Blackward

August 14, 2023
In Lindell’s charmingly sincere graphic novel debut, a close-knit quartet of young Black queer friends who call themselves “the Section” struggle to expand their clique. The opening finds each of the four—Lika, Amor, Tony, and Lala—waking in their individual homes, fortifying themselves as they look in the mirror, with a long gaze or pep talks (Lika: “Today’s a good day”; Amor: “Yeah, I’m cute!”). The narrative charts their relentless attempts to grow their crew of “misunderstood, alternative” folks. They first attempt to start a social club at their local community center but are undone by a hostile straight Black activist and his white “ally.” An afternoon they spend trying to network by handing out flyers about the Section at a book fair similarly falls flat. Finally, a sympathetic bookstore owner suggests that the Section launch their own fair. Thus, the zine fest Blackward (a portmanteau of “Black and awkward”) is born. Lindell’s loose, expressionistic drawings burst with energy, humor, and bright colors. His fast-talking, fun-loving protagonists make for good company, and their guileless yearning for connection and community is appealing and poignant. This winning mix of tough and tender will enchant misfits of all stripes.

Starred review from July 15, 2023
Four friends refuse to give up on creating a space of joy and celebration for Black, queer weirdness in Lindell's latest graphic novel. Lika, Amor, Tony, and LaLa are four friends in search of community. Not as easy as it sounds when you're somehow always too Black, too queer, too gender-DGAF, or just too weird. That's why Lika started The Section for all Black folks (emphasis on the "all"), but mouthy trolls, micro- and macroaggressions at every turn, and now a ban from their community center have the quartet at a serious low. But a show of support, of meaningful connection in the midst of struggle, is the core of community, and when The Section's latest genius idea--Blackward: The Black Zine Fest--is threatened with a queerphobic protest, the Blackward ("Black + awkward") community truly shows up and shows out. Vibrant is the word, and it hardly does this lively, animated, panel-breaking art justice. The realities of anxiety, discrimination, dating, haters, friendship, and building a collective of belonging are awash in exuberant Technicolor with the whimsy dialed up to 11. For many readers, this is the Blackest, queerest, and sweetest thing they'll see since looking in the mirror. A paean to the radical joy of being every part of yourself. (Graphic fiction. 14-adult)

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Starred review from September 15, 2023
Lika, Amor, Lala, and Tony are a quartet of "Black and Queer"--as emblazoned on Lika's shirt--besties who call themselves "The Section." They've founded an inclusive club inviting others to join their crew, but they don't even get past introductions once a naysayer objects to respectful pronoun usage and a pale ally proves to be anything but. A frustrated fracas gets the foursome banned from the community center, leading them back to Books 'n' Thangs, a literary safe space from years past. Not only is Mr. Marcus still welcoming to being "weird, misunderstood, alternative, a nerd, different," he's also got a few great ideas on how to "draw folks in," inspiring the first Blackward (as in Black+Awkward!) Zine Fest. Lindell's colorful panels imbue energy on every page while his empathically expressive characters and dynamic hand lettering--in spirited caps, with plenty of bold highlights, even old-school bubble letters--add multilayered vibrancy. Lindell, who runs a small comics press called Laneha House, has plenty of short comics under his belt, and this full-length comic should deservedly increase his reach.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.