Hey Princess

by Mats Jonsson

Hey Princess (2002) är en modern klassiker. En tecknad generationsroman om kärlek, indiepop och att vara ung, nyinflyttad stockholmare på 90-talet. Denna utgåva innehåller 70 sidor extramaterial, bland annat hela serieboken I detta satans rum (2008) och nytt förord av Jessika Gedin.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Swedish Literature

217 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Mats Jonsson is a Swedish comic creator. Debuting as a teenager in the Swedish fanzine society, Jonsson later became one of the prime Swedish representants for the autobiographical comic genre, inspired by American and Canadian comic creators such as Harvey Pekar, Seth, and Joe Matt.

Mats Jonsson has been published in several Swedish newspapers and magazines. Many of his works have been collected in albums.

Currently, Jonsson is the editor of the Swedish cultural magazine Galago.

Reviews

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hey Princess är en mycket (överdrivet) hyllad svensk serie av självbiografisk art som i många avseenden representerar allt som jag tycker är fel med den svenska seriescenen.

Missförstå mig rätt: jag har inget emot självbiografiska serier (är ett stort fan av bl.a. Eisners sådana) eller serier som konfronterar sexualitet i olika former (vilket Hey Princess definitivt gör). Mitt problem här grundar sig först och främst i det visuella paradigm som Jonsson (och många svenska serieskapare med honom) använder sig av. Det är statiskt; inte bara i den oundvikliga mening som alla serier är komponerade av sekvenser av bilder på en sida, utan även så till vida att bildkompositionen inte fångar någon rörelse. Dessutom är den inte särskilt vacker att titta på, bitvis rent av ful. Jonssons flesta, ganska meningslöst grafiska sexscener ser ut som något man sett i högstadiet eller mellanstadiet; och det imponerar i ärlighetens namn åtminstone mig föga. Givetvis är manuset, eller historien, det väsentliga (annars är resultatet bara ett litet teckningsgalleri), men det går ändå inte att komma ifrån att serier är ett visuellt medium.

Och när vi ändå diskuterar historien och manuset... Jag finner mig själv ytterst ointresserad av Jonssons ungdomsår som indiepoppare, serieförlagsredaktör och wannabe bland Stockholms innefolk. En strid ström av sex och fylla gör inte det hela mer intressant heller. Möjligen mer banalt. Vilket på sätt och vis är intressant med tanke på att Charlie Christensen genomgående använt samma komponenter i Arne Anka, men med ett lysande resultat.

Denna jubileumsutgåvas extramaterial inkluderar även lite relaterade ströserier, kortare sidor, strippar och dylikt som oftast helt saknar poäng, vilket detta format kräver (amatörmässigheten här är slående – återigen påminns jag om hög- eller mellanstadiet), samt utdrag ur Jonssons del av e-postväxlingen med kusinen Fredrik Jonsson under den relevanta perioden. Det sistnämnda lämnar mig inte bara ointresserad, men även med ett intryck av Jonsson som en ganska vedervärdig människa.

Nåväl, rätt skall vara rätt, och även om jag inte instämmer i den överväldigande hyllning av denna serie, så måste jag ändå medge att vissa bitar är okej, om än generellt ganska ointressanta, och det 29-sidiga avsnittet "Den hotfulla kärleken" (s. 364—393) är faktiskt riktigt läsvärt.

På det hela taget kan man väl dock ifrågasätta om 29 sidor läsvärda sidor i en 544-sidig bok är en bra ekvation.

[Clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ingen bok för mig, var mest irriterad under läsningen på allt trams.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit that was long!

It was fun though. It’s basically a guy reminiscing about his college days and the local clubs in his area.

It gave me some insight into a few things. First, folks in Europe definitely have a healthier outlook about sex.

Second, I went to a smaller college, and there weren’t even many places for a “scene” to exist really. I feel like I kind of missed out 🤷🏻‍♀️

I really liked the main character, felt just as annoyed by the horndog DJ as the protagonist. I used to know a guy like
that. No brains, just bragging and way too much confidence. Women fell for it, but only once.

