Hot Comb

by Ebony Flowers

Hot Comb offers a poignant glimpse into black women’s lives and coming of age stories as seen across a crowded, ammonia-scented hair salon. The titular story “Hot Comb” is about a young girl’s first perm - a doomed ploy to look cool and to stop seeming “too white” in the all-black neighborhood her family has just moved to. Realizations about race, class, and the imperfections of identity swirl through these stories, which are by turns sweet, insightful, and heartbreaking.

“Following in the rich tradition of Lynda Barry, Ebony Flowers addresses the sometimes harsh, sometimes devastating pangs of childhood ending. She pays beautiful homage to the struggle to find your place in a world that has such rigid rules about who we are,” Drawn & Quarterly Publisher and acquiring editor Peggy Burns commented. “Hot Comb explores the poetry in everyday life, all the while centering the lives and stories of black women. Ebony’s ease with the comics language is remarkable. Her black and white drawings, as well as her colour collage work, are both equally stunning.”

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Memoir, Race, Adult

184 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2019

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Comb is a collection of short stories by Ebony Flowers about black women and hair, featuring the 2020 Eisner award winning title story, which is why I picked it up. It has a style that is hard to warm up to, crammed panels, smudgy black and white pen and ink, highly reminiscent of the work of her teacher, Lynda Barry. Barry lives near the UW-Madison campus where Flowers got her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, where I worked for five years many years ago. Flowers says she was able to do her dissertation mostly in comics, so I am eager to see Flowers do educational research as comics!

I didn’t always love the style, or the production, as I said--the images need more space to breathe, maybe some stories could use a touch of color to liven them up, but Flowers can draw, and the stories take an amusing dive into black women’s culture, beauty, racism, sexism, with almost men present, so it basically passes the Bechdel test. And this is the way Barry tells stories, too, looking at a neighborhood and everything in it as a way of understanding the people there. As to “liking” it I’d rate it three stars, maybe, but give another star to Flowers and Eisner for pushing the industry in directions it needs to go, to encourage a wider group of folks to read and draw.

Reminds me a bit of other works on hair I have read such as Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron, and a poem I can’t quite name by Patricia Smith about her Daddy working in her hair, and another pretty recent picture book about a father working on her daughter’s hair. All good stuff. Books about black barber shop and salon culture.

[Bri Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I’m just not that into comics. I don’t find the storytelling as compelling because usually the author is preoccupied with the art.

I did find the subject matter of HOT COMB (hair, relationships with mothers, aunties, and grandmas) to be so important and relatable for Black women. I swear I have PTSD from getting relaxers as a child and it was very affirming to see my experience reflected in that first story.

I mostly wish there was a bit more to each part. I wanted to know more about the characters; I felt like every vignette was merely a teaser for stories that could have far more depth but I guess that’s my whole issue with comics.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hair is a thing. Especially women's hair. Across all cultures. Women of color have extra special baggage when it comes to our hair. If you don't believe me, just look up how much money this industry generates. It boggles the mind. World hunger could be fixed with that kind of money. However, we all live in this world, and are products of our upbringing and the marketing messages we are constantly bombarded with, so maybe we could give ourselves a break on this one.

This graphic memoir is a collection of vignettes that offer a "glimpse into black women’s lives and coming-of-age stories as seen across a crowded, ammonia-scented hair salon while ladies gossip and bond over the burn." While I appreciate that there is power for women and girls who see themselves in these stories, I was not a fan of the sketchy, blocky illustration style, and the pieces themselves lacked a cohesive narrative drive.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is collection of graphic short stories that add up to a nuanced and complex narrative about the significance of hair in the lives of black women.

The art definitely isn't exactly my bag, however. Although some of the artwork is quite striking, a lot of the book is sketched out very roughly with a cursive writing not always easily legible.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating glimpse of African American women and their hair as well as their relationships with their mothers, sisters and friends. This book is a great companion piece to Americanah, though better than that book for being concise and focused. The art has a rough and unrefined quality, but I quickly warmed to it. Recommended.

[Beverlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Comb evokes memories of girlhood spent sitting still while my mother pressed my hair. That was my first test of patience and I passed most of the time (no singed earlobes lol). Another memory is the insecurity of early teenage years-wanting to fit in with an accepted hairstyle, yet not really wanting to repeat the process after being on the receiving end of negative attention. The title story of this collection reflects these memories and the following stories attempt to present hair as a liberating force, as a crown we wear that does not have to look a specific way to be splendid. Hair can also be a source of pain as shown in My Lil Sister Lena & The Lady On The Train when people disrespect what should be a clear boundary. Some stories involve hair, but the connection isn't clear to the story's premise (Big Ma, Sisters and Daughters, Last Angolan Saturday).
This is my first time reading a graphic novel and it wasn't a disappointment. I think the drawings that represent hair ads are a nice complement. Advertising has a history of displaying stereotypes but these drawings have a celebratory tone of self confidence. Hot Comb is a book that examines hair from different perspectives, ultimately reminding the reader of the importance of loving self. What's tricky is realizing that individual people don't express this love the same way. Wearing hair in its natural state is not automatically loving self nor should it be assumed that wearing a weave or straightened hair is an expression of self- hatred.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it overall but some of the stories ended abruptly and I found myself wanting to know what happened to the characters.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want Jillian to read this because I want to be able to talk to someone about it specifically in terms of the art specifically in context of having recently read Mira Jacob's Good Talk, but in the meantime my own thoughts are just basically I am glad this book exists, I think it's good, and I'd like to see where Flowers takes her story-telling next.
These are short stories, a format I love, and sort of tonally auto-bio if not literally auto-bio, about black women's experience around their hair. Some of the stories are quite long and some are little and the centraizing locus of hair does not come at the expense of variety of thesis and character.
I don't love the size and layout for these stories in book-form, there's a ziney vibe that doesn't serve it in this format but that I think could have been elevated by maybe just a half inch bigger pages, or releasing this as floppies if we lived in the beautiful fantasy future where something like this could be successfully released as floppies. Also I kinda want to see this art style with some watercolor wash. Particularly the Angola story, all those leaves and the ocean.

[Arlene♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The various connection black women have with their hair is greatly seen in the stories Ebony Flowers shares with us. They were like snippets of lives/moments black women and girls have gone through once if not multiple times in our lives.

[Celia Burn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by Ebony Flowers packed with daily intricate microaggressions and traumatic fallout interwoven around Black women's hair. My favorite was "Last Angolan Saturday" discussing corrupt politicians and capitalism -- "When a white person comes to Africa, they're saving us and contributing to the development of the nation. But if a Black African moves to Europe, they're using up resources and in no way can be doing something good." ...dialogue immediately followed by three friends peeing on some colonizer's old home.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Lynda Barry's comics will enjoy this graphic memoir. Growing up, friendship, bullying, prejudice, and of course, hair, are all topics covered in these lovingly handmade comics. I will say the "hot combs" hairstyling procedure looks excruciating.

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in a sitting despite those trying to get me to cook, clean and parent.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of stories all featuring black women with a focus on their relationships, primarily with their hair (as the title implies) and other women in their lives.

Ebony Flowers Hot Comb is a breath of fresh air in the comics scene. People of colour, especially women, are woefully underrepresented in this format and this genre (memoir/autobio + realistic/contemporary fiction). Strides are being made to improve this, but we have a long way to go and Flowers’ work is a step in the right direction.

Though the stories are short (though the titular Hot Comb is on the longer side), they hit their mark and were surprisingly affective. Flowers has a sketchy, cartoon-y style that I wasn’t 100% sure about at first but I came to really enjoy it and jive with its comix vibe.

