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Bad Girls
In this heart-pounding, starkly colored, and visually stunning “noir comic not to be missed” ( CrimeReads ), three women are running out of time to get out of Cuba with six million dollars on the night of New Year’s Eve 1958.
Gangster’s moll Carole, jazz singer Taffy, and mambo queen Ana all have their reasons for needing to escape the El Eden Casino in Havana. And on the tumultuous night of New Year’s Eve, when Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the country and the nation falls to Fidel Castro, they get their chance...with the help of six suitcases filled with stolen dirty money. Of course, it’s one thing to get the cash...and quite another to get off the island alive...
Acclaimed creators Alex de Campi and Victor Santos weave an unforgettable and glittering noir thriller—all wrapped up in the humid, fateful Caribbean night that marked the very end of the great mob casinos. “Readers will revel in this fast-paced noir, embracing both its elegant period detail and pulpy genre roots” ( Publishers Weekly ).
Gangster’s moll Carole, jazz singer Taffy, and mambo queen Ana all have their reasons for needing to escape the El Eden Casino in Havana. And on the tumultuous night of New Year’s Eve, when Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the country and the nation falls to Fidel Castro, they get their chance...with the help of six suitcases filled with stolen dirty money. Of course, it’s one thing to get the cash...and quite another to get off the island alive...
Acclaimed creators Alex de Campi and Victor Santos weave an unforgettable and glittering noir thriller—all wrapped up in the humid, fateful Caribbean night that marked the very end of the great mob casinos. “Readers will revel in this fast-paced noir, embracing both its elegant period detail and pulpy genre roots” ( Publishers Weekly ).
224 pages, ebook
First published July 17, 2018
About the author
Alex de Campi
260 books247 followersAlex de Campi is a New York-based writer with an extensive backlist of critically-acclaimed graphic novels including Eisner-nominated heist noir Bad Girls (Simon & Schuster) and Twisted Romance (Image Comics). Her most recent book was her debut prose novel The Scottish Boy (Unbound). She lives with her daughter, their cat, and a Deafblind pit bull named Tango.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 10, 2018
I went into this with high hopes of female driven Ocean's 11 style heist set on the New Year's Eve where Castro rose to power; and it partially delivered.
The things I didn't enjoy about this were some slight girl on girl hate, the way the heroines were depicted as somewhat bumbling (making mistakes or bad choices and shoddily covering it up), the scene portraying sexual assault and an attempted rape where one of the leads stood aside and watched doing nothing to help her "friend", the superfluous gold digger storyline and finally a lot of murky art or difficult to read panels.
What I did enjoy was the unique setting and time period, the diversity of the cast racially and in social class, the almost all female major cast, the depiction of strong independent women and the realistic interactions and conflicts the personality clashes would cause and that they didn't shy away from violence to achieve their goals.
As you can imagine all of these things combined leave me feeling very conflicted about this graphic novel, I'll be keeping an eye out for more work from the author, just maybe not with this artist.
I read this for round one of the Buzzword readathon where the buzzword was GIRL!
The things I didn't enjoy about this were some slight girl on girl hate, the way the heroines were depicted as somewhat bumbling (making mistakes or bad choices and shoddily covering it up), the scene portraying sexual assault and an attempted rape where one of the leads stood aside and watched doing nothing to help her "friend", the superfluous gold digger storyline and finally a lot of murky art or difficult to read panels.
What I did enjoy was the unique setting and time period, the diversity of the cast racially and in social class, the almost all female major cast, the depiction of strong independent women and the realistic interactions and conflicts the personality clashes would cause and that they didn't shy away from violence to achieve their goals.
As you can imagine all of these things combined leave me feeling very conflicted about this graphic novel, I'll be keeping an eye out for more work from the author, just maybe not with this artist.
I read this for round one of the Buzzword readathon where the buzzword was GIRL!
July 20, 2018
1.5 / 5 stars.
I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was honestly left completely confused by this book. I started off confused and ended that way too. The novel introduces new characters in a very disorienting way - we usually see them for the first time in the middle of a crisis, so we have no idea what they’re talking about, who they’re referring to, or where they are. And then when we finally get to the casino - which is the main setting for the novel - nothing makes sense there either. There are apparently multiple women in employment there as dancers or singers or… random entertainers? I’m not sure what each of their roles are to be honest. And then we are thrown into a plot involving a multi-million dollar scam with some big gang lord spanning across multiple casinos. It’s briefly mentioned/explained twice, but never made really clear.
