Cry Wolf Girl

by Ariel Slamet Ries

The story goes like this: There was once a girl named Dawa. Having lost her family to sickness, she found herself with an emptiness inside that she did not know how to fill. Alas, in all her endeavours, nothing she tried ever left her feeling so full as the art -of trickery.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Short Stories, Bande Dessinée, Drama

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2019

About the author

Ariel Slamet Ries is a Naarm-based, Ignatz-award winning cartoonist and author of the comics Witchy, Cry Wolf Girl, and the newly released Strange Bedfellows. After studying animation in Denmark for 4 years, they lost their degree in the post and unceremoniously bumbled into making comics for a living. They’re interested in using a fantastical lens to examine the mundane, and curating empathy for flawed characters.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

a beautiful reimagining of a familiar fable. i love the art in this short graphic novel. dramatic sequences are illustrated within dynamic geometric frames, and the moody black & red coloring really establishes the vibe.

i know fables are meant to be brief, but this one is really too short to have a serious impact. we touch on themes of anxiety, community, protection, and healing, but there's not enough here to really drive any point home. i also wanted more world-building to flesh out dawa's community structure. i still liked this though, and would definitely read more from ries!

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5
J’ai adoré !! J’ai l’impression qu’expliquer ce en quoi j’ai aimé serait du spoil donc je dirais surtout que le style est très beau et l’histoire courte mais frappante et émouvante

[celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I saw the cover art, I knew I was in for it. CRY WOLF GIRL is the kind of story with the kind of art that leaves you heartbroken that there isn't MORE, even though you know that part of what makes the story so good is its perfect length.
There is a frenetic energy in the lineart and the coloring (I could sigh dreamily forever about the use of color in this!) that increases the tension throughout the telling of this particular story. Even though we focus on Dawa's experience, there is clearly such a lush background for each of the surrounding characters hinted at through all of their interactions.
For those of us who are thinking about what community means, what healing looks like, and what building trust looks like... this is a story you want, now.

[Jerlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning art and a captivating short story ❤

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRY WOLF GIRL by Ariel Slamet Ries is a short fantasy graphic short story/comics about Dawa, a girl who recently lost her family to sickness, finding herself with an emptiness she doesn’t know how to fill.

Forty eight pages long, I read this in one sitting. An interesting twist to The Boy Who Cried Wolf story. The line drawings move across the page, full of energy that depict Dawa’s fears and anxieties well.

CRY WOLF GIRL highlights the importance of feeling heard and believed within one’s community. How easy it is to feel like an outsider when others won’t acknowledge that even though your fears may be unseen to them, that these fears are still valid and true. It’s a story that emphasizes that ultimately, feeling seen in this way, may just be enough to help someone feel safer. To help someone feel like they belong.

[reallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawa est une jeune femme qui, à la suite de la perte de sa famille, cherche à combler le vide qu'elle ressent. Sa solution : le mensonge.

Très court, mais vraiment très beau, autant graphiquement que dans le récit. C'est une réécriture de la fable d'Esope, L'enfant qui criait au loup. Elle aborde les thèmes de l'anxiété, de la dépression, de l'isolement et de l'importance d'une main tendue. Je recommande ++

[Christine Sandquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Loved this take on the "boy who cried wolf" story. It's a poignant take on the ways in which we reach out to others and try to build connections when dealing with grief and trauma. When someone is seeking attention, there's always a reason for it even if it isn't the one that's presented. And the art is GORGEOUS.

[Dieudonné Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

RENVERSANT
C’est l’histoire d’une jeune fille qui criait au loup. Tout au long du récit, on ne sait jamais vraiment si elle a menti ou si des loups sont réellement venus. Il règne un flou constant autour de ce qu’elle a vu et vécu.
Mais au fond, peu importe si les loups sont réels : ce qui compte vraiment, c’est que quelqu’un lui ait tendu la main.

[mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

a stunning take on the boy who cried wolf in the form of a truly beautiful thriller comic

[Jade Augier · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024
J'ai adoré le dessin, après l'histoire bon....

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and meaningful parable about the fear, trauma, grief, loneliness and alienation we are often left with after undergoing severe loss and trauma; how the way those around us (our friends, families, and wider communities) often respond to these emotions with discomfort and invalidation, by eschewing them and turning away from us; how, instead, they can sit with us as we experience these emotions, recognise our fears as real, comfort us, and welcome us as we are. What a difference that makes! I think this is especially pertinent to the experience of either having PTSD or loving someone who does.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

big big Ariel Ries fan. They do so much with a short story. The colors and action are dynamic, the writing gets at being trapped in your own head and past actions, the worldbuilding is there even though it's a short comic.

