FICTION

BTTM FDRS

by Ezra Claytan Daniels (text) & illus. by Ben Passmore
Fantagraphics. Jun. 2019. 288p. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781683962069.
COPY ISBN
Gr 9 Up–In this book by Daniels (Upgrade Soul) and Passmore (Your Black Friend), college graduate Darla returns to her childhood Chicago neighborhood in search of cheap rent but slowly discovers a horror lurking within her building’s urban gentrification. Loaded with commentary about racial and socioeconomic appropriation, this slow burn escalates into a bizarrely horrifying conclusion. Daniels’s bold palette indicates changing locations, but the cartoon art is sometimes imprecise and visually boring as an entire page is washed in the same color. There is some sexual content and swearing.
VERDICT While some readers won’t like the art style, overall this title would be a strong addition to a library’s collection of horror graphic novels. Fans of tentacle or organic horror such as Swamp Thing and “The Neonomicon” will enjoy this read, as will those who love social commentary horror including Get Out.
Reviewed by Tammy Ivins, Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington , Jun 13, 2019

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