Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Henchgirl
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.kristengudsnuk.com/
CITY: New York
STATE: NY
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/kristen-gudsnuks-henchgirl-tackles-young-adulthood.html * http://whatchareading.com/talking-with-the-real-henchgirl-kristen-gudsnuk/#.WcFPbciGNPY
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and artist.
WRITINGS
Creator of the “Flenchgirl” webcomic.
SIDELIGHTS
Kristen Gudsnuk is a writer and artist based in New York, NY. She has illustrated graphic novels for other authors and has also written and drawn graphic novels of her own. Gudsnuk created the webcomic, “Flenchgirl.”
I'm with the Band and Battle of the Bands
Gudsnuk is the illustrator for the “VIP” series of graphic novels for middle-grade readers, written by Jen Calonita. In the first installment in the series, I’m with the Band, Calonita and Gudsnuk introduce the protagonist, Mackenzie “Mac” Lowell. Mac aspires to become a graphic novelist and illustrator. She has a group of close girlfriends, and together they obsess over Perfect Storm, a hot new boy band. When the local radio station offers free tickets to the band’s concert, Mac and her friends spend hours calling in in hopes of winning them. They are devastated when they are unsuccessful. However, Mac’s mother, a publicist, pulls strings to get them in the VIP area. Soon after, Mac’s mom gets hired to tour with the band for a month, working as their publicist. Mac is overjoyed when she learns she will get to come along. Mac hopes to impress Zander, the band’s lead singer, but she finds herself more drawn to Kyle, another member of the band. Julia Smith, critic in Booklist, commented on how middle-grade readers would react to the novel. Smith stated: “Mac’s crushes and obsessions will strike a familiar chord.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer described I’m with the Band as “effervescent.” The same reviewer commented: “Gudsnuk, creator of the Flenchgirl webcomic, provides exuberant comics sequences and spot illustrations throughout.” “The diary format and many illustrations … should be appealing to a wide audience and will have tween readers eager for the next installment,” asserted Brenda Kahn in School Library Journal.
Mac returns in Battle of the Bands, the second installment in the “VIP” series. She is on the Sizzling Summer Boys tour with Perfect Storm and up-and-coming band, Thunder and Lightning. There is tension between the two bands, and an online entity called Bad Kitty begins posting private information about members of Perfect Storm. Mac is upset when she realizes that Bad Kitty seems to be pulling information straight from her journal. She is determined to find the person responsible for the Bad Kitty account in order to save Perfect Storm for more embarrassment and maintain her relationship with Kyle. Smith, the same writer in Booklist, noted: “Friendship and loyalty take center stage in this enjoyable addition to the ‘VIP’ series.”
Henchgirl
In an interview with Steven Biscotti, contributor to the What’cha Reading? website, Gudsnuk discussed the plot of her 2017 graphic novel, Henchgirl. She stated: “Henchgirl is the story of, well, a henchgirl. Mary Posa is a well-meaning underachiever who can’t seem to find any other job than working with a crew of criminals called the Butterfly Gang.” She continued: “I created the characters after watching a ton of Batman: The Animated Series; I found myself wondering about those background cronies who get punched out and forgotten, what their stories are. The rest of the world just happened organically; living in New York City, which can be kind of gross and annoying sometimes, provided enough fodder for Crepe City. Although Crepe City is definitely a more twisted, worse version of NYC.”
In Henchgirl, Mary’s parents have superpowers, but, much to their disappointment, Mary does not. She takes on jobs given to her by Monsieur Butterfly, a dangerous villain in Crepe City. Mary struggles to pay her rent, and deals with a romantic relationship with Mannequin, who can astral project by turning himself into a mannequin. She also becomes close to a coworker named Coco after a traumatic event. Gudsnuk told Caitlin Rosberg, writer on the Paste website: “I’ve always been naturally inclined toward morally ambiguous characters. And maybe it’s because when the antihero boom happened in pop culture over the past decade, female characters were largely excluded from the excitement and were usually relegated to being the moral compass.” She added: “The conflict inherent in Mary’s situation makes her a more dynamic character, and gives her more opportunity to grow into a realistic character. I try to actively avoid the annoying Ideal Girlfriend character you see pop up frequently (or her dark reverse, who’s too cool for any trappings of femininity or emotion whatsoever). I just like it when there are different types of women, because that’s how reality is!” In the same interview with Rosberg, Gudsnuk remarked: “Henchgirl is mostly lighthearted, but I wanted to explore the toll of being self-destructive—not just on Mary herself (who really self-destructs spectacularly over the course of the book), but also on everyone she interacts with.”
“Henchgirl might sound a little goofy but Gudsnuk sneaks in some emotional gut-punches along the way,” asserted Graeme Virtue in the London Guardian. A Publishers Weekly reviewer described the book as “always quirky, occasionally touching, … surprisingly dark.” However, the same reviewer noted: “Things slow down a bit from the sparkling opening.” Dustin Cabeal, critic on the Comic Bastards website, commented: “There is a lot of complexity to Mary’s relationships that play off very real emotions from everyday life. That’s where Henchgirl succeeds over and over; it doesn’t feel super, it feels human. Sure, there are powers and fantasy elements, but the characters are very real. They act and talk like a group of friends and overcome challenges together while having fun along the way.” Writing on the Bust website, Isabel S. Dieppa suggested: “Overall, Henchgirl is a fun and dark graphic novel. Like Steven Universe or Bee and Puppy Cat, it looks like children’s animation but is actually an adult graphic novel with adult themes. The graphic novel is humorous, smart, and has a lot of heart. It is a celebration of women, friendship, and overcoming your own self-destruction.” “Henchgirl is full of humor, by way of tons of witty dialogue from realistic characters,” noted Ashley Gibbs on the Outright Geekery website. Gibbs added: “There is even a magical girl character as well, and fun references to anime/manga and other superhero tropes. Every page is filled with full color, well done art and a great story to match.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2015, Julia Smith, review of I’m with the Band, p. 52; July 1, 2016, Julia Smith, review of Battle of the Bands, p. 77.
