SuperMutant Magic Academy

I was not expecting to love this book. I didn't know it was adapted from a webcomic and so I was a little disoriented upon finding that it did not have an overarching plot or narrative. Most of the short sketches are contained in 4 to 6 panels with a few exceptions. Despite my initial resistance to the format though, the characters really won me over.

Jillian Tamaki is really good in portraying relatable characters (yes, even super mutant ones) and the various ways they negotiate with the world. She does not gloss over topics such as teenage sexuality, dealing with insecurities and their various hormone-driven angst and she does it with so much heart that you start feeling for these characters in the very short strips that you encounter them.

I especially love the antics of one character named Frances. She appears to be your typical prickly, jaded, pseudo-intellectual teenager. She smokes in class and does a lot of crazy things in defiance of societal norms and expectations. But she does it with so much sass and acerbic wit that I can't help but love her.

8/2/2020
i didn't realize this but it's actually a giant collection of 1-page comix with some character development over time https://mutantmagic.com/
it's pretty funny in a semi dark humor kind of way
8/3/2020
and marsha has a huge crush on wendy
8/4/2020
(finished SMMA! ❤️ it's good!)
(and gay)

3/5 stars

This was kind of a curveball for me. I was expecting it to have more of a graphic novel format. It was still a pleasant surprise, although I was thrown off by the constant change in style. It worked surprisingly well considering the story they were telling. The constant switch in focus among characters definitely made this possible as well. The humor isn't for everyone, as it can be considered dark for some. I think some jokes were more about poking fun at bigger conversations that could possibly lead someone to have an existential crisis.

Overall, I am not sure if I would ever recommend this book to other people. Although I personally enjoyed it at times, I didn't enjoy it as a whole. Therefore, I don't believe I would ever reread either.