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110 Per¢
Meet Cathy, Gerty and Sasha, three friends with one thing in common: their absolute obsession with the boy band, 110 Per[. Unfortunately, deception is getting the better of them, and in the course of this story, relationships will crumble, laws will be broken, and lives will be shattered. Watch as these three friends lie, cheat, and steal to try and get closer to a boy band, only to end up further from reality.
136 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2006
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 29, 2014
I know Tony Consiglio from The Ink Panthers Show podcast where he usually drops in every now and then and completely livens up the episode with his funny stories, brilliant comic timing, and quick wit. It’s a shame the podcast is now twice-yearly (or thereabouts) instead of weekly or even monthly because Consiglio’s stories remain some of the most entertaining podcast episodes I’ve ever listened to.
Like the Ink Panthers hosts Mike Dawson and Alex Robinson, Consiglio is also an indie comics artist and 110 PerC (what an awkward title as there’s no “cent” symbol on the keyboard!) is the only comic of his I can find. It’s a really good one though and, while it seems intended as straight drama, there are a couple scenes in the book that made me laugh (Sasha’s brother-in-law hair collector – that visual too!).
The book follows the lives of three middle-aged, and older, women who’re obsessive fans of the boy band 110 PerC. As the band’s latest album is about to drop in time for their world tour, the three women try to get tickets to see them – and madness ensues!
I’m sure some readers might dislike 110 PerC because the comic has a very one-sided, negative view of fandom that I’m sure isn’t necessarily representative of fandom as a whole. Nor does it actually offer much insight into the pop culture behaviour. On the other hand I’m not sure he was aiming to look at all types of fandom but at a specific group who are obsessed with boy bands.
Like all good storytellers, Consiglio steadily drew me into his character’s lives and I became interested in what was happening to them - and not just the main three characters either but some on the periphery too, like Sasha’s husband. Caring about characters - what a rarity!
It’s because of the initial seeming shallowness of the characters’ lives that I was surprised to come across some surprisingly touching scenes later on. Like Cathy (the single, fat one), who we’ve seen been teased and made fun of at work, which she takes good-naturedly in a heartbreaking way, suddenly asks her friend guilelessly “why doesn’t anyone love me?”
Or when you see Sasha’s marriage, which initially appears quite fraught because her husband speaks to her quite gruffly, turns out to be a very close one - some couples are all bark and no bite. There are a couple of marriages presented in this book and I liked how Consiglio subverted expectations on both of them.
The book dispenses with inner monologues/thought bubbles in favour of an on/off documentary-style talking head narration that feels very much a product of the mid-00s but adds to the realism of the story. The art on the other hand is anything but, though it’s fine overall and the characters’ eyes in particular convey tone perfectly.
110 PerC isn’t an Important comic and it is very straightforward, though it is enjoyable with a fine story that very much entertained. Sometimes all a good comic needs to be is just that!
Like the Ink Panthers hosts Mike Dawson and Alex Robinson, Consiglio is also an indie comics artist and 110 PerC (what an awkward title as there’s no “cent” symbol on the keyboard!) is the only comic of his I can find. It’s a really good one though and, while it seems intended as straight drama, there are a couple scenes in the book that made me laugh (Sasha’s brother-in-law hair collector – that visual too!).
The book follows the lives of three middle-aged, and older, women who’re obsessive fans of the boy band 110 PerC. As the band’s latest album is about to drop in time for their world tour, the three women try to get tickets to see them – and madness ensues!
I’m sure some readers might dislike 110 PerC because the comic has a very one-sided, negative view of fandom that I’m sure isn’t necessarily representative of fandom as a whole. Nor does it actually offer much insight into the pop culture behaviour. On the other hand I’m not sure he was aiming to look at all types of fandom but at a specific group who are obsessed with boy bands.
Like all good storytellers, Consiglio steadily drew me into his character’s lives and I became interested in what was happening to them - and not just the main three characters either but some on the periphery too, like Sasha’s husband. Caring about characters - what a rarity!
It’s because of the initial seeming shallowness of the characters’ lives that I was surprised to come across some surprisingly touching scenes later on. Like Cathy (the single, fat one), who we’ve seen been teased and made fun of at work, which she takes good-naturedly in a heartbreaking way, suddenly asks her friend guilelessly “why doesn’t anyone love me?”
