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Life's A Bitch
by Roberta Gregory
Naughty Bits , the longest-running solo comic by a female alternative cartoonist, came to an end in 2004 after a 14-year, 40-issue run. This extra-thick, very reasonably priced volume collects the entire first half of the "Bitchy Bitch" saga, and it ranges widely in her eventful life. The book will also feature a brand new full-length story that chronicles the (never-before-revealed) death of Bitchy's tempestuous father, as Gregory once again finds the humor in even the grimmest situation.
Naughty Bits , the longest-running solo comic by a female alternative cartoonist, came to an end in 2004 after a 14-year, 40-issue run. This extra-thick, very reasonably priced volume collects the entire first half of the "Bitchy Bitch" saga, and it ranges widely in her eventful life. The book will also feature a brand new full-length story that chronicles the (never-before-revealed) death of Bitchy's tempestuous father, as Gregory once again finds the humor in even the grimmest situation.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 7, 2018
I liked the art style, it was wild!
January 29, 2019
I am surprised at how much I liked this comic. The main character bitches constantly and the drawing style is frantic. Neither of these was a surprise, but I didn’t know if I could take 270 pages of it. Well, I did. Bitchy actually grew on me to where I rooted for her as opposed to being annoyed at her bitching. Glimpses into her past - as a little girl and a teenager - helped explain how she got to where she is. That and the surprising emotional depth of the stories made for a solid reading experience.
December 10, 2023
To preface this: the main character is a racist prejudiced angry white woman who says some truly terrible things about marginalized people and while there isn't exactly a redemption arc, she becomes a more complex character as she goes along. This book is an important part of comics history but I don't blame anyone for choosing to skip it.
That said, about a quarter of the way through I found myself wanting to know more about what happened and so I ended up finishing it. It was definitely helped along by a section about Midge ending up doing the right thing mostly because her coworkers were so shitty about it and because she had a personal connection to an old friend. So she definitely changes as the series went on in a realistic way.
The comics collected in this work represent some of the first comics by women about other women in everyday situations. They deal with sexual harassment, bullying, sexual assault, CSA, homophobia, and abortion. Sadly lots of this book still remains relevant to this day. The section on Midge's childhood is probably the closest I've ever seen to my own. Namely the author shows the ways in which status among girls is created and maintained through levels of bullying and cruelty. In order to gain some small modicum of popularity, kid Midge had to repeatedly turn her back on her friends and suck up to girls who spouted bigoted views. It was more subtle in my time but yeah I recognize that destructive crabs-in-a-barrel attitude at work. It's a clear demonstration of how prejudice and bullying propogate in order to maintain social hierarchies.
I don't regret reading this, but I wouldn't recommend it to others without some serious discussion first.
That said, about a quarter of the way through I found myself wanting to know more about what happened and so I ended up finishing it. It was definitely helped along by a section about Midge ending up doing the right thing mostly because her coworkers were so shitty about it and because she had a personal connection to an old friend. So she definitely changes as the series went on in a realistic way.
The comics collected in this work represent some of the first comics by women about other women in everyday situations. They deal with sexual harassment, bullying, sexual assault, CSA, homophobia, and abortion. Sadly lots of this book still remains relevant to this day. The section on Midge's childhood is probably the closest I've ever seen to my own. Namely the author shows the ways in which status among girls is created and maintained through levels of bullying and cruelty. In order to gain some small modicum of popularity, kid Midge had to repeatedly turn her back on her friends and suck up to girls who spouted bigoted views. It was more subtle in my time but yeah I recognize that destructive crabs-in-a-barrel attitude at work. It's a clear demonstration of how prejudice and bullying propogate in order to maintain social hierarchies.
I don't regret reading this, but I wouldn't recommend it to others without some serious discussion first.
June 27, 2025
The Complete Bitchy Stories is as relevant today as it was when originally written. While the main character is an offensive bigot born in the 1950s and most of the story is set in the 1990s, its themes – such as misogyny, male violence against women, date rape, homophobia, familial sexual abuse, gaslighting, narcissistic personality disorder, and bullying -- still resonate as if it were written in the present day.
Midge is a perpetual cynic and racist, which makes it surprising that I, someone who has moved beyond passionate arguments and now prefers to write people off and cut them out of my life, can still find parts of her that are relatable by the end of the book. Her past does not excuse her behavior, nor does she evolve and redeem these qualities by the end of the story. What makes her relatable is that she endures trauma and misfortune alongside those around her, in particular other women. Her bitter complaints about her struggles, which many women face every day or at some point in their lives, you find yourself saying, “girl, same.”
The cartoon artwork is undeniably hilarious. Midge’s expressions range from mischievous and adorable to silly, heartbreaking, and distinctly human. Although the cast lacks diversity, it is compensated for by a passionate portrayal of third-wave feminism. Sylvia, the always optimistic, New Age HR coordinator; Barb, an MBA-educated and highly competent businesswomen, with a girlfriend and daughter; Kenney, a stalker who won’t take no for an answer, whose rants would be right at home on Incel and MRA forums; and Marcie, an intolerant Southern “Christian” whose office politics aim to alienate and exclude anyone different -- all of whom remain some of the most memorable characters in comics. Thanks to Roberta Gregory’s impeccable timing, talent for capturing human expressions, and appreciation for the nuances of irritability, this ensemble stands out as a treasure among graphic novels.