Guardian, March 26, 2016, Graeme Virtue, review of Henchgirl.
Publishers Weekly, September 28, 2015, review of I’m with the Band, p. 89; March 20, 2017, review of Henchgirl, p. 62.
School Library Journal, September, 2015, Brenda Kahn, review of I’m with the Band, p. 138.
ONLINE
Bust, http://bust.com/ (October 22, 2017), Isabel S. Dieppa, review of Henchgirl.
Comic Bastards, https://comicbastards.com/ (March 29, 2017), Dustin Cabeal, review of Henchgirl.
Diapers & Daydreams, https://diapers-and-daydreams.com/ (August 11, 2016), Goretti Muriithi, review of Battle of the Bands.
Outright Geekery, http://www.outrightgeekery.com/ (April 15, 2017), Ashley Gibbs, review of Henchgirl.
Paste Online, https://www.pastemagazine.com/ (March 28, 2017), Caitlin Rosberg, author interview.
What’cha Reading?, http://whatchareading.com/ (October 29, 2015), Steven Biscotti, author interview.*
QUOTED: "Henchgirl is the story of, well, a henchgirl. Mary Posa is a well-meaning underachiever who can’t seem to find any other job than working with a crew of criminals called the Butterfly Gang."
"I created the characters after watching a ton of Batman: The Animated Series; I found myself wondering about those background cronies who get punched out and forgotten, what their stories are. The rest of the world just happened organically; living in New York City, which can be kind of gross and annoying sometimes, provided enough fodder for Crepe City. Although Crepe City is definitely a more twisted, worse version of NYC."
Talking With The Real “Henchgirl”, Kristen Gudsnuk. 2
BY STEVEN BISCOTTI ON OCTOBER 29, 2015 COMICS, INTERVIEWS
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Today sees the long awaited release of one of our most anticipated of comic books – “Henchgirl.” The writer and artist, Kristen Gudsnuk, is someone we’ve known for a while and long supported. We saw her at New York Comic Con earlier this month and with the release of “Henchgirl” at local comic shops today (10/28/15) we thought now would be the perfect time to talk with the young, up and coming talent. Always generous with her time, Gudsnuk spoke with us over the weekend and here is our conversation with one of the brightest and friendliest of people in the business!
2015-10-28 18.45.06What’cha Reading: Hi Kristen. It’s Steven from What’cha Reading. I’d like to thank you again for taking some time to speak with us. It’s great seeing you and your work constantly grow and it’s interesting that every time we meet/speak, there’s something more to be said of it. “Henchgirl” releases in comic shops today, October 28th and for those that aren’t familiar with this title, could you speak of the premise and of how you created these characters and universe?
Kristen Gudsnuk: Hi Steven! “Henchgirl” is the story of, well, a henchgirl. Mary Posa is a well-meaning underachiever who can’t seem to find any other job than working with a crew of criminals called the Butterfly Gang. I created the characters after watching a ton of Batman: The Animated Series; I found myself wondering about those background cronies who get punched out and forgotten, what their stories are. The rest of the world just happened organically; living in New York City, which can be kind of gross and annoying sometimes, provided enough fodder for Crepe City. Although Crepe City is definitely a more twisted, worse version of NYC.
What’cha Reading: “Watching a ton of Batman: The Animated Series.” Wasn’t that such a great show? I love the work of Bruce Timm. He’s one of my favorites. It’s interesting hearing that Batman Animated was what inspired certain concepts of “Henchgirl.” Now have you had an interest in writing and art before this? I’m aware of your time with Penguin publishing. That seems like an extraordinary opportunity, along with great experience. Have you felt your time there has helped you in your current endeavors?
photo-5Kristen Gudsnuk: Of course! I’ve been writing stories and drawing since I can remember. I’ve made comics (not fit for print, though– they were very doodly) since I was nine. I mainly made them to entertain my friends when I was younger. When I was in college I did a lot of prose writing, too– short stories, mainly, but I even wrote a novella at one point. One of my old comics (The Optimist; not sure how I feel about its quality in retrospect, but I’ll probably be saying that about “Henchgirl” in five years, haha) was actually based on a short story I wrote for a creative writing class. I used to paint a lot, too. I’ve tried to streamline my interests so I can focus on my life goals, so painting has kind of fallen by the wayside, but it was a big part of my life for a while. And I was actually working at the Random House side. I was there when we merged with Penguin, though! It wasn’t really related at all to comics– I was mainly doing production work on Spanish books.
What’cha Reading: It’s always very interesting to hear about how long someone has been involved with writing and/or drawing. We’ve never spoken of “The Optimist” and the title alone sounds very intriguing. Would you be able to tell us a little about that? And have you been saving your work so in five years when “The Collected Work of Kristen Gudsnuk” releases, your early writings and drawings could be included? And do you favor writing or drawing more? About the same?
Kristen Gudsnuk: “The Optimist” is about this little religious kid who starves himself to have spiritual visions, living in Lithuania toward the end of its occupation by Russia. It’s a little dark, and very earnest. It’s all in watercolor (with some weird claymation-inspired stuff, too). It’s online at http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_Optimist/ if you want to check it out. I’m not very precious with my own work; I don’t really keep track of my old stuff (and am not really prolific enough, either!) -Ed. Note: What’cha Reading disagrees!-, hahaha. By which I mean I constantly lose my old artwork. Sorry, future historians! I like writing and art in different ways. Ultimately I think writing is more emotionally satisfying, but art in its own way (especially comics) has a bit of writing’s spirit involved, in that you will draw things you don’t want to state explicitly, like a certain emotion or visual motif or atmosphere. And the “acting” in writing dialogue is just as important as the “acting” in drawing. But writing is a lot harder to evaluate critically than art (at least in comics) so art can be a bit of a relief. You can tell what you did wrong and right a lot easier, so it’s easier to improve. Writing is more subjective. There’s some plot twist in issue 6 (I don’t know if I should spoil it) that I still wonder if it was a terrible idea or not. I can’t tell if I hobbled my comic or improved it or maintained its previous quality. Versus I can just look and see if I’m happy with a particular page’s art.
What’cha Reading: I’m really excited that you mentioned “The Optimist.” That’s definitely something that I’ll have to check out. That’s a very smart way of looking at writing and art, especially in terms of “acting.” I’ve always felt there has to be an emotional connection to what you’re working on in hopes of eliciting an emotional response. Since creating, writing, and drawing “Henchgirl”, we’ve seen outlets like A.V. Club and Bleeding Cool that have taken notice of your work. How does that feel to see your work get noticed like that?
Kristen Gudsnuk: It always is awesome to have your work validated by others!! My ego certainly loves it and it’s nice to get press because it leads new fans to the comic!
What’cha Reading: I’d like to conclude by asking the following, “Henchgirl” arrives in local comic shops this Wednesday (10/28/2015). What has the process been in achieving this amazing accomplishment? And in one word, how would you describe “Henchgirl” and what is the best way for fans to keep up to date on your projects, upcoming shows, and the like?
Kristen Gudsnuk: It’s been a very long journey, since I started what feels like ages ago. But luckily, making comics is probably the most fun thing in the world so I can’t complain at all! And honestly I wouldn’t have gotten this far in the comic if it weren’t for my online supporters (I absolutely love reading people’s comments; they point out such interesting things I didn’t think of, which helps me enhance my writing! And it’s just nice knowing people care!).
One word? “Comic”. Hahaha. I’ve never been good at describing it. My twitter (@henchgirl_comic) and the blog part of henchgirlcomic.com are usually where I post any news!! Thanks, man!
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What’cha Reading would like to thank Kristen Gudsnuk for speaking with us. We’d also like to express our gratitude for her using our pull quote on the back of issue 1. “Henchgirl” is out now and could be picked up at your local comic shop. To find one closest to you, please click on this link here. Royal Collectibles in Queens, NY has them in stock so if you’re in New York, check out the comic shop located right in Peter Parker’s hometown of Forest Hills.
61dFkcrJ10LKristen Gudsnuk is currently working on VIP: I’m With the Band. The hardcover, written by Jen Calonita, will release December 1, 2015. You could pre-order that on Amazon here.
QUOTED: "I’ve always been naturally inclined toward morally ambiguous characters. And maybe it’s because when the antihero boom happened in pop culture over the past decade, female characters were largely excluded from the excitement and were usually relegated to being the moral compass."
"The conflict inherent in Mary’s situation makes her a more dynamic character, and gives her more opportunity to grow into a realistic character. I try to actively avoid the annoying Ideal Girlfriend character you see pop up frequently (or her dark reverse, who’s too cool for any trappings of femininity or emotion whatsoever). I just like it when there are different types of women, because that’s how reality is!"
"Henchgirl is mostly lighthearted, but I wanted to explore the toll of being self-destructive—not just on Mary herself (who really self-destructs spectacularly over the course of the book), but also on everyone she interacts with."
Henchgirl Cartoonist Kristen Gudsnuk on the Perils of Young Adulthood & Supervillain Employment
By Caitlin Rosberg | March 28, 2017 | 11:00am
Art by Kristen Gudsnuk
COMICS FEATURES KRISTEN GUDSNUK
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Henchgirl Cartoonist Kristen Gudsnuk on the Perils of Young Adulthood & Supervillain Employment
From the street cops of Gotham Central to the guards in Black Panther: World of Wakanda, a growing roster of characters often relegated to the background have stepped into the spotlight—folks who often stand behind better-known heroes and villains, but deserve just as much exploration. In the right hands, these stories can be compelling and fun, fleshing out familiar yet under-realized players and adding much needed weight to protagonist-heavy settings. Kristen Gudsnuk, writer and artist of Henchgirl, finds a wealth of narrative buried behind the larger-than-life names that often overpower everyone else on the panel.
Henchgirl.jpeg
Henchgirl nails all the best parts of “becoming an adult” bildungsromans, with a dynamic and diverse cast sorting through 20-something ambiguity. By layering real drama under the high pressure and comedy of a superhero story, Gudsnuk crafts vivid characters and draws readers deeper into her world. The protagonist, Mary, is part of a supervillain’s crew, and struggles with her roommate’s judgment, her family’s rejection, her colleagues’ scheming and a desire to have some sort of romance despite her high-octane life of crime.
Henchgirl is full of visual gags and humor to temper the violence that Mary and her friends face as their story unfolds. Gudsnuk’s skill with characterization and nuanced, unexpected storytelling are complemented by her bright and poppy art style. In advance of Dark Horse’s Henchgirl collection, which bundles the original series plus content never before offered in print, Paste chatted with Gudsnuk to discuss moral shades of gray, the definition of family and moving her work from web to paper.
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Paste: The titular “Henchgirl,” Mary, is one of the few female characters in comics that reads as morally gray. She’s not a bad person, but she does do bad things and she doesn’t always have the greatest motivation. Was it important for you to keep her somewhere in the middle of the ethical spectrum?
Kristen Gudsnuk: I’ve always been naturally inclined toward morally ambiguous characters. And maybe it’s because when the antihero boom happened in pop culture over the past decade, female characters were largely excluded from the excitement and were usually relegated to being the moral compass. The conflict inherent in Mary’s situation makes her a more dynamic character, and gives her more opportunity to grow into a realistic character. I try to actively avoid the annoying Ideal Girlfriend character you see pop up frequently (or her dark reverse, who’s too cool for any trappings of femininity or emotion whatsoever). I just like it when there are different types of women, because that’s how reality is!
Paste: The characters around Mary prove themselves to be pretty flexible when it comes to morality, too, but only as the story unfolds around her. Did you know where everyone was headed when you started, or did the plot and their development evolve as you wrote?
Gudsnuk: There’s a Morrissey lyric that relates perfectly: “Is evil just something you are, or something you do?” I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s something you do, although your actions inform and are informed by your personal character. Henchgirl is mostly lighthearted, but I wanted to explore the toll of being self-destructive—not just on Mary herself (who really self-destructs spectacularly over the course of the book), but also on everyone she interacts with. In a way, her moral turpitude is contagious. I was trying to express something like, We may think we’re only hurting ourselves, but bad decisions radiate outward out of our control. Although I guess good decisions do, too. Who knows?!
I left a lot open to evolve as I was planning, writing and drawing Henchgirl. I had a few points I knew I wanted to hit, but even those changed as I went along!
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Henchgirl Interior Art by Kristen Gudsnuk
Paste: Henchgirl began as a web comic, then was printed in single issues and now as a collected volume. Would you have approached the story differently if you’d started in print?
Gudsnuk: Henchgirl’s pacing has been referred to as “breakneck,” probably because of its beginnings as a web comic. When I started, I was a little overwhelmed with all the crazy ideas I had, and tried to cram a lot into each page. This was because people were reading a page or two a week, and I didn’t want it to be a page or two of someone opening a door or something. I would probably do things a little differently, but it’s so hard to judge! Besides, I got a lot of feedback from readers, so I had the really helpful opportunity to adjust course while still in the thick of it, to see what people are interested in, and even to fill up plot holes that readers pointed out.
Paste: Have you noticed different responses from people reading along online versus those picking up the books? Are people reacting to plot points and changes in ways you didn’t expect?
Gudsnuk: People reading online would give really detailed commentary, whereas IRL readers whom I meet at conventions or who tweet at me are more likely to simply say enthusiastically, “I love Henchgirl!” So far readers on both ends have been really supportive, though.
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Henchgirl Interior Art by Kristen Gudsnuk
Paste: One of the most remarkable things about Henchgirl is the persistent turn away from expected tropes. It would be easier and more familiar to have the book act as a tidy redemption arc, but you frequently steered the story toward more nuanced and difficult outcomes. Was that always part of your plan?
Gudsnuk: It’s probably my contrarian nature. Whenever I feel myself drifting into familiar tropes, I have the most fun time trying to think of ways to turn tropes on their head. The difficult thing about crafting stories is that you want them to be enjoyable and fun, so you want some sort of escapism—which is probably where the superhero stuff comes in. And then, when your readers’ guards are down, you trick them into thinking about somewhat heavy subject matter. (Then, if you’re me, you end it with a dumb joke because you’re 30 levels of irony deep.)
Paste: Henchgirl is populated in large part by women. There are tertiary characters who are men, but with the exception of Fred, the core characters are women. Was that an intentional choice from the beginning?
Gudsnuk: I actually joke that my comic doesn’t quite pass the Reverse Bechdel Test. Which was completely unintentional. Because I was thinking so much about playing around with (and inverting) superhero comic tropes, I thought it would be really funny to flout the norm and skip over Mr. Great Guy (a grotesque Batman/Superman pastiche) and his nemesis Monsieur Butterfly’s narratives. I could tell a lot of my webcomic readers were itching to hear more about Mr. Great Guy…but the conceit of Henchgirl is partially that it’s about characters who, in a traditional superhero comic, would be the tertiary characters, seen in a panel or two and then never again.
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Henchgirl Interior Art by Kristen Gudsnuk
Paste: A lot of what drives Mary’s story forward is the conflicting needs of and eventual collision of her biological family with her “logical” families, which is pretty common for people in their 20s. How did you layer the story to keep it grounded in reality without losing the fantastical superhero elements?
Gudsnuk: I wanted to explore that sense of familial disconnect that comes when you get older. When you’re a kid, everything your parents say is Word of God. Then, when you’re older, you realize your parents are just people, for better or for worse. You watch an old video and they’re as old then as you are now, and you try to reconcile the myriad different versions of your parents. I felt like Mary’s personal arc was the bones of the comic, and the fantastical elements would probably collapse into themselves without the structure of Mary’s personal arc regarding her friends, parents and job. But it was also because those were the elements I was most interested in writing about!
Paste: There are a lot of references and Easter eggs tucked away in panels all through the book, from Sailor Moon to Archer to Pokémon. Why did you want to include those?
Gudsnuk: I just throw in references to things I like, if only because they’ve ingrained themselves so deeply into my subconscious. Usually they’re nestled in the background, just a little extra reward for those who read Henchgirl extremely closely.
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Henchgirl Interior Art by Kristen Gudsnuk
Paste: Henchgirl builds on the tradition of recognizable superheroes like Batman and Superman without being beholden to them. How did you balance poking fun at beloved, longstanding characters and tropes without being cruel or mocking?
Gudsnuk: I actually just try not to censor myself, which is hard when people are definitely going to read what you’re writing. And I have always had a pitch-black sense of humor. So I let myself be as mean spirited as I want, but deep down I love Batman and superhero stories so much—a little bit of my wonder and glee keeps my humor from getting too mean!
QUOTED: "Henchgirl might sound a little goofy but Gudsnuk sneaks in some emotional gut-punches along the way."
Empress, Black Panther, Henchgirl: the month in comics; An independent woman strikes out in a new space opera, the comic world's most prominent black superhero turns fifty, and Jessica Jones gets a job in a snarky new slacker story
The Guardian (London, England). (Mar. 26, 2016): News:
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Guardian Newspapers. Guardian Newspapers Limited
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian
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Full Text:
Byline: Graeme Virtue
[...]
Henchgirl
Who'd be a goon? The hours are antisocial, the pay is irregular, and if you're unlucky enough to join the ranks of Monsieur Butterfly, fluttery scourge of Crepe City, he'll probably make you wear a girdle. But for Mary Posa, the slacker hero of Henchgirl, being hired muscle is better than the alternative of trying to get a proper job, even if, like Jessica Jones, you suspect there's a heart of gold underneath all her posturing. A webcomic created by Kristen Gudsnuk, Henchgirl is a snarky slacker story with appealing, Scott Pilgrim-style art. The webcomic updates every Tuesday but, since late 2015, Scout Comics has been collecting and republishing Henchgirl as traditional comic issues.
Just be warned: Henchgirl might sound a little goofy but Gudsnuk sneaks in some emotional gut-punches along the way. In the current fifth issue, Mary has to deal with the aftermath of a painful break-up -- sadly an occupational hazard when your pal's superpower is turning into a mannequin.
QUOTED: "always quirky, occasionally touching, ... surprisingly dark."
"Things slow down a bit from the sparkling opening."
Henchgirl
Publishers Weekly.
264.12 (Mar. 20, 2017): p62.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Henchgirl
Kristen Gudsnuk. Dark Horse, $17.99 trade paper (319p) ISBN 978-1-50670-144-8
If the cast of Girls found themselves in the Marvel universe, you'd have something like this debut graphic novel.
Always quirky, occasionally touching, and surprisingly dark, this book follows Mary Posa, a superpower-less
disappointment to her superhero parents, who works as a henchgirl for super-villain Monsieur Butterfly. While Mary's
concerns and anxieties will be familiar to any young 20-something struggling to get by--making rent, dealing with
relationships and workplace friction--it all happens against the backdrop of a completely ridiculous world filled with
time travel, astral projection, and strange superpowers, like the ability to spontaneously produce carrots. The first few
issues of Henchgirl, drawn in a charming style somewhere between Scott Pilgrim and Steven Universe, have a
delightful and spontaneous energy, but as the series progresses, Gudsnuk begins stitching her ideas into a narrative and
things slow down a bit from the sparkling opening. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Henchgirl." Publishers Weekly, 20 Mar. 2017, p. 62. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA487601788&it=r&asid=cf3633d548ec51048c3ddae692c7ef65.
Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A487601788
QUOTED: "Friendship and loyalty take center stage in this enjoyable addition to the
VIP series."
10/22/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508692722492 2/5
VIP: Battle of the Bands
Julia Smith
Booklist.
112.21 (July 1, 2016): p77.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
VIP: Battle of the Bands. By Jen Calonita. Illus. by Kristen Gudsnuk. July 2016. 320p. Little, Brown, $16.99
(9780316259774); e-book, $9.99 (9780316259767). Gr. 3-6.
Mac is back on the road with her favorite band, Perfect Storm. Unfortunately, the Sizzling Summer Boys tour isn't
going well. For one thing, PS has to share the stage with newcomers Thunder and Lightning (total PS rip-off!), who
have stolen a PS song to use as their first single. Animosity runs high, and prank wars ignite between the two bands,
but soon private information about PS begins appearing online--posted by a mysterious "Bad Kitty." Compounding the
backstage drama are Mac's continued crush on PS guitarist Kyle and her realization that everything Bad Kitty writes
seems ripped from the pages of Mac's journal. Mac knows she must unmask the vengeful blogger to save her beloved
band's reputation as well as her own. As in VIP: I'm with the Band (2015), Mac's cool alter ego, Mac Attack, appears in
comic-book spreads throughout her diary-style confessional. Calonita nicely captures the extremes of tween emotions,
with appropriate squeals, swoons, and tears. Friendship and loyalty take center stage in this enjoyable addition to the
VIP series.--Julia Smith
Smith, Julia
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Smith, Julia. "VIP: Battle of the Bands." Booklist, 1 July 2016, p. 77. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA459889140&it=r&asid=fa3071f55460e502cf15a91043bcbf1d.
Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A459889140
QUOTED: "Mac's crushes and obsessions will strike a familiar chord."
10/22/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508692722492 3/5
VIP: I'm with the Band
Julia Smith
Booklist.
112.5 (Nov. 1, 2015): p52.
COPYRIGHT 2015 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
By Jen Calonita. Illus. by Kristen Gudsnuk. Dec. 2015. 336p. Little, Brown, $17 (9780316259729). Gr. 3-6.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Twelve-year-old Mac can't imagine anything more amazing than seeing her all-time favorite band, Perfect Storm, in
concert. But then her mom announces that she has gotten a job as Perfect Storm's tour manager, and the two of them
will be joining the boys on the road for a couple of months. Let the manic texting and hyperventilating begin! Despite
starting off the tour on the wrong foot, hanging out with the band is a dream come true, and as Mac gets to know the
boys, her longtime crush on Zander starts shifting in another direction. Calonita captures squealing tween-girl
excitement perfectly in this diary-style novel, but she makes sure being a fangirl isn't Mac's only M.O. Her ambitions
to be an artist not only feature in the plot but also in its illustrations, as spreads from her comic book Mac Attack
(home to her cool, confident alter ego) join the book's spot illustrations. Middle-schoolers won't likely identify with
being on tour, but Mac's crushes and obsessions will strike a familiar chord.--Julia Smith
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Smith, Julia. "VIP: I'm with the Band." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2015, p. 52. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA434514500&it=r&asid=ccf82fbf2bd9f394e382cea4b12eae58.
Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A434514500
QUOTED: "effervescent."
"Gudsnuk, creator of the Flenchgirl webcomic, provides exuberant comics sequences and spot illustrations throughout."
10/22/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508692722492 4/5
I'm with the Band
Publishers Weekly.
262.39 (Sept. 28, 2015): p89.
COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
I'm with the Band
Jen Calonita, illus. by Kristen Gudsnuk. Little, Brown, $17 (336p) ISBN 978-0-
316-25972-9
Calonita (Flunked) targets Directioners and other boy band devotees with this effervescent first book in the V.I.P.
series. Twelve-year-old Mackenzie Lowell and her two best friends live for the band Perfect Storm and are dying to see
them in concert. Mac also loves drawing comics about her alter ego Mac Attack, who is part of a crime-fighting girl
band (Gudsnuk, creator of the Flenchgirl webcomic, provides exuberant comics sequences and spot illustrations
throughout). Mac's dreams of someday marrying her Perfect Storm crush, Zander, become just slightly more plausible
after Mac's mother announces that she has been asked to manage Perfect Storm on tour, and Mac will be coming along.
While Mac's embarrassment over a poster and poem she created for the band and a conflict within Perfect Storm
provide tension, the real meat of this diary-style story lies in the behind-the-scenes details of life on tour, as well as
Mac's relationships with the band members as she gets to know them as real people.
Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Dan Mandel, Sanford]. Greenburger Associates. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"I'm with the Band." Publishers Weekly, 28 Sept. 2015, p. 89. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA430498365&it=r&asid=0621adaa033066c4dc3cb066003334f6.
Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A430498365
QUOTED: "The diary format and many illustrations ... should be appealing to a wide audience and will have tween readers eager for the next installment."
10/22/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508692722492 5/5
Calonita, Jen. VIP: I'm with the Band
Brenda Kahn
School Library Journal.
61.9 (Sept. 2015): p138.
COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
CALONITA, Jen. VIP: I'm with the Band, illus. by Kristen Gudsnuk. 336p. ebook available. Little, Brown. Dec. 2015.
Tr $17. ISBN 9780316259729.
Gr 4-6--For tween patrons who idolize boy bands and are looking for some G-rated romance, this fun confection
narrated by 12-year-old Mackenzie Lowell is just the ticket. Mac, an artist and budding graphic novelist spends much
of her free time with her BFFs, drooling over the newest up-and-coming boy band Perfect Storm. The girls are
bummed after spending the afternoon trying to score tickets to Perfect Storm's concert by calling in to a radio station.
Mac's publicist mom saves the day by scoring VIP tickets. Mom's coolness factor skyrockets when she's hired to be the
band's publicist, requiring her to travel with the band for a month--and Mac's going with her! This is Mac's chance to
catch the eye of lead singer Zander, her crush. Perhaps he'll take her to the spring dance? But there are ups and downs
on the tour including an accident involving Green Dragon soda, pranks, a rich mean girl, Zander's fickleness, and
Mac's blossoming friendship with Kyle. There's a lot to like in this series starter: Mac's voice, snippets of her graphic
novel, the authenticity, the humor, and the pacing. VERDICT The diary format and many illustrations will entice fans
of Rachel Renee Russell's "Dork Diaries" (S. & S.) but should be appealing to a wide audience and will have tween
readers eager for the next installment.--Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ
Kahn, Brenda
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Kahn, Brenda. "Calonita, Jen. VIP: I'm with the Band." School Library Journal, Sept. 2015, p. 138. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA427423746&it=r&asid=d88668b71fc0f5e06ca224b437655c09.
Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A427423746
QUOTED: "There is a lot of complexity to Mary’s relationships that play off very real emotions from everyday life. That’s where Henchgirl succeeds over and over; it doesn’t feel super, it feels human. Sure, there are powers and fantasy elements, but the characters are very real. They act and talk like a group of friends and overcome challenges together while having fun along the way."
REVIEW: HENCHGIRL
March 29, 2017
BY DUSTIN CABEAL
If you’ve read any of my previous reviews for this series, then feel free to skip this one. While I won’t be going into the same level of detail for the trade as I did on the single issues, it’s pretty clear already that this trade will be scoring perfectly.
On the surface, Henchgirl seems like an indie comedy about superheroes. And hey, if that’s your only take away then you’ll still leave feeling satisfied by your purchase and time spent with Henchgirl. There is much more to the story which follows Mary Posa, a Henchgirl for the Butterfly Gang. There’s the complexity of doing what’s right and doing what’s easy, which sums up Mary’s entire adult existence. Side by side with that is a look at what is really good and evil and is it always that clear? Henchgirl answers that question in a way that superhero comics that have been going on 80 or 90 years fail to do so on a weekly base. The answer is, of course, yes and no, meaning you’ll never be able to define it clearly. Creator Kristen Gudsnuk embraces that and makes it an element of the story, it’s used in Mary’s character development along with several other characters in the story.
There’s also a family element, which when you give it a lot of thought plays a huge role in superhero comics. There’s a lot of great characters that use their family as their foundation and motivation for being a hero. Henchgirl explores it in a different way. What if you were the first-born child of a superhero family and grew up to be a disappointment? I don’t want to say anything more about that, but there is a lot of complexity to Mary’s relationships that play off very real emotions from everyday life.
That’s where Henchgirl succeeds over and over; it doesn’t feel super, it feels human. Sure, there are powers and fantasy elements, but the characters are very real. They act and talk like a group of friends and overcome challenges together while having fun along the way. There’s also a lot of drama and darkness to Henchgirl. Again, I’ve covered it in depth in my individual reviews, but the story isn’t always happy. Hell, the jokes get dark at times which is part of its charm. It’s not dark in an “everything’s dark and gritty since Watchmen” type of way, but dark in the way that life just is sometimes.
Tying this all together is some of the best art I’ve discovered in the past ten years. There’s a lot of great art out there, but much of American comics look the same. Not just in superhero comics either. There’s just a sense of sameness, but occasionally there’s a talent that has a style that is just captivating. Gudsnuk is that way to me. I love the art for Henchgirl more than anything because the style was played with, the design was played with, and it all worked. She is a rare talent, and frankly, I don’t know what else to praise her for on the art that I haven’t already in my other reviews. Again, read those reviews, not for me, I don’t give a shit about clicks, but because I hate repeating something over and over as it starts to feel disingenuous.
What I can tell you with confidence is that not only is this one of the best superhero comics I’ve read in many years, but it’s one of the best comic books I’ve ever read, period. Other critics might find that statement to be questionable since my quote is on the cover, but I tell you that not as a comic critic, but rather as a person that reads a ton of comics weekly and happens to review them. My goal with each review is not to praise the creators or publisher, but rather to help the consumer. If you’re going to spend some money this week, put some aside for Henchgirl.
SCORE: 5/5
Henchgirl TPB
Creator: Kristen Gudsnuk
TPB Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
QUOTED: "Overall, Henchgirl is a fun and dark graphic novel. Like Steven Universe or Bee and Puppy Cat, it looks like children’s animation but is actually an adult graphic novel with adult themes. The graphic novel is humorous, smart, and has a lot of heart. It is a celebration of women, friendship, and overcoming your own self-destruction."
"Henchgirl" Breaks Superhero Gender Roles: BUST Review
BY ISABEL S. DIEPPA IN BOOKS
1.1K
Henchgirl
A super villain with super strength, no health insurance, and a conscious. Henchgirl, Kristen Gudsnuk’s debut graphic novel published by Dark Horse comics, is a smart, funny, satirical take on your typical superhero graphic novel with its own twists and turns. I recently had the opportunity to both read and interview the author of Henchgirl.
Gudsnuk began Henchgirl as a webcomic; now it is a published graphic novel with Dark Horse Comics. She is one of the many female artists/comic book writers that are paving the way for women in comics.
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"I was just making Henchgirl and putting it out there for the world to see," said Gudsnuk, "and luckily I got a good reaction, and being with Dark Horse is a dream come true."
Meet Mary Posa, a twenty-something-year-old woman who has distanced herself from her family and is working various jobs, one of which is being a hench girl for the famous butterfly gang in Crepe city. Mary is different from the common canon of superheroes. To begin with, she is drawn as a softer, curvier character instead of the typical large-breasted, super-muscular heroes. She has the power of being super strong, but in a world where super powers seem to be common and heroes are like celebrities, her power is seen as useless - with the exception of being able to carry large boxes.
henchgirl5
Gudsnuk’s wit shines through in the dialogue and her artwork shows a refreshing take on the typical comic drawing. A softer, more human-like protagonist promotes body positivity and shows not all heroes or animation has to look the same.
“I feel like the standard is to have everyone have a fit body type,” said Gudsnuk at a C2E2 interview, "I don't like the default being always a certain kind of person. I wanted to make her cute and also chubby, so people would see that and feel ok with themselves. The reality is there are tons of different body types in people."
In, Gudsnuk uses soft colorful artwork and juxtaposes it with funny and even violent themes within the graphic novel. Take Mary Posa’s love interest, Mannequin, for example. Mannequin's power is to change his body into a literal mannequin, which allows him to astral project. This swapping of gender roles is refreshing. Both Mary and Mannequin boy do not fit into archetypes, which make their characters more relatable.
“I always get very annoyed by toxic masculinity,” said Gudsnuk, "for me, I wanted Fred to be a character who is a man, but he is vulnerable; he's not as strong as his female love interest characters and he's okay with that, he's not trying to make up for it."
henchgirl3
She plays with these gender roles throughout the entire graphic novel, and she does not shy away from the power of metaphor. This approach allows the reader to look critically at the characters. While Gudsnuk does touch on pivotal issues men and women are facing, never feels preachy, which is exactly what you want in a graphic novel.
Gudsnuk is also not afraid to explore controversial themes such as rape. I don’t want to give away too much, but in the graphic novel, there is an incident that occurs where Mary is forced to do something while she is unconscious. This act brings together her and one of her other hench girls, Coco. Although the act is not overtly rape, the metaphor Gudsnuk puts forward is an easy correlation to rape and other issues women face, including victim blaming.
The graphic novel also has moments of gory violence. The violence is not gratuitous and fits nicely into the story. Then again, comics and graphic novels have always been a little grittier than your average form of animation, and Henchgirl is no different. I asked Gudsnuk if she thought this comic could help people who have dealt with traumatic experiences such as rape or violence.