Or when you see Sasha’s marriage, which initially appears quite fraught because her husband speaks to her quite gruffly, turns out to be a very close one - some couples are all bark and no bite. There are a couple of marriages presented in this book and I liked how Consiglio subverted expectations on both of them.
The book dispenses with inner monologues/thought bubbles in favour of an on/off documentary-style talking head narration that feels very much a product of the mid-00s but adds to the realism of the story. The art on the other hand is anything but, though it’s fine overall and the characters’ eyes in particular convey tone perfectly.
110 PerC isn’t an Important comic and it is very straightforward, though it is enjoyable with a fine story that very much entertained. Sometimes all a good comic needs to be is just that!
March 9, 2018
A solid 3 stars. Could be better.
It's a story that follows 3 middle age women who're fangirls to a boyband called 110Perc. It shows how these women deal with life & their obsession. I totally can relate to them but the ending tho, like suddenly it's over. Probably, it's me wanting them to have more story & get a better ending.
P/S: this graphic novel is not for younger audience. It baffled me, knowing that there's no warning that this book is for mature reader.
March 12, 2021
I don't understand what this was supposed to be or why this author thought he would have a perspective to share about it.
January 13, 2018
I didn't skim any of the negative reviews for 110 Per¢, but I don't think it's too surprising that a graphic novel based on three older women's obsession with a boy band might have failed to connect with a large portion of the primary graphic novel/comic demographic. And maybe those are the same reasons I kind of love it. At least, for me, it's interesting to see main characters in comics that aren't macho males or bombshell females. These are just three women who could be your mom, sister-in-law, aunt, co-worker, babysitter... you get the idea... and they're women whose obsession with the boy band in question (named--obviously in hindsight--110 Per¢) is a crutch to distract them from their otherwise shitty lives.
And that's the real crux of 110 Per¢. Where "obsessed with a boy band" might not be too exciting of a synopsis, this exploration into the void they feel gives 110 Per¢ an edge that feels relevant to anyone who feels like they're floundering.
Among our three main characters we see job issues, husband issues, and daughter issues. Sexual harassment. Verbal abuse. Neglect. But not all of their problems are imposed on them--some are self-created, which is why when they all get together as part of a 110 Per¢ fan club, the thing they look forward to, they are still miserable and take it out on the other people--their friends--in the club with them.
In a way 110 Per¢ is a bleak novel, yet there is hope at the end of the tunnel. We see forgiveness, reconciliation, adjustment. Not total, not complete, but the hope for a life that feels fulfilling without the obsession.
And that's the real crux of 110 Per¢. Where "obsessed with a boy band" might not be too exciting of a synopsis, this exploration into the void they feel gives 110 Per¢ an edge that feels relevant to anyone who feels like they're floundering.
Among our three main characters we see job issues, husband issues, and daughter issues. Sexual harassment. Verbal abuse. Neglect. But not all of their problems are imposed on them--some are self-created, which is why when they all get together as part of a 110 Per¢ fan club, the thing they look forward to, they are still miserable and take it out on the other people--their friends--in the club with them.
In a way 110 Per¢ is a bleak novel, yet there is hope at the end of the tunnel. We see forgiveness, reconciliation, adjustment. Not total, not complete, but the hope for a life that feels fulfilling without the obsession.
January 13, 2018
Three adult women are fans of a boy band, 110 Per. They belong to a club more "mature adult fans" of the band, attend meetings, collect memorabilia, search the internet for pictures.
There's a new album coming out, and a concert in their city.
Laws will be broken. Friendships will shatter. Marriages will crack. Careers may be threatened.
Some, but not all, having been caught up in the mad obsession with celebrity, will regain their footing, with or without giving up the band they love.
The art is definitely not the point, here. It's at the level of a daily comic strip where the point is the ongoing story, not the beautiful art. The focus is on the characters, their relationships, and their often dubious life choices.
It's lightly engaging, a quick read, and has some sharp points that will connect for anyone that has an obsessed fan of a band, singer, or perhaps even sports team in their life. Not wonderful, but enjoyable. I certainly don't regret reading it.
I bought this book.
There's a new album coming out, and a concert in their city.
Laws will be broken. Friendships will shatter. Marriages will crack. Careers may be threatened.
Some, but not all, having been caught up in the mad obsession with celebrity, will regain their footing, with or without giving up the band they love.