While it’s only one perspective, this is an insightful glimpse into the lives of African American women. Highly recommended.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is equal parts biographical and every experience as Flowers describes African American hair in different contexts and experiences, however as with the graphic novel Yo, Miss: A Graphic Look At High School, the illustration style was distracting and unfocused. In scenes where there was singing or action, I was distracted by what was on the page and without any color either to change depth or make items or people pop out, I didn't know what I was supposed to be looking at. So I lost something in the translation of the emotional elements of hair experiences with the illustrative choices.

Choosing to be a collection of short stories however was a superb entry point.

[KadaziaSparkles They-Them-Theirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOOOOOO. BONNETS OFF TO THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL. I have nothing bad to say about it. The illustration was all black and white, but that showed the artists versatility in playing with the weight of ink and different tones. Especially considering all of the characters in the book were Black. And you were able to tell even though most of their skin weren't painted as such. This was a collection of stories and they were put together so well. Enough personal story about the author and their life, without feeling heavy. And then stories either from people we were never formally introduced to or her imagination. Either way, it was written for any Black person who grew up and had a hot comb brought to their head. It wasn't just a book about hair. But the products we have all lived and died by wove everything together perfectly. SUCH A GREAT READ.

[jada alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - the only reason why this is a 4.5 for me is because i felt that a few of the stories ended so abruptly and left me wanting more more more. i looooved!! this book so much though and i cannot wait for a full length book from flowers. i've never seen illustrations like hers and she is so talented. i don't think i've ever seen so many silly, playful, funny Black girls in one book and i'm grateful for that. this was a balm.

[Graeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hair as a device to explore family relationships, drugs, sex, gender, racism, colonialism, mental illness, children + growing up, and friendships. This short story collection is awesome and I hope the author writes+draws more soon.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories really grew on me. The artwork has a chaotic but charming quality to it and lends itself well to the narrative, which is mostly told from the vantage point of a young Black girl dealing with all manner of cultural and social issues surrounding hair. My favorite story was "My Little Sister Lena," which was a punch in the gut. Lena plays on an all- or mostly-white softball team and the other players are so obsessed with touching and comment on Lena's hair that she develops a neurotic habit of pulling out her own hair. A habit she seemingly is never able to break. Flowers does a great job of capturing the innocence, joy, uncertainty, and self-consciousness of youth while exploring larger social themes and family dynamics.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Comb is a collection of short story comics that touch on everything from family to identity, often through the lens of hair. It took me a little bit to get used to the art style but once I did, I really enjoyed the short stories. Flowers does an incredible job of telling impactful stories in such a short number of panels.

C/W:death of a family member, discussion of mental illness, addiction

[Kate♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5stars

I think this would be a FANTASTIC book to share with younger readers to open up a conversation about race and micro-aggressions. A really wonderfully told series of stories that really hit on a lot of important topics.

[Cristine Braddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories themed around Black hair are fantastic.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemingly extemporaneous art telling stories with lots of heart. Looks like it was done in one draft, but therein lies its charm. Left me wanting more, so that’s good! Hope to see more from this artist.

[Jesús · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories and characters fit the medium so perfectly that I cannot believe this is the first work of its kind that is focused on the everyday lives of Black women and girls.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We humans cut our hair to mourn, cover it to be observant, shave it off to be more pious or keep it long as it is a gift from God. We judge others whose children have unkempt locks, and we dress our own to conform or rebel, because hair has meaning in culture.

To brush hair binds parents to children or lovers to each other. We stroke the hair of our beloveds when they are sad, playfully tug it when they are sassy, and muss it up when they are adorable. To touch another’s hair, one must be invited, or it is a deeply felt violation, because hair is personal.

