Indelicate Lady Monsters: A Review of Wayward Sisters

By Amy Wang

I recently had the incredible pleasure of devouring the Wayward Sisters short comic anthology—a devilish tasting menu of talent from around the globe. Published by TO Comix, in their own words: “Wayward Sisters celebrates lady and non-binary monsters who are indelicate, impolite, and irrepressible.”

The anthology is a perfect mix of righteous fury, unexpected laughs, charming monstrosities, and intimate, heart-wrenching moments. From the gorgeous art to the masterful storytelling, there is so much to enjoy in this truly wonderful collection. Here are a few highlights from my favourite pieces, in no particular order:

“Inheritance” by Gillian Blekkenhorst is so delightfully weird. I loved the creepy atmosphere Blekkenhorst created with their use of black space and their playful disregard for panel structure. The winding script made reading the comic an adventure. And the ending—absolutely brilliant.

An excerpt from Light Pollution by Iguanamouth (not mentioned)

“Love and Fury” by Aimee Lim and Sam Beck hit the sweet spot between tradition and modernity that makes for perfect nostalgia, at least for me. The lovingly drawn scene of mahjong-table gossip set against the darker themes of gods and fire and blood—this had the punch of a divine tragedy paired with a wicked sense of humour.

“Either/Or” by Laura Neubert, Lea Shepherd and Nikki Powers is an affectionate, slightly irreverent look at the way North Americans behave abroad. It cuts straight to the heart of our well-intentioned but blind consumption of other cultures. For example, the story humorously exposes the fetishizing of the “authentic” and the “exotic,” even as we water things down to bring them back home. This comic pokes fun without being mean-spirited, and that made it completely hilarious.

“Alligator At the End of the World” by H. Pueyo and Dante L. is a twist on the classic sell-your soul-to-the-devil story. Its unabashed embrace of monstrousness is extremely gratifying. I loved the weathered, almost grimy, aesthetic and the choice to use extremely close-up shots—it made for a great atmosphere throughout the piece.

An excerpt from Zira and the Little Fire by Katie Shanahan

“Ugly Cinderwench” by Xavière Daumarie  radiates with a love for Japanese folklore and the comic craft, which can be seen in the detailed backgrounds, clothing and bold colour blocking. I loved the unique art style, especially its treatment of the titular character. A polished and delightful read.

“Zira and the Little Fire” by Katie Shanahan is, on the surface, just a cute story about a friendship between two outsiders. But, this short comic has some real moments of clarity. It comments on the way narratives we tell about ourselves can be infected by how others view us, and explores the uncontrollable feelings of rage at injustices targeting the people we care about. This story made me sad, happy and hopeful all at once.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Wayward Sisters, do yourself a favour and head over to your friendly neighbourhood TO Comix website.