SUBGurlz

by Jennifer Camper

Set in the toxic labyrinth of abandoned subway tunnels, SUBGurlz chronicles the superhero happenings of three chemically altered girlfriends. Swizzle is the strongest person on earth - unfortunately, the poor thing's always killing people accidentally. Liver, her girlfriend, is blessed with the power to bring back the dead. Byte has brainpower so stupendous that she's unable to grow hair on her head. Are the SUBGurlz good or bad? It all depends on which side you're on.

Genres: LGBT, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

117 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Jennifer Camper is a cartoonist and graphic artist living in Brooklyn, New York. Her art examines gender, race, sexuality and politics, especially from the viewpoint of a Lebanese-American gay woman.

Her books include Rude Girls and Dangerous Women, a collection of her cartoons that mix humor with political commentary, and subGURLZ, a graphic novel following the adventures of three women living in abandoned subway tunnels. Camper is also the editor of, and a contributor to, Juicy Mother, a comix anthology focusing on the work of women, people of color and queers.

Her comics and illustrations have appeared in magazines, newspapers, comic books and anthologies, and her art has been exhibited in the US and Europe.

(from the author's website)

Reviews

[Greeshma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wicked little book! Three women - Swizzle, Byte and Liver derive their names from their powers and/or the source of their power. Swizzle is strong, Byte is so brainy that no hair grows on her head and Liver is a hardcore *junkie* but she can bring back people from the dead. The premise is outrageous but it's nicely executed. You know it's all hokum but you'd not mind this parallel universe one bit. OH! The three women who found each other within weeks of being born are also lovers. All three of them are partners in crime and in bed! I'm two decades too late to the story but it's one for the collection.
This review is a bit awry but I guess this book has to be enjoyed visually. It's good fun!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sexy group of superheroes! Love these ladies! I wish I had read this in high school. I say that about a lot of the books I've been reading this year, but reading a comic book or set of strips about strong sexy dykes would have really given me that feeling of "not-aloneness"

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

hahaahahaha!! bought this when i was 16! Lesbian mutants who live in the underground subways fo New York! what could be better?

[Ma'Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was all "Poor Swizzle!" the entire way through, until she killed that kid and the other two were like, "Oh, honey, it's ok. Let's get ice cream!"

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm really surprised it took me this long to discover jennifer camper, especially as much as i like diane dimassa and alison bechdel.

[Shoshanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, it was fun to read this because it was Jennifer Camper, but I feel like this is her weakest work. Too jokesy / gimmicky. But I do appreciate the politics of it. :)