A Night in West Hollywood: Monsters, Drama, and Drag Queens
Marvin’s evening was supposed to be unforgettable. He crafted the perfect plan with best friends Annie and Gizelle. They were back home from college, ready for a wild time at a WeHo gay bar. The main attraction? An all-ages drag show featuring Marvin’s favorite diva. But, life loves to throw curveballs.
Unexpectedly, Annie brings her new girlfriend, also named Annie. That wasn’t in Marvin’s plan. The drag diva, WEB DuBoiz, surprises Marvin further. She lacks energy on stage and is downright rude post-performance. But the universe isn’t done just yet. It throws in Marvin’s former best friend, the one who caused his outing in high school, now waltzing in with a date.
A Night of Chaos
Things couldn’t seem worse for Marvin. His senior year already felt like a storm without Annie and Gizelle’s calming presence. As tensions rise, a spat with Annie about her girlfriend reaches a peak. Just as emotions overflow, the bar is plunged into chaos. A massive, purple monster rampages through the venue, ripping into the crowd. Suddenly, petty drama seems trivial amidst the unfolding apocalypse.
In this, “West Hollywood Monster Squad” bares the apocalypse’s gnarly teeth. Themes of found family, capitalism, and exploitation weave through the narrative. Writer Sina Grace crafts a deeply queer zombie tale that interrogates the price of entertainment. The work echoes Lindsay King-Miller’s “The Z Word” but switches the focus to a queer person of color, offering hope for the marginalized.
A Love Letter to Queer Culture
Grace infuses timely pop culture references throughout. Bradley Clayton’s art cleverly nods to iconic comic moments, avoiding overkill. This graphic novel feels like a love letter to the very culture it scrutinizes, adding layers of complexity.
Marvin navigates a spectrum of personal heroes, all disappointing. The danger of pedestals is well known, but witnessing a hero fall still stings. What does it mean to love flawed icons? How do you part with something transformational yet invasive? “West Hollywood Monster Squad” poses these questions, presenting diverse answers from characters with nuanced experiences.
A Symphony of Humor and Heart
Despite its apocalyptic backdrop, the novel remains funny, peppered with sweet moments between characters. The compelling plot and seamless pacing aside, it’s the relationships that make the tale resonate. Grace and Clayton’s collaboration is fluid, with Chris Dickey’s lettering and Wren Rios’ flats making each scene pop, especially in the final chapter’s epic spreads.
This vibrant queer horror narrative caters to young adults, proving its genre credentials. Don’t miss out on this thrilling ride. “West Hollywood Monster Squad” is a scream of creativity worth exploring for its heart and humor.
Final Verdict: Buy
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