[kate j · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS. ART. 😍😍🥰🤩🤩🤩

[M Aghazarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THAT'S how you tell a short story

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content Notes: animal attack, death of a parent, anxiety, ableism, seeing things that may or may not be there

I really like Ariel Ries's work, having read their two volumes of Witchy and followed their work on social for a while, and this was no exception! I honestly would love a huge collection of shorter pieces like these from them because as much as I liked Witchy, Ries shines extra bright in this short piece!

I love their use of color, and they used red in here in such a skilled way that gave you the sense of being overwhelmed by the anxiety the character feels without being overwhelmed visually yourself. And the character expressions and use of body language paired with an internal dialogue for most of the comic was just *chef's kiss*.

And oh man, I loved this particular exploration of anxiety!! So incredibly well done with both the story and the visuals. I love the message Ries conveys throughout and at the end, and I really loved the characters involved in sharing that message. I feel like that kind of messaging about anxiety isn't one I get to see often, and as an extremely anxious person myself, it was like cool water to a burning throat. This is a comic I will cherish and come back to time and again, for sure.

**ShortBox's last day of business is on February 29, 2024, so get a copy while you can!

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my list for a while but I missed the Shortbox release so I finally decided to just get the french edition.

It was all right, nothing extraordinary. A rewrite of the story of the boy who cried wolf, but that includes a character telling the story of the boy who cried wolf... Feels a little redundant.. The world seems pretty cool, even though it's not very developed.

But the real kicker is the art. Ariel Ries worked in animation and it shows. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the interior follows suit. Great use of heavy inks and negative space, and really dynamic artwork.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I dislike everything about this book, yet it was an amazing read. The book makes you think, feel and question. There are clearly marked paths we are taking, but things are not straight forward. It is artistic, it is not what you think it will be. There are ups and downs and everything in between. Sometimes you cannot say a book is your favorite because of how much you enjoyed it, but because it is one of the better reads because of the emotional roller coaster it takes you on. This was that book for me. They are rare, but worth the wait.

[Py · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un ouvrage court mais tellement évocateur. Je suis tombée à la renverse devant de si belles pages! Je m'encours pour mettre les mains sur les autres œuvres de cet auteur.

A short book, but very evocative. I was blown away by the beauty of those pages! I am running at once to put my hands on this author's other works.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the palpable tension as this phantom idea of a wolf plagues our narrator, and the closing comments about how it related to anxiety and mental health was cool. To be haunted by some spectre that causes you fear and makes you think you are going to die, and how that can sometimes ostracize you or sometimes help you find connection with others! Also really pretty art I love the reds.

[Cody Wilson]

Clever fable that adds an interesting twist to the "boy who cries wolf." I like how Ries straddles the line between picture book and comic. Also, their textures in both line art and brushes are incredible. This is a book I could offer to kids and older readers alike - both could get different levels of meaning from the narrative.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 rounding up)

Absolutely gorgeous art, great story, and though I have my personal quibbles with the portrayal of real/psychological I think at the end of the day they are pretty tiny quibbles. Excellent to see people questioning these kinds of narratives in art form!

[Elena Varg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous and highly anxiety inducing!!!!! So, an excellent read.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful artwork and minimal text tells a deep story about dealing with pain and demons.

[Sarah Denman · Rating 3 out of 5]

p good

[Kirstine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing colors and a great story. Anyone who has suffered from anxiety might relate. A very short beautiful comic book.

[Book Prisoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Był chłopiec, który kłamał o wilkach w wiosce. Kłamał i kłamał, aż w końcu raz powiedział prawdę. I nikt mu nie uwierzył.
Bardzo ciekawa, choć krótka. I ta grafika z użyciem czerwieni!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is absolutely stunning—a perfect retelling. Perfect length, perfect art, couldn’t help but want more but loved it as it is.

[isa h · Rating 3 out of 5]

short & to the point. not my absolute favorite of ariel's work but a good interpretation nontheless. also good art as always.

[Gavin Arucan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, healing take on a classic story we all know. The artwork is full of so much ENERGY!

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art. Beautiful short story💚