Reading this was kind of like making a new friend. He reminded me a bit of myself in some ways. Shy guy that still did alright with the dynamics that existed around him.

And it was free on Comixology Unlimited. If you have this service, check it out.

[Viggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 avrundat uppåt.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Jason for getting me an autographed copy at MoCCA! It is one of the few "hip" graphic novels that I've had to stop reading because of laughter. But I still finished it the same day I got it; the indie culture snobbery is so familiar as is the added veneer of dark Swedish absurdity.

[Erik Wallmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gillade väldigt mycket! Tror denna serieroman funkar så pass bra för att den upplevs så naken, ärlig och genuin. Och kanske funkar den extra bra om man har en slags hopplös, olycklig kärlek till indiemusik från 90-talet.

[jes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mats is so whiny but his life is funny as hell

[Joshua Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like a euro version of Jeffrey Brown, but not in a good way

[Bowie Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mats Jonsson's graphic novel sounded exactly like something I'd like: a story about a confused twenty-something obsessed with Brit Pop and looking for love. Jonsson did scratch that Brit Pop itch and I thoroughly enjoyed the place of music in this story, the way that listening to a particular song when you first meet someone can often make a relationship seem more magical than it ever really was and how easy it is to get hung up on style because it signifies what kind of music you dig and if you dig that music then you and that person just HAVE to get along. Often hilarious, self-indulgent, and painfully honest about his shortcomings, Jonsson still comes to some interesting conclusions about "the shallow world" of Brit Pop and his calamitous quest for the perfect indie girl to love. Although I enjoyed Jonssons particular quest and his exaggerative storytelling, I have to say, I was disappointed with the epilogue he includes at the end. He shows us how he met his current girlfriend and hints that, for some reason, she is going to be the one he moves in with and is with for a long time to come. But Jonsson doesn't explain exactly what's different about this relationship compared to the string of dating casualties he has left behind. This storyline should have been at least a bit more explicated since so much of the novel was building up to this moment: when Jonsson finally finds someone he loves and with whom it works. However, despite this unsatisfying epilogue, I had a lot of fun with this novel and would recommend it to any twenty-something who is particularly self-conscious, neurotic, and obsessed with twee.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ack, tänk att få vara ung och naken i 90-talets indiestockholm

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on a "If you like Scott Pilgrim" list, but was pretty apprehensive at the start. I warmed up to it after the first hundred pages or so. Mats is a little too whiny and selfish at times, though seeing him go from 19 to 24 means seeing him develop realistically. I liked the mundaneness of the story, which really did just revolve around him drinking, traveling, and falling in and out of love with various girls. It felt very genuine, like hanging out with that slightly self-centered, but lovable friend.

I wasn't wild about the art style. It might just be my taste, but I didn't find it attractive at all. It seemed sloppy and rushed and the Robert Crumb influence didn't work for a long, somewhat serious story. There were so many characters (especially women) who all looked similar and shared the same eyes-in-different-directions expression.The numerous makeout scenes all involved saliva droplets flying out the sides of characters mouths, which was extremely unappealing. I think I would have been much more into the story with a different art style.

Overall, I'm glad I finished it. But I'm also glad I didn't buy it.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earlier this year, Top Shelf released a bunch of books from Swedish creators. This is the first one I've stumbled across so far.

Jonsson's working in that 90's indie-comic strip style that will probably remind US readers of creators like Jeffrey Brown and Peter Bagge. A quasi-autobiography, it tells the life story of Mats in his early 20's. We see him enter college, drop out, get a real job. But the real stories are his obsessions with women, brit pop music and being trendy and stylish. The first section is very fun---the self-deprecating humor works real well as he tries to figure himself out. But the later sections become a bit more straight-forward. While his drawing might appear rough to some, his story-telling skills are really sharp. There are some pretty graphic representations of sex; because of this I don't think I could make it a go-to book for teens. There are some I know well enough that I could suggest it, but I wouldn't suggest it all teen readers. Too bad, because I think a lot of themes would really resonate with them.