Then to top it all off, there is a B plot that makes even less sense than the main one. Don’t ask me what it is about, because even after reading the whole thing the only thing I can tell you is that it ends on a cliffhanger… I think.
What I can say about this is I really liked the coloring. It’s full of deep reds and browns giving an air of dread and enforcing the gangster idea a bit more.
I just was not invested in the characters of this, even though I was clearly supposed to be based on the trauma the author puts them through. And I did not understand the story well enough to want to know what happens in the next volume. So suffice it to say I was let down by this graphic novel.
I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was honestly left completely confused by this book. I started off confused and ended that way too. The novel introduces new characters in a very disorienting way - we usually see them for the first time in the middle of a crisis, so we have no idea what they’re talking about, who they’re referring to, or where they are. And then when we finally get to the casino - which is the main setting for the novel - nothing makes sense there either. There are apparently multiple women in employment there as dancers or singers or… random entertainers? I’m not sure what each of their roles are to be honest. And then we are thrown into a plot involving a multi-million dollar scam with some big gang lord spanning across multiple casinos. It’s briefly mentioned/explained twice, but never made really clear.
Then to top it all off, there is a B plot that makes even less sense than the main one. Don’t ask me what it is about, because even after reading the whole thing the only thing I can tell you is that it ends on a cliffhanger… I think.
What I can say about this is I really liked the coloring. It’s full of deep reds and browns giving an air of dread and enforcing the gangster idea a bit more.
I just was not invested in the characters of this, even though I was clearly supposed to be based on the trauma the author puts them through. And I did not understand the story well enough to want to know what happens in the next volume. So suffice it to say I was let down by this graphic novel.
October 29, 2019
Beautiful coloring, liked the styling of the book and the music lyrics that were included as backdrop to the action. I could almost hear the music playing in my ear.
Something however lacked for me in the story. I couldn't quite feel an affection for these girls and the personal problems each was trying to run away from.
Overall, a quick read but not anything I'll remember later on.
Something however lacked for me in the story. I couldn't quite feel an affection for these girls and the personal problems each was trying to run away from.
Overall, a quick read but not anything I'll remember later on.
January 22, 2022
Yeah... the only thing I liked about this was the art.
CW: mentions of sexual assault
Imagine my surprise when I found out this was written by a female author. So many aspects of this book included the typical elements that I hate in books men write about female characters. I enjoyed nothing about this story.
This is a noir story set during the start of the rebellion in Cuba. The story takes place mostly in a club that the lead female character, Carole, frequents.
Honestly, the outcome of this book was confusing. I was rooting for no one.
CW: mentions of sexual assault
Imagine my surprise when I found out this was written by a female author. So many aspects of this book included the typical elements that I hate in books men write about female characters. I enjoyed nothing about this story.
This is a noir story set during the start of the rebellion in Cuba. The story takes place mostly in a club that the lead female character, Carole, frequents.
Honestly, the outcome of this book was confusing. I was rooting for no one.
June 16, 2018
Bad Girls is the historical fiction graphic novel of three ladies who work in El Eden Casino in Havana, Cuba. On New Year’s Eve 1958, they get into some trouble and have to leave the country. Making the task more difficult is the political turmoil that is Batista fleeing the country and Castro taking over.
I expected this to be badass females, like Gone Girl: girls are multidimensional and can be the bad guy. However, it was not that at all. Taffy, Carole, and Ana have learned how to not be at the bottom of the barrel as casino/gentlemen’s club workers, but outside of the building, they seem to get by more on sheer dumb luck and violence than cunning and street smarts.
Additionally, I didn’t understand the Kitty storyline. What purpose did she have other than as a foil to portray how vapid and hedonistic the whites are compared to the Cubanos. Mayhaps I am just too unversed in the intricacies of illustration and graphic novel. Along the same lines were the fact that Carole left the house without her lipstick and then another character (Ana??) mentioned never going anywhere without it and the diamonds motif: the diamonds that were paste that belonged to the line of Joe’s women and the fact that his boat is named Diamonds. I’m sure there’s a connection there, but it eludes me.
In all, it was an interesting story since I’ve recently read Alan Gratz’s Refugees, which has a storyline of a young Cuban and their family who are escaping Cuba and Castro for Miami some-30 years later.
