If Wednesday Addams, Daria and Emily the Strange got together they might make Lorna. Only Lorna is more psychotic. To say that Benji Nate created a graphic novel with mature themes and dark humor is an understatement.
First and foremost, there is violence. And while it is not “out in the open” (though obvious) there might be issues for the reader and there are triggers so you have been warned. Lorna likes daggers/knives. No, she loves them. Her hobby is threatening boys with them. She likes skulls, dripping blood and even a first/last date is less than happy. At least for her date. Lorna and her new friend Norma realize they might just become best friends after a little grave digging and body burying.
The cover illustration does not give you a perfect idea of what is to come. This makes Lorna cute. Inside she is a stringy haired, not so pretty, cat-eyed girl. She likes cats, but it is more subtle as things progress. The story is a few panels covering a theme (usually no more than a page or two). Until her (out of the blue) dog finds “something.” Turns out to be a human skeleton. We then get the flashback (without the warning it is a flashback). I will leave it there.
The art is odd. It is realish but people have green hair and faces, odd noses, spots and lines on their bodies. Only Norma seems to change her outfit. However, everything is bright. Even when things are dark (and they get dark) there is still bright yellows, greens and sun shining. I even imagine birds sing. Lorna goes through life as if this is normal. She’s normal. And she does do “normal” things. Just in her own way. It is a book I wish I did not have to rate as it is a 5 for OMG what a ride and a 1 for WTFH did I just read? It can get dark, even for me. Teens can read but probably ages 14 (AT LEAST) to adult. Yet, this is not your “I read this great book and you need to read it, too” recommend for anyone. You really need to know your audience.
Again, to say this is not everyone’s cup of tea is a huge understatement. It is not even everyone’s glass of whiskey. It probably is more of a glass of absinthe.
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