Scan barcode
A review by crookedtreehouse
Unnatural Volume 1: Awakening by Mirka Andolfo
4.0
I first encountered Unnatural when it was being released as single issues. We had some Lonely Man customers who bought things like Vampirella, Cavewoman, Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose, and Zombie Tramp. All of them subscribed to Unnatural, which led me to think I wouldn't like it. Over the next few months, I heard people who were reading it describe it as a twist of tropes. It was designed to look porny but it was actually very feminist and anti-porn. I thought that was great, and recommended it to several people but I still didn't read it.
A couple of years later, I switched stores that I worked at, and one of my coworkers with great taste recommended Andolfo's [b:Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol 1|55078915|Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol 1|Mirka Andolfo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598191037l/55078915._SY75_.jpg|85765906]. I hated it. I thought the art was great, but it reminded me of terrible gag manga, and had a few plot details (including one where two guys accidentally hook up and their queerness is served up as revenge porn) that just turned me off. I decided that as much as I enjoyed Andolfo's art, her comics weren't for me.
I was wrong.
Unnatural is the story of a young woman who lives in a dystopia where, if you aren't in a commited heteronormative relationship with someone of your own race (in this universe, the races are animal archetypes: pigs, mice, zebras, wolves, etc.), then the government steps in and finds you a match. Queerness or relationships outside of your race are against the law, and punishable by death if you're caught violating the law twice.
There are some wonderful character beats in the story, the colors are simultaneously muted and vibrant, and the mix of conspiracy plots and someone struggling against the government even though they are not queer, nor do they have a love-interest outside their race, is really well-developed.
I'm excited to see where this story goes.
I would recommend it to creepos who may discover the story is beyond Vampirella-fare, people looking for pro-feminist/pro-queer stories disguised as erotica (it's really not erotic), and the few dudes who've written reviews that basically state "I'm not a furry, BUT" and then lament there isn't more animal nudity.
A couple of years later, I switched stores that I worked at, and one of my coworkers with great taste recommended Andolfo's [b:Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol 1|55078915|Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol 1|Mirka Andolfo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598191037l/55078915._SY75_.jpg|85765906]. I hated it. I thought the art was great, but it reminded me of terrible gag manga, and had a few plot details (including one where two guys accidentally hook up and their queerness is served up as revenge porn) that just turned me off. I decided that as much as I enjoyed Andolfo's art, her comics weren't for me.
I was wrong.
Unnatural is the story of a young woman who lives in a dystopia where, if you aren't in a commited heteronormative relationship with someone of your own race (in this universe, the races are animal archetypes: pigs, mice, zebras, wolves, etc.), then the government steps in and finds you a match. Queerness or relationships outside of your race are against the law, and punishable by death if you're caught violating the law twice.
There are some wonderful character beats in the story, the colors are simultaneously muted and vibrant, and the mix of conspiracy plots and someone struggling against the government even though they are not queer, nor do they have a love-interest outside their race, is really well-developed.
I'm excited to see where this story goes.
I would recommend it to creepos who may discover the story is beyond Vampirella-fare, people looking for pro-feminist/pro-queer stories disguised as erotica (it's really not erotic), and the few dudes who've written reviews that basically state "I'm not a furry, BUT" and then lament there isn't more animal nudity.