Written by: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Art by: Valentine De Landro
Publisher: Image
Kelly Sue DeConnick’s newest comic, Bitch Planet, is a force to be reckoned with. Bitch Planet is unapologetically feminist, and while it’s overtly political, it’s also a really entertaining read and a sci-fi take on women-in-prison exploitation films. In the first issue, the reader is introduced to a handful of females sent to an off-planet prison for being “non-compliant.”
In the second issue, we get a little more world-building and our first heroine begins to stand out. I say first because DeConnick has said in interviews not to get too attached to any characters and that things may not turn out well for anyone in this series. The wardens of the prison are trying to convince prisoner Kamau Kogo to form a Megaton team. The Megaton is some sort of athletic event, but DeConnick never really reveals what the nature of the competition is.
DeConnick’s writing is sharp. She is able to show us a lot without really telling us a whole lot of anything. Ultimately, a lot of what the reader knows is inferred. It’s an interesting way of keeping the reader engaged and wanting to learn more, but sometimes it seems like the reader isn’t being given enough to go on. That being said, this is only the second issue and the foundations that are being built for the story are strong.
Valentine De Landro’s retro pop art style is wonderful and he perfectly captures the exploitation film feel. Cris Peter uses incredibly bright, vibrant colors, and all of that pink is definitely a conscious decision.
One of the most exciting things about the art is that what is happening in the background of the panels is often just as interesting as the foreground. It appears that Bitch Planet is made up of walls of screens, and these screens are used to emotionally manipulate the prisoners. While in solitary confinement, Kamau is shown flashes from a recently deceased prisoner’s life, and while the prisoners are all working out, sexy aerobics videos are broadcast on the screens. It’s an interesting way to express how little privacy and quiet time the prisoners get, and it makes it important to read closely because some of the subtleties are lost when you read through the comic too quickly.
Being an academic nerd, one of my favorite parts of this issue (and apparently every issue to come) is that there is an essay at the end of the comic. In this month’s issue, the essay is “In a Feminist Mirror, Darkly: Reflections On Cultural Misconceptions of Feminism.” It may sound like a bore, but it’s a quick read that helps give context to a lot of the issues the comic is trying to get at, but at far less exaggerated degree.
In coming issues, we can expect a lot more background on this future Earth, as well as more background on individual characters. I think that DeConnick and De Landro are willing to make readers feel a little uncomfortable in an effort to be real and true to the characters, and it could mean great things are in the future for this politically-minded comic.
