Steam Clean

by Laura Ķeniņš

On a dark night at a sauna somewhere in northern Europe, a group of people gather at a party for queer women as the sauna heats up, confidences and tensions come out in the steam.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Queer, LGBT, Feminism, Lesbian, Comics

86 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2017

About the author

Laura Ķeniņš (1985) is a Latvian comic artist, illustrator and writer, currently based in Toronto, Canada. She is interested in mythology, storytelling, pattern, architecture and creepy forests in her illustration. Her work has been exhibited in Latvia, elsewhere in Europe and in North America and published by kuš!, Kuti, Carte Blanche, The Puritan, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and other publications. Her graphic novel Steam Clean was published by Retrofit Comics.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steam Clean was created by Canadian artist Laura Ķeniņš about a women's sauna party set in probably Finland or Latvia. All of the women seem to be queer, but they spend a lot of time talking about their experiences with men--early uncomfortable dating experiences, men at work who touch them, try to overpower them in various ways. Some of the women are there to meet women; one is trans-masculine and wonders whether she should be there since she has now had top surgery and doesn't identify as female.

It's really just a kind of talk fest, involving a range of political/personal perspectives, raising important issues about patriarchy, orientation, and related issues, but then in walks Laima, who announces herself as the goddess of fate, women and saunas. I had to look up the Baltic Goddess Laima, who is actually seen as the goddess of fates, and supposedly helps arrange marriages, oversees weddings, protects pregnant women, and so on. A women's goddess, yep, associated historically with "traditional cultural values," but not (historically) an all-inclusive one, certainly not a queer one. She talks with some of the women, who lightly question her why, if she is a women's goddess, she can't be a goddess for a wider group of women?!

Pastel, colored pencil work, very inviting and slice of life; that is, until the goddess comes in! Retrofit production, nicely done!

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first exposure to Ķeniņš outside of the Latvian publisher kus!, where she authored a mini for their series. This is a thoughtful premise that allows for substantive character development...and over such a short number of pages. In its conceit, it reminds me a bit of My Dinner with Andre, in that the conversation becomes the action.

[Candis Fancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art style, moderately confusing plot.. but overall good message.

[Comics Alternative · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://comicsalternative.com/episode-...

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet, warm & cozy

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sophisticated exploration of gender, orientation and patriarchy at the women's sauna. It had a sort of vignette, slice-of-life quality, but in the lives of those not depicted enough in in fiction or art. And despite its brevity, the conversations had real depth. The sauna opened the door to these exchanges and connections, and the settings were lovely.

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the art but I'm not sure I like the story.

I mean the plot was a bit confusing and I had troubles telling the characters apart. In addition I wasn't that involved in the characters' stories. The only part that tickled my interest was the one about the goddess of women, fate and saunas. For me she was the best character in the story. The rest seems to be just women talking to each other.

[Robin]

Captivating art, if a bit clunky in plot. The idea of a sauna in the woods was a welcomed escape.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this, such a sweet graphic book, clearly drawn and coloured in pencil which I really appreciated. The story is simple a group of cis, trans and non binary people attend a women's sauna evening, so much is explored within the simplicity, as well as the joy of sauna in a forest away from the city. Charming book.