Bingo: Libations – which makes my first bingo, with column 2!
Lisa Hanawalt is one of the most funny and clever illustrators out there. If you’re not sure who she is, you’ve probably seen her work on Tuca and Bertie or BoJack Horseman, both of which are wonderful shows that showcase the depth and breadth of current adult cartoons, while also delivering plenty of visual gags.
Hot Dog Taste Test is a collection of illustrations and comics filled with animal-people, and mostly centered around food – one of my favorite topics. Hanawalt has a really playful and joyful style that sometimes borders on crass but actually fills me with glee and giggles. Her illustrations do make me uncomfortable sometimes; her drawings of people elicit a physical reaction in me that’s really unpleasant – I think it may be the bug eyes?
Hanawalt has included a mix of single-page illustrations and slightly longer narrative pieces. If I’m honest, the longer stories didn’t do quite as much for me as the shorter ones did. I think this is because she strikes a more serious tone when telling longer stories, whereas she can go all out with wacky illustrations and out-there ideas in short bursts:
I love how vulnerable she gets in some of her ideas; nothing is too gross or embarrassing to explore. Even if you can’t directly relate to something she talks about, she makes you feel comfortable to explore your messier side, which is something we should all do a little more.
