virus....It tricks us into thinking the only way to get rid of it is to pass it on to someone else. So damaged people go on to wreak a radius of damages around them." (Charlie, 135)

"If you're living life right, you're in a constant state of improvement....Keep working, and you'll keep growing....You're a ship, the world is the ocean, and you're leaving port....[What's important to you, your values] They'll be your constellations." (Charlie, 177)… (mehr)

Nick Tapalansky and Kate Glasheen's comic A Radical Shift of Gravity is an intriguing and thought-provoking story that explores what would happen if the laws of gravity suddenly changed. The concept is fascinating, and the story that unfolds is full of surprises and twists that keep the reader engaged. Maya and her father are both relatable and sympathetic characters, and their conflicting journey to lean more about and deal with the reality behind the gravity shift is a thrilling ride.

However, one downside of the comic is the narrative structure that involves several time jumps. While the time jumps can be effective in conveying important information, they can also be somewhat confusing and disruptive to the flow of the story. For instance, at one point, the story jumps forward in time without warning, and it takes a few pages to realize what has happened. This can be frustrating for readers who are trying to follow the story closely.

Despite this, A Radical Shift of Gravity is still an excellent read with many strengths. The artwork by Kate Glasheen is stunning, and the world-building is immersive and well thought out. The book also raises important questions about the nature of power, control, and human resilience in the face of adversity. Overall, I recommend this comic to fans of science fiction!… (mehr)