Aminder Dhaliwal

An amusing but thought-provoking collection of one- or two-page Instagram cartoons features an ensemble cast of one-eyed Cyclopes dealing with identity issues, relationships, microaggressions, discrimination, and bigotry in a world in which they are a minority to the two-eyed people who treated them as outright monsters for much of their shared history. There's no big plot uniting the book, but all of the characters have their own little arcs that kept me engaged.

The world-building seems show more incomplete even though it's just supposed to be our world but with Cyclopes. I thought it was a little odd that the Cyclopes are portrayed as multi-colored on the few color pages, but skin color seems to play no part in the prejudice against them or within their own culture. And while a few of the humans are portrayed as BIPOC, no time is spent on how they specifically relate to Cyclopes, whether they are allies in the struggle against discrimination or not. Does traditional racism not exist because of the presence of Cyclopes? What were the historical implications as to slavery, civil and world wars, and genocides? Also, a large portion of the cast are models, artists, or writers, leaving me to wonder how the blue-collar folks are getting by.

If you enjoy this, be sure to check out the author's similarly structured previous book, Woman World. show less

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss.)

CYCLOPEDIA EXOTICA begins as an encyclopedia entry on Cyclops: a totally real subspecies of "archaic humans" that originated in Italy and settled in western Eurasia, only to emerge from an isolated existence in caves and volcanoes ~120 years ago. Their efforts to integrate into "Two-Eyed" societies were often thwarted; Cyclopses were relegated to sheep herding, their traditional vocation, or recruited into circuses. All show more this changed with a nudie magazine called Playclops, which in 1978 featured a model named Etna on its cover.

At which point Etna comes to life and invites the reader to learn about Cyclops through their own stories. The comic strips in CYCLOPEDIA EXOTICA revolve around a large cast of Cyclops characters, loosely connected Six-Degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon style. There's Pari and Tim, an interspecies couple about to welcome their first child into the world; Latea, an aspiring model and actress; Pol, a romantic whose optimism is slowly but surely being drained by the dating scene; Bron, one of the first Cyclops to undergo experimental two-eye surgery, and who once again lives with one functioning eye; Arj, a vibrating ball of anxiety still haunted by his childhood bully; Grae and Jian, twin sisters in an avant garde artistic partnership; and, of course, former cover model Etna, now an activist, counterbalanced by Vy, who for a time was the face of the "lift and separator" bra, and now teaches media literacy to impressionable young Cyclopses.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/51118082551/

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The characters' life experiences and relationships with one another hint at some of the many topics Dhaliwal explores: fetishization, representation (including #ownvoices), unrealistic (and speciesist) beauty standards, police bias, hate crimes, capitalism, scientific speciesism, microaggressions, maternal mortality, etc.

Among my favorite panels are parents-to-be Pari and Tim declaring that they don't care whether their baby has one eyes or two, as long as they're healthy - and a boy (!);

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/51117995133/

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and Arj, confronting his childhood bully Eric Wood.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/51117995088/

CYCLOPEDIA EXOTICA is an insightful, entertaining read, though it gave me all kinds of mixed feelings. Dhaliwal uses a mythical creature to interrogate racism, xenophobia, and misogyny - and, while I think it mostly works, the idea itself makes me uncomfortable: what does it say about the collective we, if we're better able to relate to or sympathize with a fictional creature than, say, Black people or immigrants? I guess you could argue that fantastical setting and comedic setup might lower the audience's guard, making them more susceptible to your message. And yeah, this is probably true, to an extent. But this makes me wonder how many readers will actually connect the dots, especially as Dhaliwal tends to end each strip with a lighthearted joke rather than doubling down on her point.

Either way, I enjoyed CYCLOPEDIA EXOTICA (even more so on the second reading), and can't wait to dive into her freshman book, WOMAN WORLD. show less

When I found out that the creator of Woman World (which I've recommended to almost everyone I know) had another book out I immediately ordered it without even bothering to check the synopsis. [A/N: I'm not a regular follower of her web comics on Instagram but I understand that this book is a combination of those as well as some additional pages on the same theme.]

In essence, this book is a satirical look at 'otherness' through the lens (haha the pun ain't lost on me) of several Cyclopes who show more are just trying to live their lives like the rest of the Two-Eyes on the planet. We follow Arj who is a super klutz, Bron who had corrective eye surgery that went badly wrong, Pol who continues to seek his 'happily ever after', and a whole host of other delightfully fleshed out characters. It has just enough humor to not make it depressing or preachy while also alighting on topics that are serious and complex such as bullying, body dysmorphia, sexual fetishization of the 'exotic', and intermarriage (just to name a few). These weighty topics are addressed beautifully by Dhaliwal. This is an author/illustrator to keep your eye(s) on because she's doing fantastic storytelling and I have a feeling she's only going to get better from here. I think you can already guess how I feel about this book but just in case you're on tenterhooks I really liked it. *mega thumbs up* show less

A witch’s magic is relied on by her town; the more powerful and stronger, the better the town prospers. But what happens when a witch can’t keep up? She’s burnt - her magic and memories erased. When a witch’s burn ceremony is interrupted by rain in Chamomile Valley, a witch is left crumbled at the bottom of the stake. It’s up to a witch doctor and her toad friend to save the signed witch and nurse her back to health.

I don’t remember how I found out about this title. I think from show more one of the many publisher previews I go to, but I’m always down for witchy stuff, so I was all about it to start. I’m so glad I asked for it, because I absolutely fell in love with it from the first page.

I know this is categorized as being a graphic novel, but I almost want to say it’s like a mixed media type of book - loads more text than just dialog like your usual graphic novels! The art was beautiful, even in the grayscale that it was in. And, I say grayscale, because I would usually describe manga as being black and white, but there is just way more to this than you see in manga panels.

Lovely book about grief, self-love, healing, friendship, and sacrifice. You can bet I will be putting this on many suggestion and recommendation lists to come. This is also one I will be purchasing my own copy of when I have the chance! show less