I expected this to be badass females, like Gone Girl: girls are multidimensional and can be the bad guy. However, it was not that at all. Taffy, Carole, and Ana have learned how to not be at the bottom of the barrel as casino/gentlemen’s club workers, but outside of the building, they seem to get by more on sheer dumb luck and violence than cunning and street smarts.
Additionally, I didn’t understand the Kitty storyline. What purpose did she have other than as a foil to portray how vapid and hedonistic the whites are compared to the Cubanos. Mayhaps I am just too unversed in the intricacies of illustration and graphic novel. Along the same lines were the fact that Carole left the house without her lipstick and then another character (Ana??) mentioned never going anywhere without it and the diamonds motif: the diamonds that were paste that belonged to the line of Joe’s women and the fact that his boat is named Diamonds. I’m sure there’s a connection there, but it eludes me.
In all, it was an interesting story since I’ve recently read Alan Gratz’s Refugees, which has a storyline of a young Cuban and their family who are escaping Cuba and Castro for Miami some-30 years later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2018
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Bad Girls by Alex DeCamp and Victor Santos from NetGalley. It is set in December 1958, New Year's Eve in Cuba. Talks of a missile crisis flood the airwaves and at a club called, El Edén. This NSFW adult comic follows three women, all from different backgrounds who find themselves in some unlikely positions on this New Year's Eve and now that their lives are in danger they have them coming up with a plan to leave Cuba for good, tonight with 6 million dollars.
I thought the graphics were great, it reminded me of a mix between Frank Miller and Darwyn Cook's work on Batman Beyond with the angles in the faces and their use of shadows. At the same time having their very own unique style. The coloring was good, it works for the story. The characters were fun Ana was probably my favorite and I enjoyed the fact that none of them is 100% good but at this moment it was more about survival than anything else. The story was fast paced with the blend of music playing into the scenes adding a good touch without overpowering them.
TW: rape, violence against women, racial slurs
I thought the graphics were great, it reminded me of a mix between Frank Miller and Darwyn Cook's work on Batman Beyond with the angles in the faces and their use of shadows. At the same time having their very own unique style. The coloring was good, it works for the story. The characters were fun Ana was probably my favorite and I enjoyed the fact that none of them is 100% good but at this moment it was more about survival than anything else. The story was fast paced with the blend of music playing into the scenes adding a good touch without overpowering them.
TW: rape, violence against women, racial slurs
July 5, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I had high expectations for this story after enjoying de Campi's No Mercy, Vol. 1 so much, but all I got was a lifeless and generic crime noir set in Cuba on the eve of the revolution. The four female protagonists have motivations for the crimes they commit, but no other personalities to speak of. And one of them is only tangential to the plot, just wandering off on the sidelines on her own for some reason I never fully understood.
I might have enjoyed the story better with a different artist. This is the third work of Victor Santos that I have read, and his highly stylized art is just not growing on me. It sort of captures the time period, but I found some characters to look more like gnomes than people and some of the action scenes to be confusing. And while I think the coloring was going for moody, it mostly came off as murky.
I had high expectations for this story after enjoying de Campi's No Mercy, Vol. 1 so much, but all I got was a lifeless and generic crime noir set in Cuba on the eve of the revolution. The four female protagonists have motivations for the crimes they commit, but no other personalities to speak of. And one of them is only tangential to the plot, just wandering off on the sidelines on her own for some reason I never fully understood.
I might have enjoyed the story better with a different artist. This is the third work of Victor Santos that I have read, and his highly stylized art is just not growing on me. It sort of captures the time period, but I found some characters to look more like gnomes than people and some of the action scenes to be confusing. And while I think the coloring was going for moody, it mostly came off as murky.
November 8, 2018
Victor Santos' art is great: pure 60s fun and reminiscent of a hyperactive Darwyn Cooke. But the story isn't so hot - on the night of the Cuban Revolution, a handful of club gals try to steal six-million dollars from their gangster boss. Things predictably go awry. There are some very unsettling moments of attempted rape so, y'know, content warning and all that. The characters have little personality, so they're hard to care about aside from the fact that they're clearly being abused by the club owner and his goons. Bad Girls could have been an exciting heist thriller, but it's needlessly dark and light on story. And what's with the one girl who's barely introduced, but gets a lengthy, strange side story traveling to a deserted island? Still - that art is worth a look.
