{"id":27504,"date":"2023-02-04T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T09:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=27504"},"modified":"2023-02-01T19:58:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T19:58:42","slug":"wait-what-a-comic-book-guide-to-relationships-bodies-and-growing-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2023\/02\/04\/wait-what-a-comic-book-guide-to-relationships-bodies-and-growing-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait, What? – A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Heather Corinna<\/strong>, Isabella Rotman<\/strong>, Luke B. Howard<\/strong> & various (Limerence Press)
\nISBN: 978-1-62010-659-4 (PB) eISBN: 978-1-62010-660-0<\/p>\n

Comic strips have long been acknowledged as an incredibly powerful tool to educate, rendering tricky or complex issues easily accessible. They also have an irresistible capacity to affect and change behaviour and have thus been used for centuries by politicians, religions, the military and commercial concerns to modify how we live our lives. Call it visual nudge-theory\u2026<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a splendid example of the art form using those great powers for good.<\/p>\n

Sometimes it looks like the entire world\u2019s political and moral leaders are seeking to re-mystify the most basic human experience by obfuscating all knowledge of it – leaving our most vulnerable at the mercy of their own basic instincts, wicked exploitation, cruel misinformation and simple ignorance. So if school, church and parental guardians can\u2019t deliver, where can the new and confused go to learn about sexual interactions?<\/p>\n

The<\/strong> Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up<\/strong> begins with an introductory message from Scarleteen<\/em> – a sex and relationships information, education and support organisation\/resource aimed at young people. As official consultants on this project, they start the ball rolling with \u2018sex ed for the real world\u2019<\/em>, detailing the work and purpose of the project and other places the confused or cautious might seek advice and help.<\/p>\n

Like many other Limerence publications, this one uses strips, games, puzzles, debate and tutorials – delivered via an engagingly diverse cartoon cast – to explore a variety of potential situations, share vital information (that my generation got from a succession of embarrassed and unwilling teachers despite what our parents thought or said) and proffer advice on where to obtain more.<\/p>\n

The publisher\u2019s sequence of informational comics and books has an admirable record of confronting uncomfortable issues with taste, sensitivity and breezy forthrightness: offering solutions or starting points as well as awareness and solidarity. Crucially here, that comes wrapped up in a blanket of reassurance and accepting non-judgement. The message is that every one of us is different and brings something unique to the table\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018So Who\u2019s at the Lunch Table?\u2019<\/em> introduces Rico<\/em>, Malia<\/em>, Max<\/em>, Sam<\/em> and Alexis<\/em>: generalised teen spokes-people representing a variety of races, backgrounds, ambitions and sexualities. There is also a narrative usher to authorially move things along \u2026the sublimely neutral Weird Platypus<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

The mess and muddle around Sex is systematically tackled, beginning with an assault on the myth of timing and physical development in \u2018Due Dates\u2019<\/em>: explaining biology, emotional maturity and even consent and opportunity, whilst contributing numerous anecdotes and opinions in \u2018What Do You Think and Where Are You At?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The carefully manufactured war between media, self-aspiration and everyday life is deconstructed in \u2018IRL: in real life\u2019<\/em> confirming that \u201cthe way things are in media are not necessarily how they ACTUALLY ARE\u201d, after which we gain great graphic and factual clarity in \u2018What is Puberty?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The chapter details the basic \u2018Stages of Puberty\u2019<\/em>, initially concentrating on \u2018For Every Body\u2019<\/em> before affording specialist data with \u2018If You\u2019ve got a Vagina\u2019<\/em> and \u2018If You\u2019ve got a Penis\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re a Man\/Woman Now!\u2019<\/em> then busts some fallacies on the subject to reveal \u2018These Things Don\u2019t Actually Mean Very Much About Growing Up\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

The next topic opens with overview \u2018Ohhh Yeah, Real Mature!\u2019<\/em>: asking the gang \u2018What Does Maturity Mean to You?\u2019<\/em> before plunging into the charged subject of \u2018Masturbation!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Expanding into lesson and anecdotal discourse, we learn \u2018Masturbation is Healthy – and nothing to be ashamed of\u2019<\/em> and sensibly enquire \u2018Why Do People Masturbate\u2019<\/em> before tackling an increasingly serious problem in \u2018Weird Genitals!: Worried Your genitals look weird? Feeling like other people\u2019s do???\u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

This section is augmented by \u2018A Whole Bunch of Genitals\u2019<\/em> in a gallery display plus a join-the-dots activity page cheekily page proving \u2018Genitals come in all sorts of different sizes, shapes and colors\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

The major issue of Difference is laid out and explained in \u2018Boys vs. Girls\u2019<\/em>, covering every aspect of possible confusion and contention via sports or toys to genderised colours, cunningly rationalised by a series of non-binary paper-dolls and clothing outfits with gender-fluid Max guiding us in making declarations and identifications\u2026<\/p>\n

A seemingly overwhelming youthful hurdle is cut down to size in \u2018What is a Crush?\u2019<\/em> with hapless cisgendered heterosexual Rico pointing out some pitfalls, assisted by his tablemates answering the question \u2018Have You Ever Had a Crush?\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Do You Really want to Be Someone\u2019s Partner, Girlfriend or Boyfriend?\u2019<\/em> Whilst exploring \u2018Promises and Dating\u2019<\/em> and negotiating a bewildering maze entitled \u2018As If There Was Only One Path!\u2019<\/em> we learn how to end relationships kindly and safely in \u2018It\u2019s Okay To Go\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

The mysteries and challenges of informed choice are explored in \u2018By Invitation Only\u2019<\/em> – reinforced by a \u2018Consent Word Search\u2019<\/em> – before we move on to the bit every parent always freaks out over\u2026<\/p>\n

What defines intimacy and sexual behaviour is debated and explored in \u2018It\u2019s Not Sex, It\u2019s Just Messing Around\u2019<\/em>, pictorially questioning \u2018Why Do People Have Sex Together\u2019<\/em>, \u2018So What\u2019s the Difference between Sex and \u201cMessing Around\u201d\u2019<\/em> and gaming out \u2018If it Wasn\u2019t a Choice\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

Graphs and statistics are deployed for \u2018How Do You Know When You\u2019re Ready for Sex Stuff\u2019<\/em>, backing up the cartoon wisdom of vox-pop \u2018When Do You Think You Will Be Ready for Sex Stuff\u2019<\/em> and pivotal enquiry \u2018Why is Sex Such a Big Deal?\u2019<\/em>: only pausing to ask \u2018Are You\u2026 Gay? Straight? Both? Neither?\u2019 <\/em>and if it even matters\u2026<\/p>\n

A \u2018Sexual Orientation Crossword\u2019<\/em> – with handy \u2018Sexual Orientation Word Bank\u2019<\/em> – introduces a new (and increasingly toxically contentious contemporary topic) in \u2018Sexual Identity Isn\u2019t a Lifelong Commitment\u2019<\/em>, with pictured points of view culminating in a space for readers to verbalise their own thoughts, after which the end approaches as we ponder \u2018What Does it Mean to be a Virgin?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Here Malia, Rico and Sam deconstruct the term from widely differing starting points, whilst \u2018I Hate That Word!\u2019<\/em> examines the infinitely loaded term\u2019s accusatory and demeaning contexts before unleashing \u2018A Note About Double Standards\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

When beginning or even just anticipating a sexual life, support is crucial and a trustworthy network is a must if it\u2019s possible at all. \u2018Assemble Your Superteam!\u2019<\/em> offers some sage advice on how in \u2018Your Sidekick\u2019<\/em>, \u2018Your Parental Figure\u2019<\/em>, \u2018Your Mentor\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Your League\u2019<\/em>. The process is reinforced by another Wordsearch – \u2018Find all the people you could maybe talk to!\u2019 <\/em>– before neatly segueing into \u2018Know Your Community Resources!\u2019 <\/em>and affirming questionnaire \u2018Who is on your Superteam?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The cerebral sex session ceases with \u2018In Conclusion: What is One Last Thing You Want to Leave Everyone With?\u2019<\/em>, supplemented by \u2018Dear You\u2019<\/em>: a direct message from the creators that endeth the lessons\u2026<\/p>\n

Cartoonist Isabella Rotman (A Quick & Easy Guide to Consent, Bodies, and Growing Up<\/strong>; Not on My Watch: The Bystanders Handbook for the Prevention of Sexual Violence<\/strong>; You\u2019re So Sexy When You Aren\u2019t Transmitting STIs<\/strong>) and New Orleans colourist Luke Howard have crafted a cogent and compelling primer covering the irrefutable basics for a wide and varied range of potential users, with the facts and messaging scripted by author, educator and youth advocate Heather Corinna (S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties<\/strong>; Our Bodies Ourselves<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Identifying as Queer and disabled, Corinna is the founder, designer and director of Scarleteen and Rotman became the organisation\u2019s artist in residence in 2013.<\/p>\n

A comprehensive \u2018Glossary\u2019<\/em> of pertinent terms opens a section of codicils including \u2018I Can\u2019t Keep Up With the Slang!\u2019<\/em> – an advisory on changing trends in talk about sex; \u2018Puzzle Solutions\u2019<\/em>; creators bios and appreciation \u2018We are so grateful for:\u2019<\/em> after which \u2018More Cool Things!\u2019<\/em> offers a bibliography and listings of other resources online, organisational and other for kids and adults to further explore\u2026<\/p>\n

This book is a bright and breezy primer covering the irrefutable basics on beginning one\u2019s sexual life and confirming a gender that most suits each individual. By sharing facts and honest opinions it may hopefully help readers safely navigate all manner of relationship and explore the spectrum of experiences that should be available us all\u2026
\nWait, What? – A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up<\/em> is \u2122 & \u00a9 2019 Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Heather Corinna, Isabella Rotman, Luke B. Howard & various (Limerence Press) ISBN: 978-1-62010-659-4 (PB) eISBN: 978-1-62010-660-0 Comic strips have long been acknowledged as an incredibly powerful tool to educate, rendering tricky or complex issues easily accessible. They also have an irresistible capacity to affect and change behaviour and have thus been used for centuries … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Wait, What? – A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[109,166,125,215,170],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to-books","category-educational","category-humour","category-lgbtqia","category-non-fiction"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-79C","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27504"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27507,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27504\/revisions\/27507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}