Graphic Novel Review - 'Bitch Planet: Triple Feature, Vol. 1' by Various

Political anthology tales from the world of Kelly Sue DeConnick's B-movie, sci-fi, dystopian nightmare about the patriarchy, 'Bitch Planet.'

Each story certainly sticks with you. Some artwork is better than in the others, though I suspect a lot of the graininess, the distortions, and the ugliness all have a point; to add to the atmospheric horror of women being completely stripped of their rights and choices, and this is seen as normal. Progressive, even. 

"This is good for you," they say.

"It's for your own good," they say.

"You'll be happier and healthier this way. We know better than you," they say.

These terrifying tales of the misogynistic crypt deal with various feminist issues, plus issues that might not seem to have anything to do with feminism at first, but most definitely, assuredly do; such as fear-mongering, whitewashing, cultural approbation, and police brutality and senseless death targeted towards black people. With the news people placing sympathy on white men, on every case, all the time. Everyone else, no matter the circumstances, is either ignored or demonized.

These are mirrors. Highlights of our society right now, obsessed with consumerism, commercialism, appearances, objectifying women, harassing women, catering to men, catering to white people, spotlighting famous men as the victims of the crimes they themselves have committed and are rarely punished for, the army, violence, toxic masculinity violence, nuclear family values, dismissing women's experiences, dismissing older women's experiences and views, and controlling women's health and reproductive rights and body parts - so they are no longer people, but things to be bought and masturbated over. While the women are expected to just take men's abuse and mistreatment, and lie, roll over and fawn over them like the sexy puppies the patriarchy prefers them to be. Not so extreme the more we think about it.

The whole of 'Bitch Planet' is like 'The Handmaiden's Tale' on crack, and it is no less horrifying in how one can easily imagine something like it happening in the future. If we let it.

Because yes, this is political as hell, and we, women, won't take it anymore.

Now I hope the next anthology contains issues that concern transgender rights. Also Third World concerns and immigration.

Final Score: 3.5/