July 11, 2018
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It's a realistic/noir historic heist graphic novel set in Cuba on New Years' Eve of 1958 as Batista's government falls to Castro's revolution. The story is told from the viewpoints of four different women caught up in the events of the night, and their various desperate attempts to survive, escape, and possibly profit from the events sweeping around them. It's a very suspenseful story, and I wish it had continued just a bit further to show the eventual fate of some of the characters. It could have done just a bit more to show the impact of the events on more people; a thicker slice of life if you will. The story is mature in nature, not appropriate for young kids; the story highlights the class differences between the American tourists, the crime syndicates who run the economy, the natives, the military, etc., not to mention the gender and racial prejudices that ruled the era. The art is simple and colored subtly, not the style that I usually prefer, but it worked quite well for me with this story and was quite a contrast to some of the horrific events in the story. Overall I enjoyed the book and thought it was a hard-hitting and thought-provoking volume.
June 7, 2018
Set at a night club in Havana, this graphic novel focuses on the women who work at (or are otherwise connected to) the men who run the club. The women are having a rough go of it, and each of them is trying to find a way out, whether through climbing the social ladder by dating men in charge or by simply escaping with any resources they can. There's some rivalry between women, an attempted rape, and implied violence directed at one of the main character's daughters.
Santos's art really evokes 1950s Cuba (or, at least, I imagine that it does). The political backdrop is fascinating I hope it gets more exploration in the next volume -- assuming, of course, that there will be one. I'm hoping that's the case.
I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Santos's art really evokes 1950s Cuba (or, at least, I imagine that it does). The political backdrop is fascinating I hope it gets more exploration in the next volume -- assuming, of course, that there will be one. I'm hoping that's the case.
I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
The style, both of the illustration, color and the way the panels are laid out, is really nice and different from other graphic novels.
I liked the story, though I feel like it was cut short in a way. Even though the book is not small, I feel like there was more to tell. Maybe if the whole Kitty story was cut and more time was spent on the 3 other women. Her story was the least interesting and I feel like it didn't add much to the rest.
TW for rape, guns, violence, domestic violence and probably a few other I don't remember at the top of my head.
I understand, however, how this was highly praised, it was just not exactly my kind of thing I guess.
I liked the story, though I feel like it was cut short in a way. Even though the book is not small, I feel like there was more to tell. Maybe if the whole Kitty story was cut and more time was spent on the 3 other women. Her story was the least interesting and I feel like it didn't add much to the rest.
TW for rape, guns, violence, domestic violence and probably a few other I don't remember at the top of my head.
I understand, however, how this was highly praised, it was just not exactly my kind of thing I guess.
October 13, 2023
The two ⭐'s are mostly for the artwork. I just didn't enjoy this story. It reads like a Hollywood action film, which sounds good in theory but I didn't care for any of the characters or the storyline, the violence was a bit much for me. But I get that this wasn't meant to be escapism but real life. Some characters I just didn't get like Kitty. What was her whole purpose in the story? Her story line added absolutely nothing to my reading experience except annoyance. I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The ending wasn't great either.
April 13, 2021
The premise of this book sounded really nice. The story itself was good, too. The graphics are immaculate. But I do think that characters were not developed well. The ending did not work out well, too. I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel for this because this just ended in a pretty bad way.
July 14, 2018
I've never actually read a graphic novel before I won this one in a Goodreads giveaway. I was pleasantly surprised. The story and characters were interesting, and the graphics were bold and beautiful.
June 16, 2019
Very quick read about a heist that that took place during the final days of Cuba before Fidel took over. Fast-paced, filled in characters, it's a real page turner. My only real gripe comes from the storyline involving "Marlon Brando."
August 26, 2021
No too bad. I really like the illustration style and the story was alright
June 22, 2022
Came for the heist vibes, left because it was too sexually violent.
August 6, 2018
Cuba on the eve of 1959. Show girls try to get out of their abusive jobs and get a little of Batista's money, but chaos and tragedy ensue.
June 14, 2018
This graphic novel had an extremely interesting premise but it didn't quite deliver for me. While I appreciated the different female characters and their diversity, I felt like there wasn't enough time to get to know them outside of current motives and intentions. Because of this, I didn't feel particularly connected to any of them which stopped me from being able to fully embrace this story. While I did mostly enjoy the art style, it was a little confusing at times which made the plot challenging to follow. Due to this, I was quite disappointed and could only give an average rating.