Midge is a perpetual cynic and racist, which makes it surprising that I, someone who has moved beyond passionate arguments and now prefers to write people off and cut them out of my life, can still find parts of her that are relatable by the end of the book. Her past does not excuse her behavior, nor does she evolve and redeem these qualities by the end of the story. What makes her relatable is that she endures trauma and misfortune alongside those around her, in particular other women. Her bitter complaints about her struggles, which many women face every day or at some point in their lives, you find yourself saying, “girl, same.”
The cartoon artwork is undeniably hilarious. Midge’s expressions range from mischievous and adorable to silly, heartbreaking, and distinctly human. Although the cast lacks diversity, it is compensated for by a passionate portrayal of third-wave feminism. Sylvia, the always optimistic, New Age HR coordinator; Barb, an MBA-educated and highly competent businesswomen, with a girlfriend and daughter; Kenney, a stalker who won’t take no for an answer, whose rants would be right at home on Incel and MRA forums; and Marcie, an intolerant Southern “Christian” whose office politics aim to alienate and exclude anyone different -- all of whom remain some of the most memorable characters in comics. Thanks to Roberta Gregory’s impeccable timing, talent for capturing human expressions, and appreciation for the nuances of irritability, this ensemble stands out as a treasure among graphic novels.
December 24, 2025
In the 90's I was broke, but I would scrounge up the money when the newest Naughty Bits came out.
It felt groundbreaking; I'd never read a comic with tampons and female rage.
Reading this today:
I appreciate that she wrote about work-at one point, women rarely wrote about work, and this covers the horrors of the office and difficult co-workers, the counting of days and trying to squeeze your life into 2 days a week.
The News in the 90's was an endless barrage of women being assaulted and killed, it was constant. Women were supposed to be always afraid and if something happened it was their fault.
I'm glad the introduction acknowledges Midge's racism- it's impossible to excuse.
So why do we even bother with her? Because she suffered multiple traumas, because her father was filled with rage, because she wasn't racist as a child, because she sticks up for people when it matters, because she kept most of her toxicity in her head, because she befriended Barb, the lesbian, even when she had doubts-she pushed past her ignorance. Because she's her own worst enemy.
I was struck by the the non-stop flood of thoughts-it's not just rage, there's a lot of fear and worry in there, and I can relate to that.
It felt groundbreaking; I'd never read a comic with tampons and female rage.
Reading this today:
I appreciate that she wrote about work-at one point, women rarely wrote about work, and this covers the horrors of the office and difficult co-workers, the counting of days and trying to squeeze your life into 2 days a week.
The News in the 90's was an endless barrage of women being assaulted and killed, it was constant. Women were supposed to be always afraid and if something happened it was their fault.
I'm glad the introduction acknowledges Midge's racism- it's impossible to excuse.
So why do we even bother with her? Because she suffered multiple traumas, because her father was filled with rage, because she wasn't racist as a child, because she sticks up for people when it matters, because she kept most of her toxicity in her head, because she befriended Barb, the lesbian, even when she had doubts-she pushed past her ignorance. Because she's her own worst enemy.
I was struck by the the non-stop flood of thoughts-it's not just rage, there's a lot of fear and worry in there, and I can relate to that.
October 25, 2018
Read week of October 22, 2018. Midge is a disturbing and compelling character. I found myself feeling grumpy one afternoon after reading it, when I am usually pretty pleasant. She gets under your skin. I read it in about a day because I had a hard time putting it down.
This book belongs to a friend I haven't seen in a few years, and I'm going to return it by mail.
This book belongs to a friend I haven't seen in a few years, and I'm going to return it by mail.
June 12, 2023
Pretty enjoyable as long as you can empathize with a character who's also a total bigot. The childhood stuff really tied things together, showing where that bigotry comes from and how a character like this gets formed. Midge is a character you can relate to and also a character you wouldn't want to spend more than 5 minutes around, but then she'd feel the same about you.
October 29, 2020
Very text heavy which makes it a slower read, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Gregory isn’t afraid to get nasty. Got much more compelling and good towards the end. Wonder if I should track down the other volumes . . .
May 30, 2020
Long live Bitchy Bitch!
February 8, 2023
Sorry, Bitchy, but a little goes a long way. You shine in a different format.
June 29, 2007
Bitchy Bitch (aka Midge McCracken) is heinous and lovable at the same time. I read this graphic novel over the course of one sleepless night, and am impressed by how much inner monologue the author lets happen for all of the characters.
Bitchy Bitch = thinks the worst + paranoid = bitter
Sylvia = thinks the best + paranoid = delusional
Bitchy Bitch = thinks the worst + paranoid = bitter
Sylvia = thinks the best + paranoid = delusional
June 24, 2007
Bitchy Bitch isn't very nice, but she is funny. Also, Bitchy Bitch makes me seem like a super positive person oozing rainbows and unicorns.
December 13, 2008
a bit repetitive, but still amusing.
January 22, 2009
i adore all things roberta gregory and bitchy bitch. my absolute favorite comic series ever.
March 15, 2010
Its one of the funniest comic i ever see
June 25, 2011
Imagine Bitchy Bitch as the anti-"Cathy." I actually enjoyed this more than I expected to. The 1960s flashback comic reminds us all that the flower power days weren't all sweetness and light.
June 21, 2016
Darker than I expected.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews