Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Kim Reaper, Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://sarahgraley.com/
CITY: Birmingham
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| LC control no.: | no2016006269 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2016006269 |
| HEADING: | Graley, Sarah |
| 000 | 00750nz a2200205n 450 |
| 001 | 10058634 |
| 005 | 20160119073505.0 |
| 008 | 160118n| azannaabn |n aaa c |
| 010 | __ |a no2016006269 |
| 035 | __ |a (OCoLC)oca10365897 |
| 040 | __ |a WlAbNL |b eng |e rda |c WlAbNL |
| 046 | __ |s 20 |
| 100 | 1_ |a Graley, Sarah |
| 370 | __ |a Northampton (England) |c England |e Birmingham (England) |2 naf |
| 372 | __ |a Comic books, strips, etc. |2 lcsh |
| 374 | __ |a Illustrators |2 lcsh |
| 375 | __ |a female |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 670 | __ |a Our Super Adventure: a diary comic, 2015: |b t.p. (Sarah Graley) p. 222 (she was born in Northampton and now lives in Birmingham) |
| 670 | __ |a Sarah Graley WWW site, viewed, 8 January 2016 |b (Sarah Graley ; full time comics and freelance illustrator) |
PERSONAL
Born in Northampton, England.
EDUCATION:Degree from University of Wolverhampton (with first class honurs).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator.
WRITINGS
Author and illustrator of comic book Invader Zim. Work represented in anthologies, including As You Were, Ink+Paper, and Double Dare Ya.
SIDELIGHTS
Sarah Graley is a writer and illustrator of comic books and graphic novels. “I come from an arty family, so I think getting the drawing bug was unavoidable!” she told Stephanie Cooke in an online interview at Rogues Portal. “I grew up with Beano Comics, but I didn’t really get back into the wonderful world of comics until someone showed me a copy of Scott Pilgrim when I was seventeen, and then my art became more comics-focused.” She continued: “In regards to developing style, I feel like mine has been hugely influenced by cartoons. When trying to find my footing, I’d focus on what I like from a range of other cartoons and comics I adored, and then mash them together. I’d just play around and whatever felt good stuck!”
One of Graley’s popular creations is the comic Kim Reaper, about a college student who has a part-time job as a grim reaper. The first several issues of the series were collected in the book Kim Reaper, Vol 1: Grim Beginnings. Protagonist Kim is still in training as a harvester of souls, and her assignments are mostly pets. A classmate, Becka, is seriously infatuated with Kim, and in pursuing her follows Kim through a portal to the spirit world. There they encounter zombies, ghouls, and other supernatural beings as well as a bodybuilder who commands an army of cats. Becka gamely joins Kim on her journey through this realm even though she looks askance at Kim’s dangerous profession, and Kim inadvertently creates more dangers in trying to impress Becka. Nonetheless, their romance develops quickly.
“Teen me used to dream about being a grim reaper (that sounds super morbid; it really wasn’t!), so I got the idea of Kim being a part time grim reaper from that, but it’s also fun to work on a story that focuses on a profession with many perks and downsides!” Graley told Bella Vanessa Sotomayor at the Comicsverse website. “Kim’s not amazing at her job and she’s kind of bumbling through it, but I think that’s more fun and relatable.” With her short purple hair and pale skin, Kim is the “goth girl” that Graley aspired to be in her school days, while Becka, voluptuous but wholesome, “is the manifestation of all things good and great that I love!” the author noted. While Kim reflects Graley’s teenage dreams, Becka reflects aspect of her personality, Graley explained. “She’s super honest (maybe too honest?) but that’s how she rolls,” she told Sotomayor. “When I write Becka, I do tend to think ‘what would I like to do in this situation?’ … I like honesty and I like when people are forward and this bleeds into Becka’s character.” She further told Geek online interviewer Insha Fitzpatrick that she intends for their relationship to endure: “Kim and Becka have some hardships they have to face and some meanies they’ve gotta battle! But they talk things out and that’s what makes them such a strong pair.”
The comic series was well-received by several critics, as was the collection. Some who reviewed Kim Reaper, Vol. 1 commented favorably on its mix of humor and the macabre. Graley’s “steady stream of jokes keeps her story’s more intense emotional moments from getting too dire or serious,” remarked a Publishers Weekly contributor. The collection, noted Sarah Hunter in Booklist, offers “over-the-top slapstick; cute, goggle-eyed characters; a sweet lesbian romance; and, of course, lots of skeletons and trips to hell.” Hunter pronounced it “adorably goth.” At the online Comics Journal, Tegan O’Neil praised the portrayal of the relationship as well as the comic touches. She called the book a “trifle,” but elaborated: “Trifles have power sometimes. Because it’s nice to see cute and perky goth lesbians on fun adventures across the world that have absolutely no real consequences. Because there’s joy in watching Graley put this adorable pair through these paces.” Another online reviewer, at Lesbary, added: “If you need a boost of cuteness in your reading life, I can’t really recommend Kim Reaper highly enough.” Further positive critiques came from Emily Butler, writing in School Library Journal, who reported that “the tone is more funny than frightening,” and “the cute artwork keeps the mood lighthearted.” A Kirkus Reviews commentator summed up Kim Reaper, Vol. 1 as “an appealing mixture of ninety-five percent humor and five percent horror” that makes for a “charming graphic novel.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 15, 2017, Sarah Hunter, review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1.: Grim Beginnings, p. 38.
Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2017, review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1.
Publishers Weekly, January 1, 2018, review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1, p. 59.
School Library Journal, February, 2018, Emily Butler, review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1, p. 110.
ONLINE
Adventures in Poor Taste, http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/ (July 12,2016), David Brooke, review of Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar.
Black Nerd Problems, http://blacknerdproblems.com/ (June 1, 2018), Carrie McClain, review of Kim Reaper comic book.
Comics Journal, http://www.tcj.com/ (March 15, 2018), Tegan O’Neil, review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1.
Comicsverse, https://comicsverse.com/ (March 13/2017), Bella Vanessa Sotomayor, interview with Sarah Graley.
Geek, https://www.geek.com/ (March 5, 2018), Insha Fitzpatrick, “Sarah Graley on the Cuteness That Is Kim Reaper.“
Lesbrary, http://lesbrary.com/ (March 13, 2018), review of Kim Reaper, Vol. 1.
Multiversity Comics, http://www.multiversitycomics.com/ (April 6, 2017), Alice W. Castle, review of Kim Reaper comic book.
Paste Magazine, https://www.pastemagazine.com/ (April 5, 2017), Caitlin Rosberg, “Queer Comedy/Romance Gets a ‘Grim’ Spin in Sarah Graley’s Kim Reaper.“
Rogues Portal, http://www.roguesportal.com/ (January 8, 2018), Stephanie Cooke, interview with Sarah Graley.
Sarah Graley website, https://www.sarahgraley.com (June 21, 2018).
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About Me
Hiya! My name is Sarah Graley and I am a full time comic writer and artist living in Birmingham, UK, with four cats and one cat like boy.
I work on comics for Oni Press (Kim Reaper, Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar) and self-publish books as Shiny Sword Press (Our Super Adventure, Pizza Witch).
I’m currently working on a graphic novel for Scholastic Graphix due for release in Spring 2019!
I am represented by Curtis Brown LTD and have a first class honours degree in Illustration from the University of Wolverhampton.
I frequently table at UK comic conventions (and I am looking into doing more shows abroad!), so check out my appearances page to catch me at my next show!
I love working on comics and I’d love to start working on cartoons as well; if you have a project you’d like to involve me in, please get in touch! The easiest way to reach me is at sarahgraleyart@gmail.com.
2018
I’m currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel called Glitch for Scholastic Graphix and Scholastic UK, currently due for release in early 2019!
I’m still regularly updating Our Super Adventure (funded by the lovely people over at my Patreon!)
Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings (Oni Press) was released on February 14th, and collects issue 1-4 of Kim Reaper with some cool bonus stuff! A second arc of Kim Reaper is also due to be released later this year too!
2017
I created a comic series called Kim Reaper that was released through Oni Press – the first four issue arc is available now!
I’ve also released a deluxe hardcover edition of Pizza Witch and the trade paperback of Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar (Oni Press/Titan) was released in February/May!
A new hardback book of comic strips chronicling my trip to America last summer – Our Super American Adventure – was self-published in September!
I tabled at international comic shows for the first time this year, firstly at Small Press Expo in September, and then I was also a guest at New York Comic Con in October!
Lastly, I wrote and illustrated issue #26 of Invader Zim (Oni Press), which was released in December!
2016
I was the writer and artist for Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar (Oni Press) – a five issue mini-series! It was nominated for Licensed Comic of the Year and Best New Comic Book Series in the Diamond Gem Awards 2016.
I also attended San Diego Comic Con for the first time, and did a live drawing event with the writers and cast of Rick and Morty.
2015
I released a hardcover book of 200 Our Super Adventure comics through an amazing Kickstarter campaign, and also released an original comic Pizza Witch at the same time!
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I was also nominated for the Emerging Talent award at the 2015 British Comic Awards!
Anthologies
I’ve had my work published in the following anthologies:
As You Were Issues 2-4
A curated punk comic anthology by Mitch Clem
Ink+Paper Issue 3
Curated by David o’Connell
Double Dare Ya:
A riot grrl anthology curated by Julia Scheele
Hiya! My name is Sarah Graley and I am a full time comic artist living in Birmingham, UK, with four cats and one cat-like boy! I am represented by Curtis Brown LTD and have a first class honours degree in Illustration.
I'm currently working on a graphic novel called Glitch with Graphix and Scholastic UK, as well as a second arc of Kim Reaper for Oni Press, and I regularly update my webcomic, Our Super Adventure!
I am the writer and artist on Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings (Oni Press), Rick and Morty spin off comic ‘Lil’ Poopy Superstar’ (Oni Press/Titan Comics), and my ongoing diary webcomic Our Super Adventure.
I was nominated for Emerging Talent at the 2015 British Comic Awards for my self-published comics Our Super Adventure, Pizza Witch and RentQuest.
I ran a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to fund a hardcover book collecting 200 of my Our Super Adventure comic strips, which was funded over 400% of the original target, and is the one of the top 10 Most Backed UK Comics Kickstarter Projects ever (so far)!
Show Less
Quoted in Sidelights: over-the-top slapstick; cute, goggle-eyed characters; a sweet lesbian romance; and, of course, lots of skeletons and trips to hell.” Hunter pronounced it “adorably goth.”
Kim Reaper, v.1: Grim Beginnings
Sarah Hunter
Booklist.
114.6 (Nov. 15, 2017): p38. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Kim Reaper, v.1: Grim Beginnings.
By Sarah Graley. Illus. by the author.
Feb. 2018.112p. Oni, paper, $14.99 (9781620104552). 741.5. Gr. 9-12.
College is expensive, so part-time jobs are pretty typical. Kim's job, however, is a far cry from the usual wage labor--she's a reaper of souls, though she's still in training, so her souls are mostly of the pet variety. When her cute classmate Becka follows her through her portal and interrupts a particularly challenging job, Kim goes a little too far in trying to impress her: a trip to an amusement park is the tops, but the haunted ship? Not so nice, especially when Becka is possessed by a ghoul. Can their burgeoning romance survive the demands of Kim's otherworldly job? Thanks to some pluck (and a zombie-smashing rolling pin), yes, it can. Graley's adorably goth comic is full of over-the-top slapstick; cute, goggle-eyed characters; a sweet lesbian romance; and, of course, lots of skeletons and trips to hell. The contrast between the macabre plot and bubbly art, in a rich palette of warm jewel tones with pops of fluorescent hues, will be utterly bewitching for the right reader.--Sarah Hunter
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Hunter, Sarah. "Kim Reaper, v.1: Grim Beginnings." Booklist, 15 Nov. 2017, p. 38. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517441803/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=6bceae41. Accessed 1 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A517441803
1 of 4 5/31/18, 11:36 PM
Quoted in Sidelights: “an appealing mixture of 95 percent humor and 5 percent horror” that makes for a “charming graphic novel.”
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Graley, Sarah: GRIM BEGINNINGS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Nov. 15, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Graley, Sarah GRIM BEGINNINGS Oni Press (Children's Fiction) $14.99 2, 27 ISBN: 978-1-62010-455-2
Two girls attending university crush on each other and fight supernatural creatures in this charming graphic novel for teens.
Uni student Becka has a thing for goth girls. Brown-haired, brown-skinned, curvy, and femme, she works in a bakery and spends her art-history class daydreaming about her classmate Kim: "a 100% cutie with a booty." Kim is pale with a purple bob and cat's-eye eyeliner. When Becka finally works up the nerve to ask Kim out, she follows her out of class--and accidentally stumbles through a pink portal surrounded by skulls and swirling purple ghosts. Kim, casually carrying a portal-creating scythe, is on her way to reap the soul of a cat, her current assignment in her new job as a part-time grim reaper (to pay her way through uni). Becka's arrival disrupts the process, sending them on a whirlwind adventure-turned-date to save Kim's job and get home safely. Zombies, ghouls, and skeletal reapers all make appearances, but Graley's humorous dialogue and cute cartoon illustrations (featuring Gravity Falls-esque oversized eyes and bubble-gum colors) keep things light.
An appealing mixture of 95 percent humor and 5 percent horror perfect for fans of John Allison's graphic-novel series Giant Days and the web series Carmilla. (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Graley, Sarah: GRIM BEGINNINGS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2017. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A514267787/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=5d90237c. Accessed 1 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A514267787
2 of 4 5/31/18, 11:36 PM
Quoted in Sidelights: steady stream of jokes keeps her story’s more intense emotional moments from getting too dire or serious,”
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Kim Reaper, Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings
Publishers Weekly.
265.1 (Jan. 1, 2018): p59. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Kim Reaper, Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings
Sarah Graley. Oni, $14.99 trade paper (112p) ISBN 978-1-62010-455-2
After working up the courage to invite her crush Kim to the pub for a drink, university student Becka follows her into a portal, where she discovers that Kim's goth look isn't an act: Kim works as a part-time grim reaper, collecting the souls of animals and, eventually, humans. Becka accompanies Kim on a few missions, but she isn't entirely comfortable with Kim's career choice, creating a potential roadblock in their relationship. With plenty of hi jinks (an amped-up bodybuilder with an army of cats, ghoul-possessed pirate treasure, a plague of zombies) and banter ("Your noodley arms pack such a punch," gushes Becka at one point), the story has no shortage of entertaining moments. But they play second fiddle to its focus on how one goes about setting boundaries in relationships, especially in the face of trying to make a living. Graley uses a dark, purplish palette to create an atmosphere of otherworldly adventure without resorting to a full-on goth-culture black motif. Her chunky drawing style resists over-sexualizing the girls' budding romance, and the steady stream of jokes keeps her story's more intense emotional moments from getting too dire or serious. Ages 13-up. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Kim Reaper, Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings." Publishers Weekly, 1 Jan. 2018, p. 59. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522125058/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=aad8557b. Accessed 1 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522125058
3 of 4 5/31/18, 11:36 PM
Quoted in Sidelights: “the tone is more funny than frightening,” and “the cute artwork keeps the mood lighthearted.”
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
GRALEY, Sarah. Kim Reaper: Grim
Beginnings
Emily Butler
School Library Journal.
64.2 (Feb. 2018): p110. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GRALEY, Sarah. Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings. illus. by Sarah Graley, 112p. Oni. Mar. 2018. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9781620104552.
Gr 7 Up--Graley presents an adorable story of friendship and budding romance--and an underworld of vengeful grim reapers. College student Becka has a crush on Kim, a classmate in an art course, but Kim doesn't even know Becka exists. When Becka accidentally follows Kim through a magical portal, she discovers that Kim works as a part-time grim reaper, helping souls make their way into the afterlife. It soon becomes evident that Kim returns Becka's feelings, but Becka isn't sure she approves of Kim's dangerous profession. While the plot features plenty of ghostly close calls, the tone is more funny than frightening. Featuring soft, curved lines and plenty of visual humor, the cute artwork keeps the mood lighthearted. VERDICT An excellent addition to libraries seeking graphic novels, especially those looking for hi-lo titles for teens interested in paranormal romance.--Emily Butler, Deerfield Academy, MA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Butler, Emily. "GRALEY, Sarah. Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings." School Library Journal, Feb.
2018, p. 110. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A526734151 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=f8fe6e15. Accessed 1 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A526734151
4 of 4 5/31/18, 11:36 PM
Queer Comedy/Romance Gets a "Grim" Spin in Sarah Graley's Kim Reaper
By Caitlin Rosberg | April 5, 2017 | 10:30am
Art by Sarah Graley
Comics Reviews Sarah Graley
Queer Comedy/Romance Gets a "Grim" Spin in Sarah Graley's Kim Reaper
Writer/Artist: Sarah Graley
Publisher: Oni Press
Release Date: April 5, 2017
kimreapercovermain.jpg As student debt has become the chief boogeyman for an entire generation, more comics are showing the less glamorous side of employment under the pressure of “great responsibility.” Not that this is anything new—Peter Parker has been struggling to keep an apartment and pay his bills for decades now. But the particular problem of paying for a decent education is the purview of creator-owned and independent comics. Maybe one day Billy Batson will spend some time considering how Shazam can help him get a grant.
Kim Reaper isn’t quite a superhero story, but it shares some traits. The titular Kim is, as the name of the book suggests, a Grim Reaper, using her part-time job to help pay for school and all the associated costs. Still an entry-level employee, she’s limited to guiding the souls of animals to the next step, terrified of her boss and of messing up. After all, as she says, it’s not like you hear about anyone getting fired from reaping. Maybe they don’t survive the exit interview.
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Kim Reaper #1 Interior Art by Sarah Graley
A new pickle pops up for Kim with the introduction of Becka, a fellow student who’s been crushing on her from afar. They’re in a class together, and the book opens on Becka’s friend trying to convince her to focus on their studies instead of the other woman. Becka’s interest is more infatuation than serious affection, informed by long-distance gazing and daydreams, but she bucks up the courage to ask Kim to join them at a pub. She then accidentally follows the Reaper through a portal and onto an assignment, where the pair gets tangled up in a failed reaping and with a cat’s protective owner.
kimreaper2.jpg
Kim Reaper #1 Interior Art by Sarah Graley
The book is written and drawn by Pizza Witch creator Sarah Graley, who’s a relative newcomer to print comics. She worked on a Rick and Morty spinoff title, but headlining her own book is a huge vote of confidence from publisher Oni Press. Graley earns that trust over the course of this first issue by subverting tropes and pivoting from expected patterns at nearly every turn. Kim reinforces her boundaries with Becka repeatedly instead of falling into the “stalking is romantic” trap.
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Kim Reaper #1 Interior Art by Sarah Graley
Kim Reaper fits in neatly with books like Jonesy, Giant Days, Coady and the Creepies and even Lumberjanes: books filled with young women struggling against responsibilities both great and mundane, their lives complicated by the supernatural or their own drama. They’re all strong books for different reasons, and Kim and Becka enter a market that’s more crowded than it’s ever been—which is a good thing for readers. The only slight disappointment is how quickly Kim caves to Becka’s unasked-for attention. Though she does push back hard on some somewhat creepy behavior, rejecting her offers of help and expressing frustration that Becka doesn’t appear to be listening, Kim quickly caves and accepts Becka’s assistance. If Becka were a young man behaving this way towards a young woman, the book would feel very different, and fall immediately into all sorts of narrative traps. For better or worse, Becka is very reminiscent of the titular character from The Mindy Project, and it can be hard to keep that kind of character sympathetic.
kimreaper4.jpg
Kim Reaper #1 Interior Art by Sarah Graley
Graley’s signature art style is sketchy, sharp and cartoony without lacking detail, and makes the book stand out. The pacing is rushed in places, but overall pretty smooth, no doubt because Graley both writes and draws the book, giving her more of an opportunity to tailor panels as she needs them. She’s particularly adept with facial expressions and body language, which serves to highlight the comedic beats and physical jokes on each page. It has the same kind of over-the-top, physical and nearly psychedelic humor as several Cartoon Network shows, and teeters just on the edge of being all-ages friendly. It’s fun and funny without rejecting serious themes, and offers Graley a great platform to hone her already impressive skills.
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Kim Reaper #1 Interior Art by Sarah Graley
kimreapercovervariant.jpg
Kim Reaper #1 Variant Cover Art by Lissa Treiman
Quoted in Sidleights: “trifle,” but elaborated: “Trifles have power sometimes. Because it’s nice to see cute and perky goth lesbians on fun adventures across the world that have absolutely no real consequences. Because there’s joy in watching Graley put this adorable pair through these paces.”
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REVIEWS
Kim Reaper Vol 1
Sarah Graley
Oni Press
$14.99, 112 pages
BUY IT NOW
REVIEWED BY Tegan O'Neil Mar 15, 2018
Maybe I’ve got a broken heart. That’s not unusual. I’ve always got a broken heart.
That’s life, really. Everyone’s got a broken heart now. They’re all the rage.
Maybe I’ve got a broken heart and I’ve been sitting here trying to decide what I wanted to say about Sarah Graley’s Kim Reaper, the first volume of which – aptly titled Grim Beginnings – was delivered to my address by anonymous courier. I like the comic: I want to get that out of the way right up front. It’s not a perfect comic but it’s really solidly put together and very cute. Oops! Did I say cute? I didn’t mean to say cute.
In an Irish Lit seminar in college our professor informed us that “cute” was an Irish insult. Even over here in the wilderness cute can be a kiss-off. I try to remember the Irish definition whenever I use the word. It’s not a word I want to abuse in any way. I’d certainly never wield it as invective, because not only do I respect the idea of cute, but as an aesthetic mood I consider it a virtue worth promoting.
There’s nothing at all ironic about being cute in 2018.
Have you ever stopped to think about how much mainstream entertainment product essentially advertises happy people living fulfilling lives? Like they’re trying to convince the audience that somewhere, somehow, real people are still doing all the things real people used to do before the world was on fire. The TV is populated by people who have time to get paid to go on road trips or cook a nice meal or play with puppies. I stop on the puppies a lot, I can’t lie. The puppies are cute – cute in a completely good and pure way. And you know on some level of your brain that it is literally the most brute force endorphin release vehicle the television could possibly deliver to you brain, I mean OH MY FUCKING GOD IT’S THE PUPPIES WILL YOU LOOK AT THESE MOTHER FUCKERS
And you’re guilty because you know you should be watching the news right now, or reading something about the subtle but important divisions in contemporary online leftism, but honestly – sometimes you and I both know it’s all you can do at the end of the day to crawl into that chair and turn on the puppies. And you know the idea of a TV channel broadcasting pictures of cute puppies into your house twenty-four hours a day really is just directly out of both Aldous Huxley and Ray Bradbury, specifically the incisive parts of the former and the hectoring parts of the latter. But . . .
It’s just so easy to do that! It’s so tempting to pick apart and belittle the fact that we take the most basic form of pleasure from seeing cute things, from seeing cute things be happy, from seeing cute things frolicking and all that other Hallmark card bullshit that you know and I know civilization on every side of the political spectrum would grind to a fucking halt without. Because of course I feel guilty for watching the Puppy Bowl. You do too. But we do it anyway.
And I think the reason we feel guilty is that we were supposed to think we were above those kinds of things. Who is “we”? We is everyone who feels guilty watching the Puppy Bowl. Honestly, you know, I just dropped out of graduate school so I’m really on a big kick of trying to justify my choices to myself. I take the time to watch the puppies but I can’t focus long enough to finish a book without pictures. I grew up in the 90's, I have a very deep seated need to frame any kind of emotional response through the lens of some kind of ironic remove. It’s exhausting, to be honest.
So the fact is that in 2018 we are officially over faux-Calvinist detachment from direct emotional engagement. Yes, indeed, it is escapism of the purest kind, but it’s only a peevish kind of emotional regulation that begrudges the pursuit of ethical escapism. Because I didn’t have time to even think about the fact that my heart has been broken for twenty-five years and counting and that there are two kinds of women, those who pine and those who are pined for, and that I am perpetually and achingly the former. It’s a hard thing to continue to live in a world that resents the hoarding of even the smallest crumb of happiness.
Believe me, then, when I say that even though Kim Reaper is a trifle, it is a joyous trifle, a trifle to give the balm of Gilead. Is that hyperbole? Sure! Put it on the second printing of the trade. It’s a fun book. It’s a fun book that makes absolutely no bones (get it, because the grim reaper?) about its status as a darling little trifle, and fulfills its aesthetic objectives with complete aplomb. It’s just – cute. Aggressively, deliberately, and methodically cute. Kim and Becka are the best supernatural lesbian cuties in the comics, they are good and pure and I swear by the Doc Martens I got for Christmas I would take a fucking bullet for them.
As the kids say, UwU.
Kim is a lifestyle goth who moonlights as the Grim Reaper. She’s got a lot of debt, see. Becka falls for Kim in art school. Becka is a completely normal person who accidentally gets sucked into a dimensional portal following Kim after class in order to ask her out. Now, look: we’ve all been there. There is something indelible about a woman with a scythe. But – the fact is that the stakes are played just light enough throughout the book that the real focus is allowed to remain more or less squarely on the romance between the two primary characters. Fun plot things happen – they fight a cat hoarder, explore sunken treasure, battle zombies – but more importantly they go from two complete strangers whose rocky relationship begins with more than a few pretty big red flags to being pretty much inseparable traveling the world for picnic lunches in the space of four issues. That’s – yeah, sigh, I mean. Like the joke about Grindr for lesbians, U-Haul.com.
Trifles have power sometimes. Because it’s nice to see cute and perky goth lesbians on fun adventures across the world that have absolutely no real consequences. Because there's joy in watching Graley put this adorable pair through these paces – Becka is a bundle of bulging eyes and overpowering enthusiasm, Kim is tuff but smol. It’s more than just a trifle, really, to see Graley improve at drawing these gals just over the course of these first few issues. The first couple are a bit stiff but by the end of the book you completely know these characters, can recognize their distinctive body language and – through that body language – distinctive way of existing within the frame of the panel. They’re alive.
There’s something else about the book that I realized as I was trying to focus my thoughts. Something I wouldn’t have understood just a couple years ago. I found joy in these pages that you might not because I recognize the people in this book, recognize them in a way that I’ve never before seen reflected in a light-hearted all-ages adventure comic. It’s important to see yourself reflected in as many different worlds as you can because representation and reflection create new emotional possibilities for the human organism. It’s as important to be able to see an emotional life defined by being happy and cute as one dominated by suffering and longing.
I finish Graley’s book empowered to seize the means of improving my own life by embracing cuteness as a triage aesthetic in an age of debacle – self-care as #praxis. It is more important now than ever to find the strength within ourselves to be the goth girlfriend we want to see in the world.
FILED UNDER: Oni Press, Reviews, Sarah Graley, Tegan O'Neil
Quoted in Sidelghts: “Teen me used to dream about being a grim reaper (that sounds super morbid; it really wasn’t!), so I got the idea of Kim being a part time grim reaper from that, but it’s also fun to work on a story that focuses on a profession with many perks and downsides!” Graley told Bella Vanessa Sotomayor at the Comicsverse website. “Kim’s not amazing at her job and she’s kind of bumbling through it, but I think that’s more fun and relatable.” With her short purple hair and pale skin, Kim is the “goth girl” that Graley aspired to be in her school days, while Becka, voluptuous but wholesome, “is the manifestation of all things good and great that I love!” the author noted. While Kim reflects Graley’s teenage dreams, Becka reflects aspect of her personality, Graley explained. “She’s super honest (maybe too honest?) but that’s how she rolls,” she told Sotomayor. “When I write Becka, I do tend to think ‘what would I like to do in this situation?’ … I like honesty and I like when people are forward and this bleeds into Becka’s character.”
Cat men, ghost portals, and scythes, oh my! KIM REAPER is a supernatural adventure that shatters stereotypes with its unique characters and story.
Most university students work to pay off school bills, but Kim’s part time position as a grim reaper is not a job most students have. The series may focus on her role as a guide for souls, but her blooming relationship with Becka (who’s head over heels for the reaper) is the real story as they navigate cats, zombies, and the underworld. Just remember the most important rule: only Kim touches the scythe.
The first issue for KIM REAPER will be released on April 5th, 2017, but you can pre-order it at Page 45 until March 13th. ComicsVerse talked to creator Sarah Graley about her inspirations for the story, how she chose the color palette of each panel, and stereotypical cat ladies.
Kim Reaper - 1 - Cover
ComicsVerse: The book takes such a unique approach to what it’s like to be a grim reaper. Working as a part-time grim reaper is certainly one way to pay for college! What inspired the story?
Sarah Graley: Teen me used to dream about being a grim reaper (that sounds super morbid; it really wasn’t!), so I got the idea of Kim being a part time grim reaper from that, but it’s also fun to work on a story that focuses on a profession with many perks and downsides! Kim’s not amazing at her job and she’s kind of bumbling through it, but I think that’s more fun and relatable. I’ve certainly bumbled through retail jobs before I started working in comics, but Kim’s profession is a little more high stakes than customer service!
READ: We spoke to Sarah Graley, Marc Ellerby, and Mildred Louis about RICK & MORTY: LIL’ POOPY SUPERSTAR!
CV: None of the book’s characters are stereotypical. The cat owner, for example, is an incredibly macho (and frightening) subversion of a typical cat lady. How did you go about crafting the characters in the book?
SG: I guess I could’ve gone for a typical cat lady, but I think that’s a little stale! And it would’ve just been me bolstering the image of cat ladies being “crazy” with this particular character’s motives. I thought it’d be more fun to do a character who loves to pump iron as much as he loves his cats, and that’s how muscle man was born. Villains are a good excuse to get creative! I’m personally a little scared of Brock Lesnar (please don’t wrestle me, Brock Lesnar, you mountain of a man), so maybe that helped inspire this character design?
For designing other characters, they tend to become a mish-mash of things and fashions I love, along with their designs reflecting their character traits. Kim is pretty gothic because she has a gothic as heck job, but she also has an undercut and wears crop tops because I think both of those things are awesome! Becka’s style is pretty similar to my own; I feel like her wardrobe is comfy but cute. When Becka has a goal, she will focus on achieving it, but she does it while wearing something practical and adorable. This is what I also aim for when I’m going for my own goals.
Designing characters is a good excuse to browse style blogs! They’re also a good excuse to explore shapes outside the norm. Character designs that excite me are those that break the mold (I love a good Laika movie), so that’s something I want to do in my own work.
Kim Reaper - 1
CV: Why did you make Becka’s affection for Kim the entry point for the series instead of jumping into the action or showing off Kim’s job as a grim reaper?
SG: I think an interesting premise is important for stories, but I love storytelling through character dynamics! The comic is titled KIM REAPER, but to me, Becka is the main character, so it made sense to start the comic with Becka crushin’. Kim being a grim reaper is what steers the narrative, but the story is really about both of them!
READ: Love unconventional stories? Check out our interview with Kyle Starks on ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN!
CV: On that note, will Kim quickly develop feelings for her new partner in crime or will Becka have to continue chasing Kim, both literally and figuratively? Will there be an opportunity for Becka to become a grim reaper herself?
SG: There’s some initial friction, as Becka is not 100% onboard with the “grim reaper as a profession” aspect. Maybe somebody goofs up some stuff (spoilers!), but luckily they have four issues to figure it out.
I think Becka loves working at her bakery job too much to swap it for guiding souls.
Kim Reaper - 1 - 2
CV: Becka is very open with her affection for Kim, even boldly calling her “my vampire queen” to her face. What made you take this approach instead of having Becka hide her feelings from Kim?
SG: Becka is an open book! She’s super honest (maybe too honest?) but that’s how she rolls. When I write Becka, I do tend to think “what would I like to do in this situation?” I probably wouldn’t be so bold as to call someone I’m crushing on my vampire queen, but I have Becka to live vicariously through so it’s okay! I like honesty and I like when people are forward and this bleeds into Becka’s character.
READ: Learn what makes SARAH’S SCRIBBLES creator Sarah Andersen a beacon of hope.
CV: OUR SUPER ADVENTURE is based on your relationship, so it uses a very realistic color palette, whereas the color scheme in RICK & MORTY: LIL’ POOPY SUPERSTAR is that of the original RICK AND MORTY series. KIM REAPER, however, seems to use colors based on the personalities of each character, such as purples for Kim and oranges for Becka. How did you decide on the look of each panel?
SG: I think purples and Kim both give off a dramatic vibe, so it makes sense they synced up, haha! The colour choices I make tend to depend on the context of the panel. This may be more obvious with KIM REAPER than OUR SUPER ADVENTURE because there’s a huge lack of backgrounds in my diary comics. I used to totally be lazy with backgrounds in my own work, but when I started working with Oni Press I was like: “I gotta up my game!” which I am really happy about. I originally hated drawing backgrounds ’cause they can be difficult, but I’ve since realized that they provide great opportunities to slip something weird and goofy into a panel and can make a panel’s colour choices more dramatic when it’s a block of colour, rather than the usual backdrop scene.
Kim Reaper 1 - 3CV: The first issue ends before we get to see any real action between our heroines and the cat owner. Aside from incentivizing the reader to continue the story, how do you decide what you’re going to save for later issues?
SG: When I’m writing a series I think of the main plot points the story needs to cover, and then break those up into issues. With issue #1, the cat owner became part of the story at a later point in the writing process for me, even though they’re like… such a juicy part of that issue’s plot! I want each issue to be really action packed, but of course, there’s only so much you can fit into 22 pages and I also wanna keep everybody on their toes!
CV: I noticed you and Stef in the background of a classroom; will we get to see more cameos in future issues?
SG: Haha! We might also turn up at a house party in a later issue along with a bunch of our friends. Drawing pals into comics is definitely a cute perk of making comics!
This interview has been edited.
Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar #1 Review
David BrookeDavid BrookeJuly 12, 2016Comic BooksReviews
It finally happened. Mr. Poopybutthole gets his first starring role in a comic book, which isn’t too surprising considering how popular he became after his first appearance in the hit TV show Rick and Morty. He might have the most insane name, but what about his comic, is it good?
Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar #1 (Oni Press) Buy From Amazon
So what’s it about? Check out the full preview here. The official Oni summary reads:
Mr. Poopybutthole is in trouble, and he turns to the one person he can trust: Summer Smith! She’s more than willing to help, but is he telling her the whole truth? Written and illustrated by Sarah Graley (Our Super Adventure) and colored by Mildred Louis (Agents of the Realm), Summer and Mr. Poopybutthole embark on their very own fantastic adventure across space, complete with jailbreaks, hijackings, and high school prom. Plus! Backup comics featuring good ol’ Rick and Morty, illustrated by Marc Ellerby!
Why does this book matter?
Sarah Graley writes and draws this issue bringing a unique art style that’s reminiscent of Bryan Lee O’Maley. She brings a lot of energy to her series Pizza Witch, which a series like this needs.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
The second panel on this page made me laugh.
Right off the bat Graley establishes how sucky Summer’s life is with Rick and Morty treating her like trash. It’s obvious she needs a friend and someone who will go on an adventure with her. Enter Mr. Poopybutthole. The connection between them is obvious right off the bat since they both need each other. This adventure makes sense and you can relate to the characters since Graley makes Rick and Morty such douchebags to Summer. TL;DR: you’ll want Mr. Poopybutthole and Summer to bond after these opening pages.
Rick and Morty fans shouldn’t be sad to see Mr. Poopybutthole take center stage though as they get a nice backup by Marc Ellerby at the end of the issue. The titular duo goes on an adventure after Morty tells Rick he’s having trouble writing an essay and of course this leads to Morty getting into mortal danger. Ellerby draws Rick and Morty spot on and there’s a fun alien they encounter that’s like some kind of amalgam of Sesame Street and Meatball from Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Ain’t he cute.
The art by Graley is good. It’s a simplistic style that manages to add details to backgrounds and effects well enough to make the scenes feel well rendered. Poopybutthole is incredibly simple, but the special effects around him add a bit of oomph to the character.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Graley’s story is mostly setup and it takes forever to get things going. It doesn’t help that the humor revolves around Mr. Poopybutthole saying his name, talking in his cheery way, and laying down a ton of “Aw, gee” and “Ooo-wee” remarks. Instead of the characters rushing off on the adventure that Summer so desperately wants, Mr. Poopybutthole seems to talk about the urgency and dire need of her help for page after page. Once they’ve finally gone on the adventure things start to get interesting, but that’s where the issue ends.
Graley’s art is good for the most part, but there are a few panels where Summer’s proportions are way off making her look way younger than she is and for that matter Rick has a big head/small body problem too. Using your own style is fine, but later on Summer has proportions more akin to the show again which throws things off.
Is It Good?
A great backup and a solid premise to the story make this a must read for die hard Rick and Morty fans. It’s also rather light on humor resorting to Mr. Poopybutthole’s name for laughs more than anything. Unfortunately the main story is so slow to start most folks could probably wait for issue #2.
Rick and Morty: Lil' Poopy Superstar #1 Review
The backup story brings back the Rick and Morty we all miss!Galey does a good job with fun effects and her style suits this seriesThe cliffhanger will make you come back
Galey resorts to Mr. Poopybutthole's name for all the humor...The proportions of Rick and sometimes Summer are very offNot a lot happens in this issue and it takes forever to get going
4.5Meh
Reader Rating 3 Votes
8.5
Quoted in Sidelights: “I come from an arty family, so I think getting the drawing bug was unavoidable!” she told Stephanie Cooke in an online interview at Rogues Portal. “I grew up with Beano Comics, but I didn’t really get back into the wonderful world of comics until someone showed me a copy of Scott Pilgrim when I was seventeen, and then my art became more comics-focused.” She continued: “In regards to developing style, I feel like mine has been hugely influenced by cartoons. When trying to find my footing, I’d focus on what I like from a range of other cartoons and comics I adored, and then mash them together. I’d just play around and whatever felt good stuck!”
An Interview with Kim Reaper’s Sarah Graley
January 8, 2018 Stephanie Cooke 0 Comment
Sarah Graley is an inspiring creator who’s paved the way for herself in comics. Her first published work was a collection of her webcomic, Our Super Adventure which was funded via Kickstarter and from there, she’s gone on to work on incredible other comics projects such as Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar and her creator-owned series from Oni Press, Kim Reaper.
We had a chance to ask Sarah some questions about her art and her works and to discuss important topics like diversity, pizza and Digimon. Check out our chat below:
You have a very distinct style to your work. How do you feel you developed it over the years? And what started you drawing in the first place?
Thanks – I come from an arty family, so I think getting the drawing bug was unavoidable! I grew up with Beano comics, but I didn’t really get back into the wonderful world of comics until someone showed me a copy of Scott Pilgrim when I was seventeen, and then my art became more comics-focused. (Scott Pilgrim and Kim Reaper both being published by Oni Press is quite a nice thing!!)
In regards to developing style, I feel like mine has been hugely influenced by cartoons. When trying to find my footing, I’d focus on what I like from a range of other cartoons and comics I adored, and then mash them together. I’d just play around and whatever felt good stuck!
What kind of things do you do to keep growing as an artist and creator (ie. take classes, read books like Stephen King’s “On Writing” etc.), if any?
I try to take a critical look at my work and figure out what’s working, and what might not be. This is a lot easier to do after six months or so, rather than in the moment! I also work alongside my partner, who gives me critique. It’s good to have another set of eyes on your work with someone who you trust to give you constructive and honest feedback. I also learn so much from my editor’s notes!
I feel like the next comic is always gonna be the best (hopefully!), so it’s good to reflect on finished work before starting the next project, so you can start that project strong.
I read that you used to dream about becoming a grim reaper and that’s where the inspiration for Kim Reaper came from (which I love as an origin story for the series). What other strange hobbies or notions were you prone to?
I thought that was a fun note, but it sort of feels very dorky now? But like, I was a pretty dorky kid so I guess that makes sense!! I don’t think I did anything else strange as a kid. I really wanted to be goth, and I really was not, so I guess me attempting that seemed strange to everybody else. I had long hair that was dyed black as a pre-teen, and got called ‘the thing from the Ring’ at school, which sucked, because I was actually terrified of that movie.
…
I was a pretty cool teen, though.
As a follow-up to the previous question, do you have any funny stories that stemmed from them that you’d like to share?
I was so scared of The Ring that I had to turn my tiny TV to face the wall every night before bed. I do not miss being twelve though!
Which character(s) from any series that you’ve worked on do you feel the biggest connection to?
Becka. But when I’m writing her I’m thinking, “What would I do if I was in this situation, but was also braver and louder and more honest?”
For something like Kim Reaper, did you contemplate handing off either the writing or art to another person to focus on one element or was it something you always wanted to tackle on your own?
I really love doing both! I was really excited about this comic, so splitting up the writing and art wasn’t something I had thought about. If I did split up the two though, I think I’d have to stick with writing. They’re my babies! And I’ve got too many goofy adventures in mind for them.
You’re asked a lot about the diversity portrayed within your comics, but what do you feel you want to see more in other people’s comics?
If comics featuring queer characters were more mainstream, that’d be pretty nice. I have a huge stack of unread comics I need to dive into, so I’m worried I’m not too up to date on the current comic scene! And I operate in a very good comics bubble, but I still get excited when it turns out a character is bisexual in comics and TV, because that still feels kinda rare. I’d like that to be less rare!
As a follow up, who are some other creators that you feel are helping make big changes in comics (the changes you want to be seeing everyone make)?
Some very excellent comic folks off the top of my head that I think everybody should check out are: Mildred Louis (artofmlouis.com), Julia Kaye (upandoutcomic.tumblr.com), Shan Murphy (shanmurphy.com), Pseudonym Jones (pseudonymjones.com), and Molly Ostertag (mollyostertag.com)!
Each book you’ve worked on (whether they’re creator owned or licensed) likely has a bunch of pros and cons. Can you discuss some of the rewards and challenges you’ve experienced on your various projects?
Working on each book is such a learning experience, but it’s exciting to see the improvements/those moments when you figure out how to do something better, which comes from drawing so much!
Other nice things include seeing your work collected together as a book (I am so incredibly excited to see the Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings trade paperback!!) or meeting readers at shows. I swear the nicest and best people read my comics, they’re all so sweet!!
Do you have a favourite page or panel that you’ve EVER drawn so far? If yes, what makes it special to you?
Oh my gosh, this is a very good question but my favourite panel changes constantly!! I am so fickle, my fave changes daily, especially as I’m currently working on my graphic novel for Graphix/Scholastic UK. (I’ve been drawing a whole bunch of panels lately!!).
If the panel is goofy/funny/over the top, it’s probably been in my ‘favourite panel slot’.
A panel that has totally held the title for a long time though is the panel where Becka is standing on top of a bunch of zombies. I hope that’s not a Kim Reaper spoiler!! (If you haven’t read Kim Reaper yet, y’all don’t know what she’s doing up there so I think we’re good).
What has the comics fandom been like for you as someone who’s dabbled in a property as incredibly popular as Rick and Morty?
It’s been super interesting! It’s a show that I’ve loved so much from the start, so to be involved in any way with it has been wild and amazing. When Lil’ Poopy Superstar was coming out as a monthly in the UK, Rick and Morty wasn’t that well known over here, but everybody knows about it now!
Sometimes people see my Rick and Morty book and think I created the show though, and it’s like, nononono!! I created some dimension’s Mr.Poopybutthole’s backstory, but these are not MY children, I just got to look after them for a bit!
And finally… what would be on your dream pizza?
Oh man, um. I had a pizza with egg on it like, four or five years ago when I was visiting London and I still think about it a lot. I guess a more exciting and dreamier pizza would be one with a remastered version of Digimon World 1 as the topping, with better graphics and faster screen loading times. Maybe the sauce would also have a potion that would make my partner genuinely more enthusiastic about Digimon World, the greatest and best videogame all time? I’d like that pizza, please.
That concludes our chat with the delightful Sarah Graley. You can find out more about her over on her web site or you can follow her over on Twitter.
Stephanie Cooke
Stephanie is a Toronto based writer and editor. She's a comic book fan, avid gamer, movie watcher, lover of music, and sarcasm. She is a purveyor of too many projects and has done work for Talking Comics, JoBlo.com, Agents of Geek, Word of the Nerd, C&G Magazine, Dork Shelf, and more.Her writing credits include "Home Sweet Huck" (Mark Millar's Millarworld Annual 2017), "Lungarella (Secret Loves of Geek Girls, 2016), "Behind Enemy Linens" (BLOCKED Anthology, 2017), "Home and Country" (Toronto Comics Anthology, 2017) and more to come. You can read more about her shenanigans over on her personal web site.
Kim Reaper #2 Review
Writer: Sarah Graley / Artist: Sarah Graley / Oni Press
The second issue of Kim Reaper #2 picks up the ball and keeps it rolling and I L-O-V-E it! If I had any doubts (Ok, I was like 87% sold on “YEAH, I’LL READ THE NEXT ISSUE. K. THANKS. BYE.”), Issue #2 confirms why I would have to read more. Becka and Kim are still at the location of Kim’s foiled reaping and…sweet Becka pulls a pep talk that makes me want to call her Coach. And then, of course, there is this fiasco, this disaster waiting to happen: [SNORT LAUGH]
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Narrative wise, we learn more about Kim and the powers extended to her via her part time Grim Reapin’: her awesome scythe grants her the ability to go almost anywhere via portals she can create. This means she can impress a wide eyed cutie AND wield more experience with possibly dealing with all the weird junk that just comes with the job.
kim reaper 2
Truly, this comic is ALL OVER THE PLACE but that isn’t bad in my book: it’s the exact opposite. I’m loving how unpredictable and hilarious the comic stays and also how it each issue really feels like a complete episode of a show that totally has replay value. As I’ve said in my last review: Kim Reaper is just a whole lot of fun.
It still is and Graley confidently walks the line of crafting a story this issue around that resolves some conflict, brings in some stellar panels of cuteness [blushing and all], lots of laughs, the supernatural busyness and more conflict that sets up our next issue perfectly.
We’ve also been given a better feel of who both Kim and Becka are in more depth, respectfully. Let’s be honest: many of us would let success go to our head and cloud our judgement leading us to make some questionable calls in the field. Not too many people can look a potential bae right in the face after an awesome date and tell them that they have some issues to work on.
I soooooooooo can’t wait for issue number three. This is a new fave and a new addition for my for my pull list. Kim Reaper is just too good to stay away from. You get your laughs, your budding queer romance, weirdness and bad puns. Do yourself a solid and pick it if you haven’t already.
8.5 Ships-Cause-This-Is-Now-My-Ship-I-Don’t-Care-If-It-Is-Haunted Out Of 10
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Carrie McClain
PYT buried under pile of Josei manga. Dancing Baby Groot Fan Club President. Communications Officer in Starfleet. Golden Saucer Frequenter. Enamel Pin Collector. Comics Auntie. Wakandan Abroad.
Quoted in Sidelights: “Kim and Becka have some hardships they have to face and some meanies they’ve gotta battle! But they talk things out and that’s what makes them such a strong pair.”
Sarah Graley On the Cuteness That Is Kim Reaper
By Insha Fitzpatrick 03.05.2018 :: 2:00PM EDT benwyyatt
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If you haven’t fallen in love yet, prepare to fall in love with the cuteness that is Kim Reaper. Created by powerhouse cutie Sarah Graley, Kim Reaper is a comic that will leave you with your heart bursting from the seams. The first volume carries relatable queer characters, witty humor and a downright infectious story that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.
Geek had the chance to talk with Sarah between her busy schedule to discuss what inspired Kim Reaper, what she’d do if she took a job in the underworld and a spooky/fun place her and her partner Stef enjoy.
Kim Reaper is one of the dream comics I wish I read as a teenager, but I’m so happy many get to read now, especially as queer comics expand. Can you tell us some of your inspirations for creating these queer cuties with booties? What comics did you love growing up that had queer characters if any?
The idea for Kim comes from a goofy dream I used to have about being a grim reaper, and Becka is the manifestation of all things good and great that I love! I read a handful of comics as a kid, but mainly watched a lot of cartoons growing up, which were really lacking in queer characters! Booo!
Becka and Kim are two opposite cuties that are ultimately perfect for each other. While developing the comic were there any couples you looked up to for inspiration for them? Are these cuties meant to be forever?
I hope they’re forever! I think communication is really important in a relationship, and even though it’s totally my fault as the writer, Kim and Becka have some hardships they have to face and some meanies they’ve gotta battle! But they talk things out and that’s what makes them such a strong pair.
via Oni Press
Your art is truly one of a kind. It’s so fun and energetic, and every expression is hilarious. What inspires your art? Did you look up to any particular artists, writers, etc.? How long did it take you to develop your own personal style?
Thank you! My personal style just came from playing with aspects of other styles I liked at the start, and then it just started evolving as I’ve gone along. I really love Natasha Allegri’s work (Bee and Puppycat, Fionna and Cake), her expressions are flawless and her writing is so captivating and fun.
The first comic I ever picked up of yours was Pizza Witch. I was absolutely blown away by the writing. It’s unlike anything in comics, and your quirky and comedic voice carries over to all your comics. How do you come up with the unique dialogue? Do you write what you know and how you talk? Or span from different sources?
Aw shucks! A lot of my writing comes from real life experiences — I like to slip in little bits and pieces of goofy things that have happened to me or people I’m close to into stories I’m writing. I guess I also talk how my characters talk!
Of all your characters, which character(s) do you adore drawing and writing for the most? Is there one that you relate to more than others?
That’s like asking me who my favorite child is!!! …And the answer to both is Becka, hahaha.
via Oni Press
Kim Reaper has the awesome pleasure of being apart of the True Colors campaign! How did you feel about Kim Reaper being part of the remarkable cause? Those Valentine’s are absolutely adorable!
I’m so happy to be able to do something for this great cause! It was the idea of my wonderful editor, Ari Yarwood. She is a total delight to work with and I’m so happy we get to make these comics together and contribute to this campaign, too.
Can you give us a peek into Kim Reaper’s future? (*strong kitty eyes*)
I don’t want to give anything away, but maybe she gets into a spot of spooky bother. Maybe!! Or maybe she goes on holiday? She might pet a cool dog. Possibly someone puts cookies in her bed? Anything could happen when you’re working part-time for Death.
Do you and Stef have your own favorite spooky/fun favorite place to take each other?
The SOFA! Nah, um. We’ve been traveling a lot lately for comic shows, so we’ve been exploring lots of new places which has been really fun. We recently hung out in Washington DC, and we’ll be going to Seattle, Chicago, and Canada soon. I’m really looking forward to Canada! I want that poutine. I guess the spookiest place we ever go is the cinema, when I can convince Stef to watch a horror movie with me. I’m too chicken to watch them on my own.
If you had to take a job in the underworld? What would it be? Would you be a grim reaper? Or something different?
I’d be hell’s resident comic-maker, of course!
via Oni Press
Thank you so much for chatting with Geek! Can you tell us what’s next for you? Are there any projects, con appearance, etc. we can look forward to? Also, can you let our readers know where they can find you? (Via social media, website, etc.) :D
I’m guesting at Emerald City Comic Con this March and C2E2 in April, everybody please come visit me! I’m also currently working on my graphic novel ‘Glitch’ for Scholastic/Graphix, and the second arc of ‘Kim Reaper’ which is coming out later this year! You can find out more about me at sarahgraley.com, which lists all my upcoming comic appearances/projects/your Sarah Graley related news. Thank you for the super fun questions!
Kim Reaper Vol.1: Grim Beginnings is now available on Comixology and your local comic shop.
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Quoted in Sidelights: “If you need a boost of cuteness in your reading life, I can’t really recommend Kim Reaper highly enough.”
Danika reviews Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings by Sarah Graley
Posted on March 13, 2018 by danikaellis — Leave a reply
Part-time Grim Reaper. Full-time cutie.
WELL. If this isn’t one of the cutest things I’ve ever read. Becka is an art school student who is crushing hard on Kim, a gothic girl in her class. Little does she know, Kim is a part-time Grim Reaper, and instead of heading off to the pub after class with a cute girl, Becka ends up being pulled into some dangerous undead shenanigans.
This is so much fun to read. The plot is silly (they fight a bodybuilder and his army of cats!) and the art is super cute. I also found the interaction between Becka and Kim really interesting. At first, Becka is pursuing Kim, fully convinced that she, too, is Goth As Hell and that they would be perfect together. Kim at first pushes her away, but they are stuck together on this adventure, and she soon warms up. In the meantime, as Becka gets to know Kim, she is frustrated by her recklessness–the only reason she even ended up here is because Kim opened a portal in the middle of the hallway!
Kim has to grapple with the fact that her attempts to impress Becka have just put them both in danger, and that not everyone finds running from death (figuratively and literally) a fun way to spend the afternoon. Becka walks away when she feels that their relationship isn’t a healthy one for her, and Kim has to figure out whether she wants to keep going on this path. That’s mostly in the background, though, and it never gets too dramatic. It just adds a layer to this mostly fluffy and fun read!
Also, I have to mention: Becka is the most adorable main character I’ve ever seen. The hair buns! Her cute little tummy!! Honestly, I couldn’t believe how much I appreciated that there is an outline of Becka’s tummy. And I actually learned that “visible belly outline” (or VBO) is a thing! That there’s a term for! So this book made me happy not only because a) the illustrations are adorable, b) the plot is silly and fun, c) Becka and Kim are cuties together, but also d) seeing Becka–a character whose silhouette does not look entirely dissimilar to my own–depicted as cute, confident, and desirable makes me feel happier in my own clothes.
If you need a boost of cuteness in your reading life, I can’t really recommend Kim Reaper highly enough. This was one of my few 5 star ratings this year!
Posted in Lesbrary Reviews | Tagged comics, cotton candy, cute, danika, fluffy, graphic novel, graphic novels, happy, Sarah Graley, sweet | Leave a reply
Pick Of The Week: “Kim Reaper” #1
By Alice W. Castle | April 6th, 2017
Posted in Pick of the Week, Reviews | 0 Comments
Ever wondered what would happen if a zany teen romance and The Craft got put in a blender? “Kim Reaper” is what happens. A new comic by Sarah Graley and Crank!, “Kim Reaper” is the story of Becka and her crush on Kim. The only problem? Kim is a part time Grim Reaper!
Read on below to find out why you should be reading this delightful comic in our full spoiler free review!
Cover by Sarah Graley
Written, Illustrated & Coloured by Sarah Graley
Lettered by Crank!
Like most university students, Kim works a part-time job to make ends meet. UNLIKE most university students, Kim’s job is pretty dang cool: she’s a grim reaper, tasked with guiding souls into the afterlife. Like most university students, Becka has a super intense unrequited crush. UNLIKE most university students, Becka’s crush is on a beautiful gothic angel that frequents the underworld. Of course, she doesn’t know that. Unaware of the ghoulish drama she’s about to step into, Becka finally gathers up the courage to ask Kim on a date! But when she falls into a ghostly portal and interrupts Kim at her job, she sets off a chain of events that will pit the two of them against angry cat-dads, vengeful zombies, and perhaps even the underworld itself. But if they work together, they just might make it… and maybe even get a kiss in the bargain.
The first thing you need to know about “Kim Reaper” #1 is that it is a goddamned delight. This is a comic that wants nothing more than for you to have a good time while reading it, reminding you of the pleasure of simple stories like wanting to score a date with your crush who just some happens to be a part time Grim Reaper. It’s refreshing to see a comic take such a small, intimate approach to storytelling that doesn’t revolve around some hard-drinking asshole with pent up demons surrounded by death. Okay, so it is technically all about death, but in a very comedic sense. With a market flooded with mature, grim and gritty stories that want to be the next big Image hit, “Kim Reaper” stands out by simply wanting to have a good time.
That being said, it’s impressive to see the craft that went into “Kim Reaper.” Sarah Graley is credited as the writer, illustrator and colourist while Crank! is credited as the letterer. To see a comic that is the distilled form of, for all intents and purposes, one person’s creative vision is such a breath of fresh air, especially when it comes in the form of a zany, wickedly fun comic. While I wouldn’t say that “Kim Reaper” is necessarily an all ages comic (at least, not for small children), it does capture that same sense of cartoonishness that leads adults to love things like Steven Universe and Adventure Time. The characters, in both the writing and the artwork, are exaggerated to the point of being cartoons with reactions so over the top that their proportions and expressions deform for effect.
What this does mean, though, is that “Kim Reaper” #1 has a pretty breakneck pace. From the first page, Graley hits the ground running and really doesn’t let up until the very last page. The jokes are non-stop and the over-the-top reactions get grander and grander. For those not expecting something so cartoon-y it might be a bit much, but if you go into “Kim Reaper” #1 with the same mindset you would when you sit down to binge Steven Universe then you’ll likely love it.
Graley’s ideas ramp up, page by page, getting zanier and zanier and one of the real joys of “Kim Reaper” is how she crafts character reactions through the dialogue and through facial expressions. Perhaps the funniest beat in the comic, to me, comes in the form of two panels after Becka sees Kim’s deathly portal for the first time. In the first panel, she stares wide eyed with a very neutral expression before yelling for everyone to come see the weird portal in the second panel. It’s a small beat, but it shows a relatable character underneath all the goofs and that’s what makes “Kim Reaper” work just so darn well.
Continued below
This isn’t the kind of story that overloads itself trying to be funny. There’s a genuine story built on relatable characters and motivations underneath all the goofs that Graley never loses sight of. It’s the driving thrust behind all the goofs as Becka simply wants to ask Kim out on a date and gets caught up in her other life as a Grim Reaper. It’s also incredibly refreshing to have a comic about a burgeoning queer relationship that doesn’t draw attention to itself. This isn’t a PR stunt to earn anyone any brownie points for having character diversity. This is a comic where one character has a crush on another who moonlights as Grim Leaper and they’re both women. This level on nonchalance about queer stories shouldn’t feel so monumentally refreshing, but it is because it feels so genuinely told by Graley.
It’s not just that Graley’s writing is fantastic either as her artwork is just as great. Graley showcases herself as an all around talent with “Kim Reaper” with writing, lineart and colours that all compliment one another to tell a wonderful story. With an art style that feels simple and cartoon-y, Graley compliments her writing with exaggerated character expressions and body language that emphasise the humour. There’s a meticulous amount of craft to “Kim Reaper” which is impressive for such an unassuming comic. Everything about it feels so effortless, so off the cuff and hilarious that to think it was the work of largely a single person is infinitely impressive.
“Kim Reaper” #1 is a fantastic debut that marries off-the-wall zaniness and comedy with a genuine, burgeoning love story in a mix that belies Sarah Graley’s talents as a cartoonist. It’s a comic that feels effortless in it’s storytelling so much that it might slip under some peoples’ radars, but this is a must read. When we talk about normalising queer relationships in comic book storytelling, “Kim Reaper” is exactly the kind of comic we mean. This is an important comic not just because of that, but because it will hopefully showcase the talents of Sarah Graley to even more people.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – A genuinely funny debut issue from an immensely talented creator. Do not miss this issue.
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//TAGS | Pick of the Week
Alice W. Castle
Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears her, Alice W. Castle is a trans femme writing about comics. All things considered, it’s going surprisingly well. Ask her about the unproduced Superman films of 1990 - 2006. She can be found on various corners of the internet, but most frequently on Twitter: @alicewcastle
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