Forest Hills Bootleg Society

(Paperback)

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Description

Set in 2005, this gorgeously illustrated, funny, and honest graphic novel follows four teens who stumble into an illicit anime DVD-burning business that shakes up their conservative small townand their friendship.

When Brooke, Kelly, Maggie, and Melissa buy a bootleg anime DVD at a gas station, they get much more than they bargained for with Super Love XL, a risqu move featuringamong other thingsa giant mecha who shoots lasers out of her chest. The four girls are horrified (and maybe a little fascinated). Its so unlike anything theyve seen, would probably shock everyone else in their town, and definitely would take over their extremely conservative Christian school. Thats when they have the idea to sell copies to local boysfor twenty dollars a pop.

At first, everything goes perfectly, with the friends raking in cashpretty soon theyll even have enough money to buy the matching jackets theyve always dreamed of! But as the market for mildly titillating anime DVDs grows, the girls realize theyll need new material. On top of figuring out how to replicate their first success, theres growing tension within the group. Brooke and Kellys romance is on its last legs, and hurt feelings are guaranteed when Melissa starts falling for one of them.

Will the four girls shared history be strong enough to see them through this upheaval Or will they learn that some things can only end in heartbreak

Reviews

* "Paired with Baker and Gouxs snappy dialogue and expressive, visually varied characters, the groups interpersonal challengesincluding Brooke, Kelly, and Melissas love triangle, and Maggies struggles navigating lonelinessare deeply relatable and fully realized. While the creators delicately navigate heavy topics such as homophobia, mental health, and racism, this sincere graphic novel, set in 2005, is not without humor and hope." * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *
"Skillful, detailed art reminiscent of the girls beloved genre brings the cast to life through expressive body language as well as paneling that changes in scale and perspective. . . . This is a witty and absorbing examination of a communitys painful experiences with loneliness, queer romance, and strangely bewitching anime.An evocative, tender, character-driven coming-of-age story." -- Kirkus Reviews
While coming-of-age stories set in boarding schools are nothing new, this graphic novel grapples with the topics of identity, attraction, faith, and family with a modern sensibility. The black-and-white artwork, washed in shades of green, is quiet, capturing the moods of the girls, their worry, heartbreak, and moments of triumph in only a few lines. A fine example of a familiar trope. -- Booklist * 10/15/2022 *

Author Bio

Dave Baker (he/him) is an Eisner Awardnominated writer and illustrator. His works includeF*ck Off Squad(Silver Sprocket),Star Trek Voyager: Sevens Reckoning(IDW),Night Hunters(Floating World), andEveryone Is Tulip(Dark Horse), which was named on numerous Ten Best Comics of 2021 Lists. Find more of his work at HeyDaveBaker.com or @xDaveBakerx.

Nicole Goux(she/her) is an Eisner nominated illustrator and cartoonist from Los Angeles. Shes the artist of DCsShadow of the Batgirland cocreator of Everyone Is Tulip at Dark Horse Comics andF*ck Off Squadat Silver Sprocket. She has been published by DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, and Boom! Studios. Her work often explores the themes of coming of age, interpersonal drama, and learning how to be a human. Visit her at NicoleGoux.com, on Twitter @NicoleGoux, or on Instagram @NGoux.