"In my comic, it's okay to not be okay, to be messed up or make self-destructive decisions," said Gudsnuk. "I think a lot of people see parts of their own experiences, frequently negative ones reflected in what happens to the characters. Hopefully, it does help people."
Overall, Henchgirl is a fun and dark graphic novel. Like Steven Universe or Bee and Puppy Cat, it looks like children’s animation but is actually an adult graphic novel with adult themes. The graphic novel is humorous, smart, and has a lot of heart. It is a celebration of women, friendship, and overcoming your own self-destruction.
Henchgirlfull
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Isabel Dieppa is a writer and actor. She is a part of the performance duo Of This World in Chicago, IL. Her interests lie in science, art, and history. Past writing includes interning for the Chicago Field Museum ECCO program, the national theater blog HOWLROUND, music reviews for UR Chicago, and in a former life was a beat reporter for the Indiana Daily Student. She loves archaeology, kitties, and dancing. The next big adventure may include an archaeological dig in Peru. Follow her on twitter @isabelsdieppa
QUOTED: "Henchgirl is full of humor, by way of tons of witty dialogue from realistic characters."
"There is even a magical girl character as well, and fun references to anime/manga and other superhero tropes. Every page is filled with full color, well done art and a great story to match."
Henchgirl TPB Review
BY ASHLEY GIBBS · PUBLISHED APRIL 15, 2017 · UPDATED APRIL 16, 2017
Writer & Artist – Kristen Gudsnuk
Publisher – Dark Horse Comics
What starts off as a cute and simple superhero parody soon snowballs into a world of action, adventure, emotions, and life-or-deathHenchgirl situations. Henchgirl is a story that began as a webcomic and then found its way to print. This trade paperback collects all of the previous issues available in one handy book with a story that flows very well from the first to the last page. Both the story and artwork are done by Kristen Gudsnuk. Gudsnuk tells a compelling story while using a very friendly artstyle which only makes the serious moments stand out even more. I found myself drawn into the world she created, reading the entire book in one sitting and enjoying every moment of it.
The story follows Mary Posa, a rather average girl who works as a henchgirl to one of Crepe City’s supervillains. She’s a bit of an underachiever just trying to make ends meet and casually living her life until a series of events throws things into upheaval. While being a bit of a parody, the book is also filled with serious moments and actual death. The first one taking me off-guard because I wasn’t expecting things to get so dark. Mary has a strong supporting cast around her as well. From her two roomies Sue and Tina, Fred her kinda-sort-of romantic interest and even her not overly supportive parents. Everything melds together to form a great look at how superheros and supervillians are in the end just human with their own issues.
The collection of stories may seem at first to be freeform. Half way through the pieces come together to form an overarching plot that combines previous points and requires a solution at the end.
One thing I enjoyed was the artwork in this book. The simple and sometimes cute artstyle is a good juxtaposition against the activities happening in the story, especially later on when things hit critical mass. While the art does seem a bit cartoony, the characters are well done and each one looks unique and memorable. I liked the usage of colors and felt there was a good mix of brights and darks with decent shading. At times details were skipped, like backgrounds or background characters and shadows. However, the main source of action was usually so well done I didn’t feel bothered by these things at all. I will offer a bit of advice. Make sure to read the signs around town, sayings on t-shirts, and other things, as these offer a bit of amusement at times.
I really enjoyed reading this book and my major complaint would be that it ended. I want more and am eager to see what happens to the characters next. Henchgirl is full of humor, by way of tons of witty dialogue from realistic characters. I’m left wanting to learn more about them and the world they live in but also feel satisfied where the book ended. Also, after the main story, the last pages are cute short stories that mainly take place during the events just read and even have handy page number references so you can look back and see how the short stories fit in. There is even a magical girl character as well, and fun references to anime/manga and other superhero tropes.
Every page is filled with full color, well done art and a great story to match. I fully recommend this title to anyone wanting a good read.
Writing: 4.5/5
Artwork: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
QUOTED: "sweet and sassy adventure" "brilliant."
“VIP: Battle of the Bands” by Jen Calonita. (Book Review & Giveaway!)
August 11, 2016 Ages 9-12, Authors, Books for Boys, Books for Girls, Chapter Books, Contests, Giveaways, Reviews by Children, Teens: Young Adults
IMG_8882VIP: BATTLE OF THE BANDS by Jen Calonita
This sweet and sassy adventure follows Mac as she tours with her favorite band! It’s up to her to keep the band together and on the road to stardom! This story is bound to be a “big hit” with your tween crowd!!
Dolly is a little young to review this one, so we left it in the capable hands of the smart and beautiful Goretti Muriithi! Check out her great review below! And don’t forget to
ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF “VIP: Battle of the Bands” by Jen Calonita here >>
“VIP Battle of the Bands” by Jen Calonita. Illustrated by Kristen Gudsnuk
Book Review by Goretti Muriithi
‘VIP Battle of the Bands’ is a life-thrilling diary of Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Lowell. In this thrilling sequel to ‘VIP I’m with the Band’, Mac spends her summer vacation on a tour with her favorite boy band, Perfect Storm! Mac couldn’t be happier when her mom became the tour manager. But after a certain prediction by Madam Celeste, things go downhill for Perfect Storm. A new band called Thunder and Lightning stole a song about Mac that was written by Perfect Storm’s songwriter, Kyle Beyer. More so, a mysterious blogger called Bad Kitty spreads Perfect Storm’s secrets, which starts ruining their reputation. The big question…will Mac stop the leaks and capture the culprit?
My favorite part of this book is when Mac, her friend Jilly, and the three Perfect Storm bandmates help her set a trap to catch Bad Kitty and reveal her identity. I would recommend this book to other preteens because it is brilliant and has recently published. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!!