Snotgirl
Snotgirl is a series of comics created as a collaboration between writer Bryan Lee O'Malley and artist Leslie Hung. They concern Lottie Person — also known as "Snotgirl" — a fashionable social media star with severe allergies. The first issue was published in 2016 by Image Comics, and four collected editions have been published between 2017 and 2025.[1] The series has been praised for its creativity, visuals, and compelling story.[2] In 2017, O'Malley was nominated for a Joe Shuster Award in the Writer category for his work on the first five issues of the comic.[3]
Background
[edit]Snotgirl is O'Malley's first collaboration with Leslie Hung, and his first time releasing monthly comics instead of graphic novels.[4] Both Hung and O'Malley suffer with pollen allergies, which acted as an inspiration for Lottie's own allergies. O'Malley felt inspired to make a more racially diverse story – especially one featuring mixed race characters – after noticing the lack of it in his other stories, and has spoken on how he felt he didn't see himself represented in his own work.[5] Fashion is a long-term interest of Hung's, and she has stated that she takes fashion inspiration for a lot of the characters from magazines, blogs and Pinterest.[6] Despite O'Malley normally working with graphic novels, the pair decided to release Snotgirl episodically to mirror the rapid social media trend cycle, and make each story seem more like a moment in time.[7]
Premise
[edit]Lottie Person is a fashion blogger struggling to juggle her influencer status with her chronic allergies and poor social life. Things quickly change for her when she meets Caroline, a beautiful girl with the same coffee order as her. The two decide to go for drinks, and this kickstarts a rapid chain of events that are beyond anything Lottie would've expected from a simple first date.[8]
Reception
[edit]Snotgirl has had a generally positive reception. CBR praised its frequent blending of fantasy and reality, and its honest depiction of the realities of adulthood; citing Hung's expressive, bubblegum-pop art style as high points.[9] WWAC's review of the first volume also cited the art as a stand-out feature of the comic, but also commented on the way the none of the characters 'feel insignificant or interchangeable'.[10] Snotgirl has also been commended for its range of LGBTQ+ characters, with AIPT Comics placing it number four on their list of the best queer comics of 2018.[11] In 2019, the American Library Association included it in a list of graphic novels and comics that could be used to start discussions on social justice surrounding body image.[12]
Collected Editions
[edit]| Title | Material Collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snotgirl, Vol. 1: Green Hair Don't Care | Snotgirl #1–5 | February 22, 2017 | 9781534300361 |
| Snotgirl, Vol. 2: California Screaming | Snotgirl #6–10 | May 22, 2018 | 9781534306615 |
| Snotgirl, Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? | Snotgirl #11–15 | May 26, 2020 | 9781534315235 |
| Snotgirl, Vol. 4: Make it Make Sense! | Snotgirl #16–20 | July 8, 2025 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Snotgirl". Image Comics.
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (July 20, 2016). "Snotgirl #1 Review". IGN.
- ^ Boyd, Kevin A. (2017-07-10). "The 2017 Joe Shuster Award Nominations / Les nominés pour le prix Joe Shuster 2017". The Joe Shuster Awards. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Bryan Lee O'Malley & Leslie Hung Open Up About Snotgirl [Interview]". Image Comics.
- ^ "Why 'Scott Pilgrim' Creator Bryan Lee O'Malley's Future Protagonists Will Be Mixed Race". NBC News. 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Snotgirl Co-Creator Leslie Hung on Drawing Women and Embracing Our 'Disgusting' Humanity".
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (May 24, 2018). "'Snotgirl' Co-Creator Leslie Hung on Fashion Bloggers, Comics and Murder Mysteries". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ O'Malley, Bryan Lee (w), Hung, Leslie (a). "No New Friends" Snotgirl, no. 1 (August 2017). Image Comics.
- ^ Chappell, Caitlin (2020-03-23). "Snotgirl: Why Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim Follow-Up Is Worth Reading". CBR. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ Hearn, Kayleigh (2016-08-15). "Beauty Behind The Madness: Snotgirl #1 [Review]". WWAC. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ Cline, Eric Alex (2019-01-04). "The Year in Queer: The top 10 LGBTQ+ comics of 2018 • AIPT". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ Table, C.R (2019). Body Image Reading List.