One internet-famous fashion blogger. Two(?) murders. An insane amount of mucus.
Lottie Person is SNOTGIRL, a mid-twentysomething whose flawless photoshoots and impeccable sartorial tastes have solidified her as an internet darling; neon-green hair her signature look. Underneath the filters, hidden from the [redacted] Instagram followers, is her unhappiness…and the worst allergies you’ve ever seen. In addition to a boyfriend(?) who’s given her the cold shoulder (and has the nerve to date(????) one of Lottie’s former interns), a group of friends who seem to be way too involved in their own lives to care about what’s happening with her, and maintaining viral relevance (obvi), Lottie has to deal with allergies to almost anything and the subsequent outpouring of snot.
But then she meets Caroline, aka Coolgirl, and suddenly things start to look up. Except there’s also a murder (maybe) one drunken, snot-filled night. And this former intern is totally stealing her life (the worst). LAPD is involved (kinda); a detective Cho (former fashion major turned department hottie) in particular. But then there’s another death (maybe). Life is hard.
Snotgirl marks the ongoing monthly series debut of both writer Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; Seconds) and artist Leslie Hung. In an attempt to capture millennial sensibilities, O’Malley’s satirical pen occasionally verges into condescending territory. Removing the veneer of a perfect illusion to uncover a truth far from beauty almost always runs the risk of judgment. It’s one thing to reveal the girl behind the IG account; another to suggest that she deserves what’s coming to her.
Lottie is fully aware of the world she operates in, the ruthless rules of the web and viral celebrity. She displays an interesting mix of cunning and something far too complex to be shallowness, all the while expressing the pain of heartbreak and loneliness. And yet there are moments that hint at O’Malley’s taking pleasure in Lottie’s suffering. Snotgirl is saved in these moments by Leslie Hung’s coloring and design. The impending onslaught of allergies is paneled with no less gravity than Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk. Tears well in the eyes; green dams burst from the nose. We see this 25 and 3/4 year old at her most Vogue and her most derelict (get you an artist who can do both). More powerful than her interiority, Hung’s visualization of Lottie’s suffering through allergies provides all that we need to understand just why the perfect selfie is so much more than just a selfie. Snotgirl does a better than solid job of tackling relationships, fashion, web culture, self-esteem, female camaraderie, and body image with grace–even when it gets caught alienating the peculiarities of millennial life.
For fans of: Heathers, HBO’s Girls, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Sex and the City, Batgirl (New 52), Zoolander, and Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster
SNOTGIRL, VOL. ONE: GREEN HAIR, DON’T CARE is available now.
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