(I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
(I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
September 22, 2023
3/5
Date Reviewed: 24 September 2018
This Review was first posted on It’s All Anthony. For more reviews, check out the blog here.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
tw; assault, rape, graphic violence, death.
Bad Girls takes place on the night of New Year’s Eve 1958 in Cuba. Three women appears to be deep in trouble while a fourth scouts out some island party that seems the place to be at. As the girls try to escape their troubles, trouble itself follows.
I cannot say exactly what drew me to this graphic novel, but I have to assume it was the odd style that was shown or perhaps it was an all-girls cast to a story that normally seems to be a male-type story overall. It seemed interesting and something different to read. Although it was different, it was not what I expected, and that may not even be a good thing.
When I first started the graphic novel, I was little bit interested. It was going at a steady pace, introducing everyone and the environment. It may have taken a little bit longer than it needed, but I was okay with it. As the story went on, I started to wonder what the plot of the story was. Nothing really happened until everything happened once. I did have a few questions about it. It was not confusing but more of “Could it really go that way in reality?” type of questions. It seems that the story took the characters on an disastrous, life-threatening joyride. I just could not get it sometimes. The ending was completely unexpected, but all it had was a “that’s it?” reaction.
There were a few times where the art style did not look good at all. The positions of the characters didn’t make any sense and was immediately noticeable. The color choices were the best part, but the style wasn’t up there where I hoped to be. It does make it interesting for the time period, however.
Date Reviewed: 24 September 2018
This Review was first posted on It’s All Anthony. For more reviews, check out the blog here.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
tw; assault, rape, graphic violence, death.
Bad Girls takes place on the night of New Year’s Eve 1958 in Cuba. Three women appears to be deep in trouble while a fourth scouts out some island party that seems the place to be at. As the girls try to escape their troubles, trouble itself follows.
I cannot say exactly what drew me to this graphic novel, but I have to assume it was the odd style that was shown or perhaps it was an all-girls cast to a story that normally seems to be a male-type story overall. It seemed interesting and something different to read. Although it was different, it was not what I expected, and that may not even be a good thing.
When I first started the graphic novel, I was little bit interested. It was going at a steady pace, introducing everyone and the environment. It may have taken a little bit longer than it needed, but I was okay with it. As the story went on, I started to wonder what the plot of the story was. Nothing really happened until everything happened once. I did have a few questions about it. It was not confusing but more of “Could it really go that way in reality?” type of questions. It seems that the story took the characters on an disastrous, life-threatening joyride. I just could not get it sometimes. The ending was completely unexpected, but all it had was a “that’s it?” reaction.
There were a few times where the art style did not look good at all. The positions of the characters didn’t make any sense and was immediately noticeable. The color choices were the best part, but the style wasn’t up there where I hoped to be. It does make it interesting for the time period, however.
January 8, 2019
While I found this book to be a little disorganized those feelings helped with the understanding of what it must have been like for the country you call your home to change in the blink of an eye. The women in this graphic novel did not have foolproof escape plans, they were reacting to their circumstances using the resources they had available. The difference between Batista and Castro's Cuba was immediately felt with dire consequences for some of those caught in the crossfire.
Alex de Campi and Victor Santos created a tangible world through dialogue and art. The bright colours, the conversations in Spanish, and the stark contrast between the Cuba of the revolutionaries and those who used and abused the system for their own gains. There is still much to be learned from the Cuban revolution and this book gives the reader a look into the lives of four women caught in the middle.
Alex de Campi and Victor Santos created a tangible world through dialogue and art. The bright colours, the conversations in Spanish, and the stark contrast between the Cuba of the revolutionaries and those who used and abused the system for their own gains. There is still much to be learned from the Cuban revolution and this book gives the reader a look into the lives of four women caught in the middle.
April 30, 2019
I wanted to like this, I just felt thrown into a story and I didn't care about the characters or their plight especially the side story... cool art work and liked the "world" of the comic but it felt like it needed more set up and maybe that side story with the "colony" either not in it or expanded to make more sense? (at least to me?) *shrug*
July 6, 2018
This graphic novel I really didn't enjoy. I just couldn't get into it. Art work was okay. Dialogue not so good.I wanted to put it down and not read anymore but I decided to give it a chance.
September 29, 2019
I totally missed the point of this book and did not enjoy the story nor the artwork.
