Graphic Novel Review - 'Young Hag' by Isabel Greenberg

From the author of my favourite graphic novel of all time, 'One Hundred Nights of Hero', comes something new, something sweet, which features witches, the triple moon goddess symbolism, action heroines and lady knights, faeries, babies, and a giant cat, and it is set in historical Britain and is a feminist reimagining of the entirety of the Arthurian legend. Of course I had to get it.

Thankfully, it is an enjoyable read.

I was lucky to have spotted it in my local bookshop the day after hearing about it on Goodreads.

'Young Hag' is funny as well as deeply insightful and subversive, just like 'One Hundred Nights of Hero'. Also similar is the theme of the importance of storytelling, specifically verbal storytelling between women, and different generations of women, like around a fire in the woods.

I won't give away the plot of 'Young Hag', as I don't want to spoil too much and potentially ruin an experience for anyone who hasn't read it, and it is very multilayered, with flashbacks and various side plots and characters, and it would take far too long to lay it all out. But suffice it to say, at the heart of 'Young Hag' is a coming-of-age story of a young girl (which one? Ooh-er...), who relearns to believe in magic, and to find it again, and she finds herself in the process, on her quest.

It is about believing in yourself, dealing with grief and trauma, loneliness, companionship, family, and telling your own story - let no one else tell it, and tell it wrong. And it is about generational trauma.

'Young Hag' explores much of the original King Arthur legend. There is Merlin, Camelot, Avalon, Excalibur, the Guinevere and Lancelot affair, the stuff that everybody knows about. Then there are the details that most retellings and adaptations gloss over or just don't include... including the women of the tale, and their characterisations, arcs, feelings, and fates. Igraine (Morgan and Arthur's mother), Nimue the Lady of the Lake, Elaine, and Morgan le Fay; Guinevere is not the only female presence anymore. Heck, the premise of 'Young Hag' came from the newborn star, the fruit of the idea: What happened to Morgan le Fay after Arthur's story ended? What did she do?

The implications surrounding the treatment of these women are highlighted and dissected; nothing is callously ignored and forgotten about.

That Morgan is a powerful, ambitious witch, with a crescent moon amulet, who on the side can turn into a black cat, and who wields Excalibur, are the least of what makes her such a complex and painfully human character in this graphic novel.

A brave Sir Britomart, who is a lady knight, and a lady Amoretta, are other characters included. Britomart rides the giant cat.

Funny, clever, and just plain right little things added in and embraced are: an old grandmother mentor in the main cast who pushes for and accompanies the young heroine on her quest, the historical context of the consequences of Christianity taking over England (for all women, not just pagans and "witches"), a witch hunt and hateful prejudice theme, Stonehenge, changelings, a goblin market, strong POC rep, LBGTQ rep, a nonbinary travelling storyteller named Taliesin (a nice reference to the historical and legendary Brittonic bard and poet), and women and girls with pink hair.

The artwork may take some getting used to for those unfamiliar with Isabel Greenberg's body of work, but really, it is right and suitable. It is not childish. It is colourful and exceedingly expressive, and more richly detailed than initially meets the eye. It is part of the book's charm and humour, and in fact helps with the pathos in the multilayered narrative and characters. And it is such a brazen, boss, bewitching, British way of telling a story in graphic novel form.

I can testify that 'Young Hag' is very British. And Scottish.

The whole thing kind of reminds me of 'Adventure Time' for an older audience.

Sadly, there are a few slight hiccups and issues that prevent 'Young Hag' from being perfect, or at least from being a masterpiece mistresspiece like 'One Hundred Nights of Hero'. Like the heroine's grandmother's taxidermized black cat familiar which disappears as soon as it's introduced, and the horrific implications in one part of the Arthurian story which is not given nearly as much thought and sympathy as another part with the exact same implications. There might be a double standard there, which is a grave oversight for a modern feminist retelling of an ancient, familiar tale. Elaine certainly needed more page time, as did Lancelot. More thought and attentiveness could have been given to the characters' relations and relationships to each other; like, surely mothers losing their children to either death or disappearance should warrant further (or any!) grief for them. It's a side effect of main character centeredness and focus, on the author's part, where their grief, angst and morality are narrow-mindedly prioritised at the expense of the other characters and what they must be going through. It happens, even in the most meticulous, careful and passionate fruit of one's hardworking labour such as this.

Nothing is perfect.

Here's to 'Young Hag' by Isabel Greenberg - new, fresh, innovative and creative. Oddly enchanting, and winsome and felicitous, like the smartest and most introspective of dreams. Humorous and hopeful, especially towards the end. How bright and loving.

Overall, it is another reason to adore and celebrate Greenberg and all she does.

Final Score: 4/5