My Brain Hurts, Volume One

My Brain Hurts #1

by Liz Baillie

A group of teenage queer punks get in perpetual trouble with the police when they aren't flirting over loud music or postering their high school with flyers to allow same sex couples at prom. It's like they were your actual high school peers - pissing off the administration and taking care of each other when they get beat up by skinheads. Liz Baillie has a real talent for dialogue, characters, storytelling, and capturing New York - especially those moments that we all live, awkwardly making out, pulling pranks, and drinking beer. This graphic novel collects the first five (out of 10) issues of the comic My Brain Hurts.

Genres: Comics, Queer, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Punk, Graphic Novels Comics, Sequential Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2007

About the author

Liz Baillie is an American cartoonist and illustrator. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2002, with a major in cartooning. Her work includes the ten-issue mini series My Brain Hurts and the internet comic, since collected into a trade, Freewheel.

Reviews

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and terrifyingly real story of teen life as urban outsiders. Amazing story of friendship. Coming of age. Figuring out who you are. Of experimenting with forbidden things.

Uneven artistic execution, but that's fitting.

Read if you like Sarah Oleksyk's Ivy (but wanted more edge), Ariel Schrag's comics (but set primarily on city streets), or the book Nick Norah's Infinite Playlist (not the movie, the movie's too soft).

TRL carries this in the zine collection at OL.

[Imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has everything I like: teen angst, queers, punkers and New York City. I met Liz at APE this year and was kind of afraid of her even though she is very nice. We had her sign both My Brain Hurts 'to Mark,' because we were going to give them to Alex's dad, but now we're distraught over whether to greedily keep them.

[Jax White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although a quick read i enjoyed My Brain Hurts. its a true look into the world of troubled teens who don’t yet know who they are or what to do. they get into fights with each other and others, they struggle with substance abuse, and struggle with letting their parents into their lives. i found the relationship between Joey and his dad to be especially interesting because you can tell that his dad cares, but i think he just doesn’t know what to do. especially because joeys mom who was probably the more emotionally available of the two, is out of the picture. and when he goes to the catholic school we can see by their comments on his test scores that joey isn’t dumb and definitely has potential. so i understand his dads frustration in watching him basically throw it away. i also liked the parallels with all the kids parents. Joeys dad loves his son, and may not agree with his “lifestyle choices” but still loves him. Kates mom loves her unconditionally even though she may be a little brusque in her wording. and We don’t know how Desi’s Grandma feels but based on Desi’s fear of being outed to her we can assume it wouldn’t be the best. i loved seeing all the different types of characters and how they interact with authority. this is a great book and i’ll definitely be reading the sequel

[Hannah Garden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aw man what a super earnest lil punkers volume

[Bonnie Morse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those 2.5 books that I just have to drop to a 2. The story is interesting enough to keep me reading, but the art is cluttered and confusing and the dialog wastes way too much time detailing every "hey", "hi", "what's up", "gotta go", as well as just constantly repeating things we learned two pages ago.

The author doesn't seem to have much of a grasp on how the world works, either, which is fitting for a bunch of 13-15 year old street punks, but is jarring when the adults start talking. Then it really comes out that she doesn't know anything about Catholic schools, hospitals, the public education system, Children and Family Services, or any of the other social institutions that the kids feel imprisoned by. Maybe the artist created it as a teenager, in which case it's promising. But if it's the work of an adult (over 22), not so much. Anyway, I'll read the second volume since I already have it, and fortunately both were free.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection really snuck up on me. I forgot to get a ocpy at SPX and ended up ordering one when it became available through Diamond.

The story centers on a circle of queer punk friends growing up in NYC and dealing with all the bullshit that comes with high school life. The general themes were familiar from other zines and comics, but Baillie's characters ring truer than many other books out there. I'm definitely looking forward to the next collection of this great minicomic.

The book is a steal at 6 bucks for 5 issues plus extras. If you have a comic store in your area, have them order a copy through Diamond. If not, you can also get it direct from Microcosm here.

[Printable Tire]

The misadventures of two queer kids in high school. Because of the young age of the duo (one is thirteen) and their activities (drinking, sex and punk shows) it sometimes feels like a more-wholesome "Kids." But while it has a 90's vibe and the kids are pretty bratty, they're a lot less amoral and apathetic than the kids in... "Kids," so it's not at all a depressing universe. The writing is sometimes bombastic and melodramatic, but punk high school kids usually are bombastic and melodramatic, so no harm there. I think the artwork is very good, with no detail spared from store signs, show posters or gross people in the background. Plus there is an activity section in the back, which I thought was a fun idea. I'd probably read volume 2 if I ever came across it.

[sweet pea · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's interesting to watch the progression of this artist as her illustrations go from fairly rudimentary to appealing as the work rolls on. this is a coming of age story of queer punk kids. joey is already in the "i'm queer, go fuck yourself if you don't like it" mindset, while kate is just coming into her sexuality and her fuck-you aesthetic. it will definitely appeal to both queers and america's youth.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

A punk comic that isn't a daily journal, sweet! Actually a fiction story, and Liz makes a good choice in having punk rock be the background to the story rather than have it up in our faces shouting, "Look, PUNK!"

The pain and confusion of figuring out who you are; being a freak in the world of high school normals; dealing with parents, classmates, and others who are anti-gay--familar themes given a fresh presentation in a well done comic.

Recommended.

[Emilia P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, like Ariel Schrag in tone, sort of. I couldn't help but feeling like this was a book written about punks by someone who was not a punk. But, that's hard for me to say. Maybe teenage punks just have the same lame concerns as the rest of us.

But basically, a little boring, a little ok-for-teens-with-sexuality-figuring-out, and one important fact: you absolutely do not need to be Catholic to go to Catholic school. Check your facts yo.

[Dea G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this zine collection in about a day and a half on various subway rides. It's a short, enjoyable comic about growing up in NYC punk and queer. The characters are relatable and refreshing- the author seems to have invented a new kind of comic for a different kind of person. It's especially awesome to see her drawings of familiar places, like ABC No Rio and the St. Mark's Graveyard.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. Her drawing style reminds me a lot of Diane DiMassa and the writing has a similar vibe to Ariel Schrag, except a little more urban punk. I think the characters and the plot are believable and move forward with good pacing. It would be a good graphic novel for a teenager going through coming out. The only downside is that it definitely ends on a cliff hanger.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

the storytelling and the characters in this comic are excellent. two young queer punks in nyc are figuring out their lives. this volume collects issues 1-5, 6-10 are out there but not collected yet. i can't wait to read them.

[Laurah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this comic. I read Volumes One and Two in a single sitting. The characters are pretty true to life, and the dialogue is good. Something about it feels forced, though. It is a little too polished for my liking. Overall, it is definitely worth reading, but not what I was looking for.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for the queer culture aspect, mensa mensa on the execution

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punk Music, Queer self discovery, and emo just this side of Degrassi High... a great and earnest read with great art & heart.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Messy and heartfelt look at growing up queer in New York City. I'm going to be on the lookout for Volume 2.

[Sassafras Patterdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

yay queer punk comics!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ador-a-core

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

poorly written but well-drawn with interesting characters.