May 2, 2020
As Havana turns over a new leaf, and 1959 comes into form, the embers of the revolution catch flame and a select few women, whose lives are on the edge, will know once and for all whether now is the moment to take a leap of faith.
BAD GIRLS drops readers into a hellish and dramatic New Year's Day. The epicenter of which is a rakish nightclub, El Jardín del Edén, and the smoky backrooms and shadowy cash vaults which serve as its lifeblood. All at once an outpost for rich Caucasians, a glorified casino for wayward expats, and a cash-squeeze for local military fools of all varieties, this club is very busy on New Year's Eve . . . and that's a problem.
With darkness, cash becomes an uncertain commodity. And with revolution, darkness becomes light. But whose?
This graphic novel folds a few tough ladies into the noted revolución cubana, each with an array of debts to settle, loves to proclaim, crimes to commit, and more: Carole is the main squeeze of the irascible club owner; Taffy is the club's curvy top talent; Ana is past her prime but isn't quite out of the spotlight. BAD GIRLS is a drama through and through; a survival game with a time limit; an enduring question of who among these women can think, punch, and intuit faster than the others.
de Campi is an experienced comics author with a knack for accepting if not invoking all the wild twists and turns that come with stories about characters on the edge. It sounds finicky but the truth is more exquisite: stories only grow interesting when characters with nothing to lose are provided the means to acquire their own destiny. Because that's when a woman slips a gun into her gown, or plots to strangle the tubby gangster known for beating his girls, or theorizes she can split six million in cash a whole lot more efficiently than the corrupt general planning to take flight in the dead of night.
Santos' work in BAD GIRLS is exhilarating. This graphic novel is very much a visual playground. When a performer goes on stage to belt out a purposeful number, inlaid text in English and Spanish serenade readers while backroom rumbles make headway. When someone goes missing, but the cash doesn't, a gunfight breaks out, but Santos' stilted, checkerboard-staggering of panels, deliberately out of sequence, imitates for readers the frenetic physical and emotional displacement wrought by a close-quarters shoot-out.
The book also dabbles with a few red herrings, proffering characters and clues that may or may not throw readers off the scent the of chaos sure to come. Indeed, with the title's aesthetic so heavily bet on under-the-table deals and getaway cars full of bullet holes, it can be tough to discern what is or is not important to the narrative. But what often feels irrelevant is also an opportunity to see things in a new light. Is the naïve young woman in search of Marlon Brando at a nearby club really a frivolous do-nothing, or does she embody the new-era confidence of local revolutionaries . . . eager to try something, anything that will keep their eyes set on the next sunrise? BAD GIRLS is a strong graphic novel. Readers will feel it can (and will) go in many different directions at the same time, knowing full well the book can't (and won't). One may proclaim the book unfulfilling, but that's the rub for a drama so tightly woven. Hope, invariably, is overmature; tragedy, by way of contrast, is inevitable.
BAD GIRLS drops readers into a hellish and dramatic New Year's Day. The epicenter of which is a rakish nightclub, El Jardín del Edén, and the smoky backrooms and shadowy cash vaults which serve as its lifeblood. All at once an outpost for rich Caucasians, a glorified casino for wayward expats, and a cash-squeeze for local military fools of all varieties, this club is very busy on New Year's Eve . . . and that's a problem.
With darkness, cash becomes an uncertain commodity. And with revolution, darkness becomes light. But whose?
This graphic novel folds a few tough ladies into the noted revolución cubana, each with an array of debts to settle, loves to proclaim, crimes to commit, and more: Carole is the main squeeze of the irascible club owner; Taffy is the club's curvy top talent; Ana is past her prime but isn't quite out of the spotlight. BAD GIRLS is a drama through and through; a survival game with a time limit; an enduring question of who among these women can think, punch, and intuit faster than the others.
de Campi is an experienced comics author with a knack for accepting if not invoking all the wild twists and turns that come with stories about characters on the edge. It sounds finicky but the truth is more exquisite: stories only grow interesting when characters with nothing to lose are provided the means to acquire their own destiny. Because that's when a woman slips a gun into her gown, or plots to strangle the tubby gangster known for beating his girls, or theorizes she can split six million in cash a whole lot more efficiently than the corrupt general planning to take flight in the dead of night.
Santos' work in BAD GIRLS is exhilarating. This graphic novel is very much a visual playground. When a performer goes on stage to belt out a purposeful number, inlaid text in English and Spanish serenade readers while backroom rumbles make headway. When someone goes missing, but the cash doesn't, a gunfight breaks out, but Santos' stilted, checkerboard-staggering of panels, deliberately out of sequence, imitates for readers the frenetic physical and emotional displacement wrought by a close-quarters shoot-out.
The book also dabbles with a few red herrings, proffering characters and clues that may or may not throw readers off the scent the of chaos sure to come. Indeed, with the title's aesthetic so heavily bet on under-the-table deals and getaway cars full of bullet holes, it can be tough to discern what is or is not important to the narrative. But what often feels irrelevant is also an opportunity to see things in a new light. Is the naïve young woman in search of Marlon Brando at a nearby club really a frivolous do-nothing, or does she embody the new-era confidence of local revolutionaries . . . eager to try something, anything that will keep their eyes set on the next sunrise? BAD GIRLS is a strong graphic novel. Readers will feel it can (and will) go in many different directions at the same time, knowing full well the book can't (and won't). One may proclaim the book unfulfilling, but that's the rub for a drama so tightly woven. Hope, invariably, is overmature; tragedy, by way of contrast, is inevitable.
January 10, 2020
There are shades of brilliance in this book. It's deserving of three and a half stars, but I can't say that I would actually recommend it to anyone.
A noir story set during the onset of the Cuban Revolution focused solely on female protagonists. Based on that description I was sold; I read it all within an hour. (Leaving me guilty enough to then buy another book from the bookstore I was bumming around in).
The problem with this book is that it wants to balance out the stories of two Cuban women and two white women who all find themselves stranded on the island when the Revolution begins. One of the white women, Carole, is the story's foremost character, a the stereotypical noir broad - she's self-interested, taking advantage of anyone who is nearby to fulfill her goals, including the Cuban women whom she claims to be friends with. She's repellent and yet we lock onto her as the main protagonist of the story because she fits the noir tropes. The other female characters, while being fairly badass, don't get as much of a focus. Their stories generally blend together and you lose sight of what makes them unique.
For those readers who do pick it up, I'll provide you with a trigger warning right now - There is violence against women and Carole's ending in particular was extremely unexpected.
I can definitely see this book become a film or a tv series. There's a good foundation here for a deep dive into the history of the Cuban Revolution and the role women played in it. But for now I'm left with the sense that these characters deserved a more nuanced portrayal.
A noir story set during the onset of the Cuban Revolution focused solely on female protagonists. Based on that description I was sold; I read it all within an hour. (Leaving me guilty enough to then buy another book from the bookstore I was bumming around in).
The problem with this book is that it wants to balance out the stories of two Cuban women and two white women who all find themselves stranded on the island when the Revolution begins. One of the white women, Carole, is the story's foremost character, a the stereotypical noir broad - she's self-interested, taking advantage of anyone who is nearby to fulfill her goals, including the Cuban women whom she claims to be friends with. She's repellent and yet we lock onto her as the main protagonist of the story because she fits the noir tropes. The other female characters, while being fairly badass, don't get as much of a focus. Their stories generally blend together and you lose sight of what makes them unique.
For those readers who do pick it up, I'll provide you with a trigger warning right now - There is violence against women and Carole's ending in particular was extremely unexpected.
I can definitely see this book become a film or a tv series. There's a good foundation here for a deep dive into the history of the Cuban Revolution and the role women played in it. But for now I'm left with the sense that these characters deserved a more nuanced portrayal.
July 22, 2018
'Bad Girls' by Alex de Campi and Victor Santos is a stylish graphic novel with a pretty good story to tell.
The story takes place on New Year's Eve 1958 in a nightclub in Cuba. The main characters are a group of women who work in the club. One is the girlfriend of the club owner, another is a dancer, and there is a singer. There is a visit by a mainland mobster, and a large sum of money being funneled off to the Cuban military. Through events in the story, the women decide to take the money and start a new life elsewhere. Things don't go as planned for anyone involved.
These women barely know each other at the beginning of the story, so their motivations for helping each other are tenuous at best. These are pretty flawed characters, but it's a pretty good noir story.
Driving it all is some fabulous art that reminded me of some of the great work of the late Darwyn Cooke. I loved the colors and some of the full pages. I also really liked how the music of the era intertwines with the art to provide a soundtrack to the narrative.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Gallery 13, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The story takes place on New Year's Eve 1958 in a nightclub in Cuba. The main characters are a group of women who work in the club. One is the girlfriend of the club owner, another is a dancer, and there is a singer. There is a visit by a mainland mobster, and a large sum of money being funneled off to the Cuban military. Through events in the story, the women decide to take the money and start a new life elsewhere. Things don't go as planned for anyone involved.
These women barely know each other at the beginning of the story, so their motivations for helping each other are tenuous at best. These are pretty flawed characters, but it's a pretty good noir story.
Driving it all is some fabulous art that reminded me of some of the great work of the late Darwyn Cooke. I loved the colors and some of the full pages. I also really liked how the music of the era intertwines with the art to provide a soundtrack to the narrative.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Gallery 13, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
March 3, 2020
this graphic novel has a unique historic take on classic 50s noir motiffs. the location in which it was placed provided ample opportunities for diverse expressions and translations of language. i was kinda sorta totally impressed by the deaths at the end of the story- i didnt expect the sudden death toll even though i shouldve bc i found myself scoffing at the lil pink heart btwn the couple on their getaway boat. the pile up of murderers being murdered is an epic climax, with the story truly ending shortly after. im almost charmed by the sweet ending, but im not sure how it really sits with thriller noir thematics. i really enjoyed the artists layout, a few pages in each chapter were styled very uniquely using time appropriate vehicles, onomonopeia, and shades of shadows.
unfortunately i am not likely to read this tale again even though the creators did a decent job crafting a noir thriller. im not impressed by any book that not address civil rights of POC in the 1950s. just bc this story happens in cuba doesnt mean it should depict AND ignore the subjugated inequality of minoirites being presented only supporting characters and as wait staff/drivers/workers. too many main characters were fit, white and straight. i feel like the story couldve held more.
unfortunately i am not likely to read this tale again even though the creators did a decent job crafting a noir thriller. im not impressed by any book that not address civil rights of POC in the 1950s. just bc this story happens in cuba doesnt mean it should depict AND ignore the subjugated inequality of minoirites being presented only supporting characters and as wait staff/drivers/workers. too many main characters were fit, white and straight. i feel like the story couldve held more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
This story had a lot of potential. It follows four women on the eve of revolution in Cuba, with dictator Fulgencio Batista fleeing the country and Castro taking over. It does have some plus points - the art by Victor Santos is beautiful and stylised and made me feel like I was in a Bond movie. The action was fast-paced - I finished it in one read flat.
Unfortunately, I didn't really get a sense of the female characters - they were just sketch-outlined, with not much by way of back story, apart from that they worked at the same casino, El Eden, in different roles. The gratuitous violence including (CW, spoiler alert) appeared to be there just to move the plot along. Ultimately there's not much by way of resolution, it ends on a cliffhanger and though the art was beautiful there was so much action that it was sometimes difficult to follow what was going on in the fight scenes. Also, since the characters aren't really introduced, it's hard to keep track of them/grasp who they are and their motivations. Disappointing because there's definitely potential here - it could have been something cool.
Unfortunately, I didn't really get a sense of the female characters - they were just sketch-outlined, with not much by way of back story, apart from that they worked at the same casino, El Eden, in different roles. The gratuitous violence including (CW, spoiler alert) appeared to be there just to move the plot along. Ultimately there's not much by way of resolution, it ends on a cliffhanger and though the art was beautiful there was so much action that it was sometimes difficult to follow what was going on in the fight scenes. Also, since the characters aren't really introduced, it's hard to keep track of them/grasp who they are and their motivations. Disappointing because there's definitely potential here - it could have been something cool.
July 30, 2018
I enter most of the Goodreads giveaways for graphic novels because I enjoy the form so much. I seldom win, but this one I did. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. The story features four women in Cuba on New Years Eve 1958, the day/night that Batista fled and Castro came to power. But that's mostly background to the story. Three of the women work at a Havana nightclub/casino called El Jardin del Eden. I'm not sure where the fourth comes from or even what she's doing in this story. It takes awhile for the main story to get going, and even then, it's never really clear to me what's going on. Six million dollars in payoff money to the nightclub (and others) comes into play, as the women decide to steal it and leave Cuba. Things don't go as planned and not everyone makes it out alive, but the story doesn't really make sense to me. The art doesn't help. The figures are a bit cartoonish and the coloring is very dark and murky. The story doesn't reach a very satisfying conclusion, although by the end, I didn't much care. It's too bad; I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't pay off.
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