The art is definitely not the point, here. It's at the level of a daily comic strip where the point is the ongoing story, not the beautiful art. The focus is on the characters, their relationships, and their often dubious life choices.
It's lightly engaging, a quick read, and has some sharp points that will connect for anyone that has an obsessed fan of a band, singer, or perhaps even sports team in their life. Not wonderful, but enjoyable. I certainly don't regret reading it.
I bought this book.
February 1, 2018
Wow… Wow… What is there to say about this comic? Other than it’s BORING as heck. It’s about 3 women who at their age (all 30+) are obsessed with a boy band called 110 Percent. In the opening scenes of the comic you see some guys throwing some trash into a garbage can and get on a bus. Moments later a women arrives and grabs that trash and drives off. That is how obsessed with them they are.
Now, I know this is a preview, but it’s a terrible one. Just as with all my critiques of the other comic previews I have reviewed recently, this one falls into the same category. It does nothing to convince me to buy the rest of the comic. All I found out in this preview is they are all basically crazy for this band, what is my reasoning to want to continue to read about their boring lives while they gawk about a boy band?
The artistry is better than I can do at stick figures, but not something I would care to spend 100+ pages looking at.
It is DRM FREE via Comixology.
Now, I know this is a preview, but it’s a terrible one. Just as with all my critiques of the other comic previews I have reviewed recently, this one falls into the same category. It does nothing to convince me to buy the rest of the comic. All I found out in this preview is they are all basically crazy for this band, what is my reasoning to want to continue to read about their boring lives while they gawk about a boy band?
The artistry is better than I can do at stick figures, but not something I would care to spend 100+ pages looking at.
It is DRM FREE via Comixology.
July 23, 2020
Damn!
This is something that I read about, and someone recommended it to me too, so I decided to give it a try, and by reading the plot I was 110% (I'm not even sorry) sure I won't like it. Meh plot with nothing interesting to get me to read it...
And well, I was way off.. such a fun read, with some nice artwork to go along. Nothing that's out of this world or that will change your life or whatever, but you'll definitely have fun reading it, especially if you wanna take a break from all them superheroes.
This is something that I read about, and someone recommended it to me too, so I decided to give it a try, and by reading the plot I was 110% (I'm not even sorry) sure I won't like it. Meh plot with nothing interesting to get me to read it...
And well, I was way off.. such a fun read, with some nice artwork to go along. Nothing that's out of this world or that will change your life or whatever, but you'll definitely have fun reading it, especially if you wanna take a break from all them superheroes.
July 24, 2017
The price of obsession with idols when you're out of your teens. I see elements of these women in myself, too, I admit, but the story isn't really about their obsession with a boy band, but more about the three women and what their lives are, and might be. By the end things have changed for all of them...and for one of them, it might be a net positive.
August 13, 2018
Surprisingly captivating comic about friendships, priorities and life on the canvas of mature boyband fans.
June 1, 2019
I've not seen a comic about older women and their obsession with a boy band before, probably because none exist! Wonderful
March 15, 2021
Lovely sweet and bittersweet story of older female relationships. You're never too old to enjoy a boy band!
January 31, 2025
One of those books that instantly becomes a show or movie in your head.
March 26, 2015
Looking over the other reviews here on Goodreads, it's pretty obvious that Tony Consiglio's "110 Perc(ent)" is a pretty divisive book. Its story of three older woman and their fanatic love for a cheesy boy band called 110 Perc(ent), the way it disrupts their so-called "real" lives, can come off as somewhat mean-spirited to some but I believe Consiglio has a genuine sympathy for his characters. I'd be willing to bet that Consiglio, like most comic creators, has his own obsessive passions and this graphic novel comes from a place of fondness and not spite.
I love when an artist uses a cartoon-y style to tell a serious story and "110 Perc(ent)" is a prime example of why this approach works so well. Despite some criticisms to the contrary, I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and very believable; I may not have liked each one of them but their behaviors were certainly plausible and understandable. Consiglio also injects some much needed humor into the story, mainly with the introduction of a few kooky secondary characters, which helps break the awkward tension throughout the book. It's a short comic but I think it accomplishes a lot in a small amount of pages.
As an avid music fan myself (I used to alphabetize my CDs, for example), I understand what it feels like to really love a band, and what it feels like when they disappoint you. "110 Perc(ent)" is an affectionate satire that'll make you laugh at the crazy lengths some fans will go to... and then wince with recognition when you remember doing something similar.