The cartoonist and ethnographer, Ebony Flowers, knows hair is a thing, ya’ll. Her debut graphic novel, “Hot Comb,” weaves together eight stories that illustrate that there is no sunlight between the personal and the cultural experience of hair in the African-American community. Her most affecting stories are those centered on young people as she captures both the magic and the vulnerability of childhood with a loving eye. In busy black and white illustrations, Flowers roams from the delighted child dancing in front of the mirror at Grandma’s house while trying on each of her many wigs, to the girl who has endured burning relaxers only to be bullied at school by the same kids who called out her buckshots and beadie-beads the week before. The most harrowing story allows us to watch a young woman of color develop the nervous habit of pulling out her hair, strand by strand, after suffering the casual disregard of her white teammates who feel free to touch her hair anytime they wish. While not all the stories pack the same emotional punch, this is still a very worthwhile book, perfect for those who have lived these tales as well as those of us who are lucky enough to learn a thing or two from Ms. Flowers about #havinghairwhileblack in America.


Bonus music video "Good as Hell" by Lizzo, celebrating black women's resilience and beauty, all set in the cultural hub of a hair salon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smbme...

[Oriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful and loving glimpse into the lives of Black women. As a book of stories, it was kind of a mixed bag, and, as I always do, I wished that even the best ones were longer.

I would have loved to read so many more pages about the three friends on vacation in Angola finding a secret beach, or Ebony's grade-school friends and her first time getting her hair relaxed (her mother's silent tears on the way home, oh my god), or Big Ma and Auntie Charlene and her whole complicated family, or Lil Sister Lena and her self-inflicted hair loss via microaggressions, ugh, fuck, what a devastation. Each of those stories is deeply felt, full of complex emotional and social weight, and so rewarding to read — until, suddenly, they're over.

And the rest, well.... Most of the short pieces felt like sketches, like filler, like they could each have blossomed into something more if they'd been given space to grow.

Of course, the overarching theme of Black women's hair — from its major social and personal implications to the space it creates for friendship and intimacy — was beautifully done, just as all the myriad panels of intricate twists and updos and permanents were gorgeously rendered. It was quite moving to be allowed in for these many, many moments of connection and strife in the lives of Black women.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy living in a world where Black hair is finally getting its due. It's heady to see more narratives that are exploring the weight of such a storied topic. Using hair as the touchstone of Black female identity was insightful; if you are a Black woman, you will inevitably have to contend with your hair. No one is born knowing how to deal with their hair, but there are special circumstances that come with having non-white hair outside of simply learning how to best style it.

Hot Comb has an interesting art style. I liked that the characters were so distinctly Black with very stylized obvious Black features. On the other side, it was often difficult to distinguish between characters because the designs were somewhat repetitive and the backgrounds would blend altogether to create ill-defined actions or expressions for many panels. The font for the overarching narrative - the text that was not in the speech bubbles - was exceedingly inaccessible. It was very hard for me to read the looping script. And like most short story collections the quality of each story varies wildly.

Give Hot Comb a read for a snapshot of a series of intimate Black experiences. What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in charm.

[Yesenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a different kind of graphic novel. Can it be called a graphic novel if it’s a collection of short stories? 🤷🏽‍♀️ It felt a bit disjointed, but maybe that’s because I have never read a short story collection in this format. I liked the stories, but like any short story, they left me question what happened next. 😔 I want to know more! A good quick read that is deeper than the words let on. It gives us a glimpse into the world of African American and black women’s love, struggles, and acceptance of their hair and beauty.

[Rachel Hough · Rating 2 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed a couple of stories in this, especially the very last one. But the art was muddy and unreadable. It got clearer as the novel went on, almost as if she was learning more about art composition as she drew, but in the end did not win me over. It seems as if she is definitely still finding her voice.

[Maya Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED the art style and the varying ways text was used and added within and outside of the panels. The layout of several not explicitly connected stories, separated by advertisements was very compelling. I especially loved the last page, such a sweet moment and tribute to the motif of girlhood that ties so many of the stories together.

[rachelsbusyreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I did really enjoy this, it was a quick and easy read and different to anything I’ve read before. I really liked the sketched out art style and the themes of the stories but I had a couple issues with it:

•several of the stories ended very abruptly and I wanted more
•the cursive writing throughout was difficult for me to read at times, making the reading experience not as enjoyable