Boys Weekend

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By Mattie Lubchansky. Published by Pantheon. Hardcover, 232 pages, Colour, 2023 From the award-winning cartoonist and editor at The Nib, a hilarious trans-“final girl” horror graph ic novel about a bachelor party gone very, very wrong.“A witty, tender romp through the cosmic horror of being alive.” —Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other PartiesNewly-out trans artist’s assistant Sammie is invited to an old friend’s bachelor weekend in El Campo, a hedonistic wonderland of a city floating in the Atlantic Ocean’s international waters—think Las Vegas with even fewer rules. Though they have not identified as a man for over a year, Sammie’s college buddies haven’t quite gotten the message—as evidenced by their formerly closest friend Adam asking them to be his “best man.”Arriving at the swanky hotel, Sammie immediately questions their decision to come. Bad enough that they have to suffer through a torrent of passive-aggressive comments from the groom’s pals—all met with zero pushback from supposed “nice guy” Adam. But also, they seem to be the only one who’s noticed the mysterious cult that’s also staying at the hotel, and is ritually dismembering guests and demanding fealty to their bloodthirsty god.Part satire, part horror, Boys Weekend explores what it’s like to exist as a transfemme person in a man’s world, the difficulty of maintaining friendships through transition, and the more cult-like effects of masculinity, “hustle” culture, and capitalism—all through the vibrant lens of a surreal, scary, and immensely imaginative romp. “A brilliant saga and ‘how to’ of trans survival in the nightmarish crypto-cis-bro-cult underworld of bachelor party indoctrination. I giggled so hard I blew snot bubbles!”—Lilly Wachowski, Director, Writer, Producer“Boys Weekend is a joy to read, filled with fun, inventive, and seemingly effortless cartooning even it leads you through bachelor parties, a hyperlibertarian nightmare island, and a killer cult. With the skills and tight pacing honed from short-form cartooning, Mattie makes every panel of this debut graphic novel sing.”—Ryan North, author of How to Take Over the World“A witty, tender romp through the cosmic horror of being alive.” —Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties“A hilarious satire about capitalism, gender, sea monsters, the slow dissolution of old friendships, the difficulty of being truly seen by those closest to you, the nearly impossible task of forgiving the people who have hurt you (especially when one of those people is yourself), and most importantly how much bachelor parties suck.” —Joseph Fink, co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale“Nervy, fluid, punchy, like a cup of skeletons. Sensitive and fraught without sacrificing fun or black magic, with a winsome heroine one wants to root for and wipe blood off of in equal parts. I want more!” —Daniel M. Lavery, author of Something That May Shock and Discredit You“With their deftly-sketched characters, biting social satire, and endearingly expressive cartooning, Lubchansky has created a story that hides its fangs until it’s close enough to strike.” —Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt“Lubchansky, an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator, brings the book to life with lively, bold artwork, illuminating the book’s techno-dystopian world with sly humor and hinting at the eldritch foundations on which the island was built. Boys Weekend is tightly constructed—you can read this one in an afternoon—but it rewards lingering over: Humor and horror are beautifully balanced in support of the emotional arc of Sammie’s story.” —Emily Hughes, Vulture “If you’re looking for a horror read that has a touch (or two) of satire, then you’ll like this poignant story by award-winning cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky.” —Melanie Curry, Cosmopolitan, “The 17 Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2023” “Lubchansky’s full-color panels are rife with absurdly clever, beyond-the-narrative enhancements. . . . Lubchansky melds identity politics, gory horror, shocking humor, and sf world building to deftly present Sammie’s hero-of-their-own-story story.” —Terry Hong, Booklist “Lubchansky cleverly spins horror tropes to send up toxic masculinity and tech bro culture. They also cast a critical eye at the systems that continue to enforce a strict gender binary. Boys Weekend is compelling and hilarious with plenty of food for thought.” —Adrienne Urbanski, Bust “A horror dramedy drawn in the style of a ’90s cartoon, Lubchansky’s graphic novel . . . satirizes crypto-bro idiocy while delivering a profound meditation on selfhood.” —Michelle Hart, Electric Literature, “The Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Books for Summer 2023” “Lubchansky uses science fiction, horror, and the comic book form to explore the terrors of coming out as transfemme in a world dominated by dudes. . . . Very satisfying. . . . [An] undeniably original adventure.”—Kirkus Reviews“Mattie Lubchansky is one of cartooning’s best satirists and their debut novel is a confident, clever, and poignant commentary on the many-tentacled monster of gender and capitalism.”—Matt Bors, founder of The Nib and author of Justice Warriors“Ingenious. . . . Lubchansky’s script and art both achieve a deadpan style reminiscent of Daria and 1990s Nickelodeon, which amplifies the surreal delirium. . . . A hilarious and terrifying send-up of capitalist-driven masculinity and a poignant story about the perception-altering blessings (and burdens) of queerness.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Boys Weekend has it all: sharp satire, inventive science fiction, eye-popping illustrations, and a great big heart at its core. It’s a wild and hilarious romp with something smart and moving on every page. I tore through it and think you will too.” —Lincoln Michel, author of The Body Scout“What a petrifying, hysterical, devastating, and adroit story of friendship, grief, and identity. The dread and comedy in Boys Weekend is familiar, funny, and painful, but you can’t look away because you know it’s true. Gender is terror, and never before has it been so expertly deployed in a graphic novel. Mattie Lubchansky’s work always makes me laugh and always makes me feel afraid; it feels like I should be.” —Scaachi Koul, author of One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter“I didn’t realize how badly I wanted Boys Weekend to exist until I read it. Finally, it’s here. Mattie Lubchansky has pulled off two incredibly tricky feats. The first: rendering a near-future vision of Turbo Las Vegas that’s both absurd and alarmingly plausible. The second: capturing a very specific moment in a trans person’s social transition and all the interpersonal dissonance, joy, and occasional clone-murder that goes along with it. Lubchansky has produced a deeply moving, deeply funny work about the people we used to be and the people we’re becoming—one where the real horror is the friends we’ve lost along the way. Just kidding. The real horror is the ancient evil lurking at the bottom of the ocean. And capitalism. And the gender binary. But the friendship thing is important, too.”—Calvin Kalsulke, author of Several People Are Typing “Yes, Boys Weekend is a deeply affecting story about personal identity, social pressure, and coming to terms with your past, but don’t worry—it also has biting social satire, scary monsters, and a good old-fashioned mysterious cult. A wildly good time that just happens to also be kinda profound.” —Jess Zimmerman, author of Women and Other Monsters Show more