I love when an artist uses a cartoon-y style to tell a serious story and "110 Perc(ent)" is a prime example of why this approach works so well. Despite some criticisms to the contrary, I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and very believable; I may not have liked each one of them but their behaviors were certainly plausible and understandable. Consiglio also injects some much needed humor into the story, mainly with the introduction of a few kooky secondary characters, which helps break the awkward tension throughout the book. It's a short comic but I think it accomplishes a lot in a small amount of pages.
As an avid music fan myself (I used to alphabetize my CDs, for example), I understand what it feels like to really love a band, and what it feels like when they disappoint you. "110 Perc(ent)" is an affectionate satire that'll make you laugh at the crazy lengths some fans will go to... and then wince with recognition when you remember doing something similar.
February 20, 2013
Well I was sure wrong about this book. I thought it was going to be funny and perhaps gentle parody of fan culture. Wow. No. The characters in this book are all terrible, sad people, with horrible lives who use their fandom of a boy band to try to escape. But even in their escape - the fan club - they are mean to each other, cruel even. I was left feeling so sad for these wretched women. I rarely use the word hate when describing a book because I can usually find some redeeming thing somewhere within its pages. But I actually hate this book. I wonder if Tony Consiglio is a fan of anything. He must never feel that unreasonable silly joy of just loving some pop culture (whether it is a band, a TV show, a movie) for no real reason other than it is fun. Otherwise, he could not possibly have depicted fandom in this way. I wonder if the fans had been men, and the pop culture they were fans of had been comics, or a scifi movie franchise, if they would have been depicted in such a sexist, cruel and horrible way. I'm thinking no, they wouldn't. The underlying message of this book is it is ok for men to be fans into middle and older adulthood without anyone batting an eye. But if women are fans of anything past age 30 (and that is a stretch) then they must have something terrible wrong with them, or their lives must be severely lacking. Wow, I just really hate this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2014
I think a lot of these reviews suffer from expectations. I read the book as part of the Ink Panthers podcast book club, a show where Tony is a frequent guest. I knew what I was getting into, and this wouldn't be a straight ahead story about a boy band.
I enjoyed the art, I liked the story and found the whole thing enjoyable. It was dark with several characters behaving atrociously. I liked that each of the main characters had a satisfying character arc - some going up but others going down. I would recommend it to anyone prepared for an acerbic look at fanatic behavior.
I enjoyed the art, I liked the story and found the whole thing enjoyable. It was dark with several characters behaving atrociously. I liked that each of the main characters had a satisfying character arc - some going up but others going down. I would recommend it to anyone prepared for an acerbic look at fanatic behavior.
April 23, 2011
Pushed as a comical story, I was very disappointed when I realized it's a drama.
The 3 main female characters are potrayed as pathetic, middle aged women going through a mid-life crisis by obsessing over a teen boy band.
Although I enjoyed the book, the brutally painful portrayal of the verbally abused wife and the graphic portrayal of the perv, were a little hard for me to handle. This book is definately for a mature teen or older audience.
The 3 main female characters are potrayed as pathetic, middle aged women going through a mid-life crisis by obsessing over a teen boy band.
Although I enjoyed the book, the brutally painful portrayal of the verbally abused wife and the graphic portrayal of the perv, were a little hard for me to handle. This book is definately for a mature teen or older audience.
June 5, 2011
I should have loved this--it was about adult women who are fanatics about a boy band. I love teen culture and so this should have been right up my alley. Instead, it was just OK. Maybe that is b/c the characters were not great. They were generally just stereotypes of 50-year-old women. I basically read it in one sitting though, so it was compelling enough to stick with it.
August 18, 2016
A random find at a used bookstore, the quotes from Alex Robinson and Ivan Brunetti sold me. A great surprise, funny, humane and cruel in equal measure. I'll be tracking down the rest of Consiglio's stuff if you need me.
October 24, 2014
Maybe 3.5
January 19, 2016
Hilariously terrible! A very satisfying resolution, too. I wasn't expecting this satire to have characters that grew and changed.
August 4, 2016
What an original and interesting comic! It definitely made me feel sad and irritated and then glad and angry - all of these things for these female characters.
November 7, 2012
Kinda old-timer geezer fun. Won't recommend it to anyone
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews