Flutter, Volume 1: Hell Can Wait

The cover of Flutter, Volume 1

Adolescence is a rich metaphor for fantastic scenarios. In superhero comics, Spider-Man is perhaps the most iconic example but there are plenty of genres beyond that one. Unfortunately, adults writing stories for and about teenagers can often give characters unrealistic precociousness or fill their work with shameless pandering to or manipulation of the angst and sensibilities of their intended audience. This literature is often limited in scope as well, decried by many adults as unreadable. Flutter by Jennie Wood and Jeff McComsey is the rare piece of literature that bridges this gap. It is a story about a shapeshifting teenager that I would recommend to the most ardent Virginia Woolf fan.

Mainly that’s because the plot synopsis in the preceding sentence is an incredible disservice to the work as a whole. Lily is fifteen and adjusting to life in a new city. She meets Saffron, who she thinks is the girl of her dreams, and tries to win her heart by transforming into the boy of Saffron’s dreams. The main character may be a young woman who changes her appearance at will, but Flutter is about a great deal more than that. It is a narrative of self-discovery, loss, first love, the painfulness of growing up, friendship, and different generations learning to trust each other. The title could refer to the fluttering of one’s heart due to budding romance but also evokes the wings of a butterfly, as potent a metaphor for transformation as a teenager.

That the metaphor of transformation is literalized in Lily‘s struggle to adapt to high school and receive the love of a classmate makes the story no less potent. There is real pain in the friendships and relationships depicted here, with stakes that outstrip most of the fare that treads similar territory. A scene in which Lily discusses sex with her father is a particular highlight.

The Advocate named Flutter one of the best LGBT graphic novels of 2013. Bleeding Cool called it one of the fifteen best indie comics of 2014. Thankfully, more of this story is coming. The Kickstarter campaign for Flutter, Volume 2: Don’t Let Me Die Nervous just got funded, exceeding its goal by a few thousand dollars. It is well deserved and much anticipated. Flutter is available from the publisher’s website at 215ink.com and Amazon.com. A digital copy can be purchased from Comixology.com.