[Nothing · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was decent enough artistically, but there's not one major character that I found likable at all. I think knowing it was autobiographical made the characters that much more irritating. To be fair, it could be because I live in a college town full of self absorbed martyred indie kids, so that kinda puts a damper on it.
I tried to like Mats, but 50 pages in, it was just… not happening. He was a perpetual victim & always moping over another girl. And I disliked almost every girl he dated/fucked/obsessed over. Even the ones I DID like at first turned out to be dishonest & slaggy. But I guess it wasn't that bad, I did finish it after all.

But don't take my word for it, I know a lot of people that would really like the book & relate to the characters (& I'm not saying that as an insult).
Maybe it's better for people in college or just out of college/ mid 20s. I might have liked it more at that age myself. But now I'm more like… "get off my lawn" I guess, heh.

[MariNaomi]

The first half of this book really brought me back to the banalities of new-adult scenesters--the gossip, the superficial chatter, the over drinking, the random sleeping around. The real story doesn't start until after the 200-page mark, and the true gem (about a goth girl he dated) comes in at page 364 and lasts for about 30 pages. I'm not sure if I would've liked this more had the localization job been more polished, or if I'd read it under more pleasant circumstances (I was stuck in bed with the flu). Maybe, maybe not. Either way, if you've never been a fan of scenesters, it's likely you won't enjoy this book. Except for pages 364-393, which did a good job of detailing how one might inadvertently lose themselves in an unhealthy relationship.

[Sophoula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Regretfully, I finished this book only to discover that, despite my hope, there is absolutely nothing redeeming about this individual nor his work. To state that I do NOT recommend this book is an understatement. Tawdry, self-involved, masochistic, misogynistic, scattered, indulgent, and casually racist. I regret the money I spent buying this book, the time I spent forcing myself to read it, and the fact that I have yet to put this book in the recycling bin, (although it deserves the trash).

[Vogisland]

Part one is cute. Part two is dull: Jonsson doesn't really find anything interesting to say about the girl or the relationship. He is much sharper in part three; the stories are short, funny/sad, self-critical, just what the genre requires. I hope there's a follow-up on the way. His art is ugly in a way that I really liked--whenever I put the book down, the faces continued to claw at me.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this memoir to go just a bit deeper, to get more glimpses of Jonsson reflecting in order to show his life beyond sex, girls, concerts and being a scenester. Other indie biographical graphic novels pull off the same content better. Instead of this, I'd recommend 120 Days of Simon, or maybe Undeleted Scenes by Jeffrey Brown.

[Emilia P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bluh.
Memo to the Swedish Youth of our generation: Feeling meaningless? think that's a good reason to go have some relatively meaningless sex with no conditions and no spoken attachments to anyone? Think that'll fulfill you? Spoiler alert: no. Thanks for taking 300 pages of comic to tell me that. Never again, Swedes. Ok, probably again.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another memoir/slice of life comic. It was an enjoyable, but forgettable read. I liked following Mats journey to try to find true romance and navigate his twenties, but not much stood out about it to me as particularly special.

[Loryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably because I am American, this was a really interesting story, but there were plenty of times where I felt completely lost in the references to pop culture, the plot, etc. otherwise it was great.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a less cutesy-but-equally-insecure Jeffrey Brown. Great stuff here, though my swedophilia probably leaves me somewhat biased.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical 1990s era dude autobio comics, except set in Sweden.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. I might recommend Shortcomings
by Adrian Tomine instead...

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply entertaining, and a spot-on take on/evisceration of the indie-dude mindset.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was boring. I gave up on it. The art wasn't compelling and the stories weren't interesting. It was like reading the Live Journal of someone I don't know.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Swedish comic memoir. I liked this one as it captured for me some of that essence of the cool scene in and around my coming-of-age era.

[Nnedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, pathetic, disturbing to my innocent ears and eyes (lol), and oddly addictive. And I recognized a lot of the music referenced, too. That was funny and odd.

[Carla Agnesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute comic collection. Weird that the cover is a photograph even though it's a comic book. 20-something Swedish hipster in the 90s, struggling with school and career and meeting girls.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A confessional catalog of missteps, bad habits, and sardonic Scandinavian living imbued with a 90’s indie soundtrack.

[Bokmymlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️