'Mary Sue' is a fun, funny feminist comic, that delves a lot deeper into fanfiction as a concept, and fandom as a culture and community, than I had anticipated before reading.
Without spoiling much, I would say it is a bit like a better, more self-aware version of the film 'Ruby Sparks', and the Cartoon Network animated series 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'. With LBGTQIA+ elements. It really took me back to what fandoms and fanfic writing were like in the 2000s, back when the internet was fairly new. The abundance of nostalgia!
However, it isn't all rosy. 'Mary Sue' simultaneously reminded me of the unfortunate, callous, harmful, vitriolic toxicity that came from that time period. And in many, subtle ways, despite age, experience and seeing the consequences, it continues insidiously to the current year of 2026.
The internet, and social media, is both a gift and a curse. Mostly a curse
(I admit this isn't so much a comic review as a pop culture feminist rant, but if you could bear with me for the next ten paragraphs - or just skip them entirely if you want - until I start talking about the actual comic, then thank you, you are lovely people.)
Around the mid 2000s, after the publication of 'Twilight' in fact, the term "Mary Sue" was everywhere. It wasn't being used to solely target Bella Swan - it was talked about universally and constantly, bouncing about and infecting the internet like a poisoned ball. I know I took a few 'Mary Sue Litmus Tests' online back in the day, that turned out to be meaningless, shallow, arbitrary, overly harsh and critical with little to no understanding of how fictional stories and characters worked, and rather a by-product of a misogynistic society and culture.
Because the term and insult of "Mary Sue", and how we've known it for decades, is rooted in misogyny - a deep-seated fear and dislike of really any female character, protagonist or side player, who does not fit the traditional, 1950s patriarchal gender role of the passive, dainty, docile and submissive female, who only exists for (straight) male fantasies and desires, and as a reward and prize for masculine, ego-stroking heroism. Men feel threatened and emasculated by a "Mary Sue" when she takes on the traditional male hero portrayal that has existed for eons; since storytelling became profitable. If she is a "too perfect, self-insert wish-fulfilment fantasy", then chances are she is like 90% of every male protagonist in every medium ever, who were written by men. Double standards are a plague.
I know that "Gary Stu" or "Marty Stu" exist as male equivalents, but they are rarely used compared to "Mary Sue", and have since faded into obscurity and almost nonexistence since the 2000s - the patriarchal power of finding enduring ways to insult, ridicule and belittle women for existing in any space eclipses all.
If you think about it, aren't all "Mary Sues" just heroines wanting to be heroines, demanding to be seen and heard? They can be angsty and self-indulgent - just like male characters, in the multifold, manifold (heh) allowances made for them - but they can also be used as the most charismatic and colourful tools to help people, and make them happy, and in turn make the world a better, more idealised and inclusive place. When written well, this isn't always a bad thing.
Aren't "Mary Sues" an expression of women writers' suppressed passions?
Now misogyny has become so prevalent and desperate that "Mary Sue" has lost every once and angle of its intended meaning it was once "coined". Anything about it that may have referred to a well-meaning, good faith writing criticism is gone, and it has been reinterpreted into a shorthand for "female character I dislike" - which translates to: "any female lead with agency, motive, drive, backstory, competence and personality (and believable, human flaws) in anything in pop culture. No I don't have a problem with women, shut up!".
I mean for crying out loud, the term originated back in 1973, as a parody/political rebel character in a 'Star Trek' fanfic/fanzine. What happened to the satire, self-awareness and feminist rebellion as first depicted?
The misogynistic patriarchy took "Mary Sue", twisted the character and what she represents to its own ends, stamped derogatory on her very existence, and turned her into one of the many, many lazy and pathetic blanket insults and buzzwords to express hatred towards women, both in fiction and in real life.
Thus, instead of a unique, endearing, funny, and empowering, inspirational and aspirational figure, she became a cautionary tale, a "what NOT to do and be", or more appropriately and honestly, to decode it completely: "how not to be a threat to the status quo, to cishet white men". Don't be inspired to change anything. To learn, progress, and express your true and best selves.
This is censorship, and it is done exactly by the patriarchy's design.
'Mary Sue' - the comic by Meghan Fitzmartin and Lisa Sterle - explores these themes, in informative, educational, varied, colourful, fun, clever and witty directions. As well as showcasing how insecure girls and women use fanfiction as an outlet to express their geeky love, creativity, and idealised versions of themselves (and other people in their lives), there are other important themes tackled, such as friendship and community (i.e. real friendships existing online only are possible with the right and trusted people, who come together through a common interest and passion), and loneliness and isolation (i.e. why so many get obsessed with, and addicted to media and fandoms, to the detriment of real world experiences, connections and responsibilities; how their emotional growth can be stunted).
It covers and parodies fandoms of stuff like 'Riverdale', 'Supernatural', 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'The Vampire Diaries', 'Our Flag Means Death' (I think), 'Doctor Who', 'Sherlock', and of course, 'Star Trek'. It also references 'Sailor Moon' (heck yes!), 'Steven Universe', 'The X-Files', superheroes, and 'Tinker Bell' (!). I think the infamous 'My Immortal' fanfic is unsubtly referenced at some point in the story. It's all so adorable and funny.
It's okay to be devoted and dedicated to the things you love, that make you happy! By healthy means!
The female creators' love of fandoms and fanfiction - current and nostalgic, like from the 90s onwards - is everywhere in this comic.
Sure, it is far from perfect: there are occasional small, odd flaws that are quite baffling, such as a character making a meanspirited and/or snobby comment out of nowhere and isn't called out on it; it is unfortunately very white - it could have been a lot more socially conscious, especially with its setting in a largely Christian conservative American town, and its potential religious trauma/social stigma theme (?); and it's too short, and ends on a bloody cliffhanger. What cheek and cheapness.
But I can't help myself. I am a fangirl, I love pop culture - always have, always will - and 'Mary Sue' brought me back to the zeitgeist of the era that shaped me in my awkward, geeky, pop culture and feminism-loving teens.
I have never personally written fanfiction of any of the TV shows, films and books I was into. I was too shy and self-conscious for that kind of attention, and looking back, I'm exceedingly glad I didn't go down that potentially toxic rabbit hole that would have broken and destroyed my confidence and self-esteem. But I thought and imagined my own ideas that number the stars of the Milky Way, with my own OCs.
'Mary Sue' taught me that there is, in fact, nothing wrong with that. It's normal and healthy - fantasies and fantasies shared are normal and healthy tools of self-expression; as well as creative vehicles for sorting through your issues, healthily, though professional therapy is another option.
Fanfiction and Mary Sues, through encouragement and support via community, can be a great starting point for aspiring writers. Historically, with numerous examples, this is the case.
There is nothing wrong with Mary Sues. Let's celebrate every Mary Sue.
Reclaim the term, the character, the symbol, the icon. Return it to its original intended purpose, created in the 1970s. Make it no longer a misogynistic dog whistling term, but a badge of pride.
Female self-insert heroes for the win! They will save the world! The world of fandom and representation! F*@%! censorship!
Meghan Fitzmartin's 'Reclaiming the Mary Sue' essay at the end of the comic is a must-read, to boot.
Oh, and the art by Lisa Sterle, and coloured by Dearbhla Kelly and Heather Breckel, is very nice.
Final Score: 3.5/5
