Review: Snotgirl Vol. 2- California Screaming

Quick Summary

Pros: The series is still as cryptic as ever. Social media is depicted authentically. Character development allows the story to have more emotion and comedy than ever before. The artwork is beautiful and significantly enhances the volume as a whole.

Cons: Some readers may not enjoy the somewhat confusing mystery or the over-the-top humor.

Overall: The second volume in the Snotgirl series is essentially an amplified version of the first volume. It takes the same unique premise and tantalizing mystery and showcases it through a brand new adventure. Meanwhile, the development in the previous book allows this one to have even more compelling and entertaining characters. Anyone who enjoyed the first volume should definitely read the second volume.

Story

Snotgirl Vol. 2: California Screaming, Bryan Lee O’Malley, resumes some of the first volume’s biggest positives and enhances others. The book’s authentic take on social media’s role in society and its addictive mystery are just as entertaining as they were in the last volume. Plus, the characters themselves are better than ever before. This allows emotion and humor to enter the story in ways that were previously impossible, making the series better overall. The book’s only downside is that some readers may not appreciate the focus on mystery or the over-the-top humor coming from the characters. However, those that do appreciate these features will end up loving this book.

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Right from the start, California Screaming continues the series’ pseudo-commentary on life in a world where image means everything. Characters are constantly hiding their flaws, changing their actions, and dressing themselves up to impress the world around them. Even little details, like Lottie refusing to text someone back too soon, further this unique theme. It also helps that O’Malley is able to write about this with such authenticity, as texts and social posts feel as if they could actually happen in real life.

This collection also successfully continues the previous volume’s mysterious and enigmatic nature. Readers enter and leave this volume with no clear answer as to what happened the day Lottie and Caroline first met or what Lottie’s allergy medication is doing to her. Additional details actually make the situation even more strange, as now Caroline’s brother and a potential murder conspiracy are thrown into the mix. For some, this confusion might be too much but, for others, it feels just right. I found the uncertain nature of the storytelling to be blissfully bewildering and entertaining to experience. I’m looking forward to discovering the truth behind some of the mysteries but am also enjoying the ride in getting there.

One of the biggest advantages California Screaming has over its predecessor is the fact that the characters are already significantly developed. Since readers are familiar with how they interact with one another, changes to this dynamic are more meaningful. This means that when Lottie and Meg, two emotionally distant characters, open up to one another, it feels like a real moment and brings additional emotion to the situation. The same thing happens when Lotte and Caroline kiss or when Charlene comes out of the closet. Watching these characters develop is a treat and is hopefully something that will continue in future volumes.

Developed characters also allow the volume’s humor to be more personal and, thus, funnier. When characters poke fun at each other, readers are able to understand their inside jokes and appreciate their unique idiosyncrasies. This allows the story to introduce additional comedy that would have been impossible previously.

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Art

Like its predecessor, the artwork in California Screaming is fantastic and just as important to the volume as the story. Leslie Hung is able to perfectly capture the lavish environments and glamorous lifestyles that are crucial to the book’s characters. Plus, pages are structured well with panels that lend themselves to the storytelling.

However, the most unique and impressive feature about the artwork in Snotgirl continues to be the character’s outfits. This is a series about fashion bloggers and the people they surround themselves with, so clothing and accessories are obviously a big deal. Hung’s creative approach to fashion allows each character to have a style that reflects their personality. This makes the characters, and the world they inhabit, feel more realistic and better developed.

Continuity

Snotgirl Vol. 2: California Screaming continues the story from Snotgirl Vol. 1: Green Hair Don’t Care (Review).

The story here continues in Snotgirl Vol. 3.