Dolltopia

by Abby Denson

A mini-comic about dolls escaping to Dolltopia, to be free to express themselves....
Denson says, “Like ANIMAL FARM, but with dolls!”

Genres: Graphic Novels, Queer, Comics, Feminism, Fiction, Magical Realism, Young Adult

mini-comic

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Cartoonist Abby Denson is the author of Uniquely Japan, the Kitty Sweet Tooth series (illustrated by Utomaru), the fun and fully-illustrated cartoon travel guides, Cool Tokyo Guide and Cool Japan Guide, out from Tuttle Publishing. She is the creator of the graphic novels Dolltopia (which won a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and an International Manga Award) and Tough Love: High School Confidential, which was originally serialized in XY Magazine. She has scripted comics for Amazing Spider-Man Family, Powerpuff Girls Comics, Simpsons Comics, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, Disney Adventures, and comics for Nickelodeon Magazine. She has taught comics classes and workshops at various venues including the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, Sophia University, and Eugene Lang College at The New School.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identity is the central theme of this book...interesting look at how we model individuals based on our perception of their gender identity. Long before the Barbie movie came out Dolltopia was looking at many of the issues that are centered on the 'dollirization' of women in our society. A GN that is both original and thought provoking.

[Aline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identity.
Self-perception.
Self-image.
How to be yourself in a world that doesn't allow it?

[Suki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kind of weird. My friend let me read it and there was (gay) people in it. It wasen't that confussing to me but it was okay.

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny, but also in a way weird. I finished it in about 30 minutes and read it twice. I think the second time when I read it was better and It made more sense.

[Halley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. I read it in one sitting. Feminist but still friendly. It should be written into middle school curriculums to battle body dysmorphia among young girls. Abby Denson may be the next great feminist graphic writters.

[Robin B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is odd. It seems on the surface to be pro-feminist and in favor of female and LGBT equality and liberation, but if you look a little deeper it gets quite disturbing. Although Kitty and Jim have been liberated from their human physical manipulators it seems as though they've merely traded that for equally terrible psychological manipulation by other dolls in dolltopia. The dolls of dolltopia claim they want to be free from being forced into cookie-cutter molds, but they really seem to just trade the picket-fence ideal aesthetic for an equally rigid punk aesthetic. In particular Candy X and Candy O criticize another doll couple because they choose to still live in a Fantasy Home in dolltopia.

There are several other things about this book that bother me. But the greatest one has to be the heavy emphasis on cosmetic surgery as a problem solver. This graphic novel leaves too many loose ends, just when it seems as though a feminist issue is being confronted it glosses over it or veers off course without truly addressing the issues at hand.

Though this book seems like a good read for younger girls beware the afterword which is rife with references to prostitutes and playboy bunnies.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncomfortable with her "life" in the Fantasy Home with Soccer Scotty, Kitty the doll walks out, meets Army Jim (who is similarly uncomfortable in his military milieu), and the two escape on the back of Mr. M., a silent but friendly cat--and ally--who delivers them to Dolltopia. Here, they meet partners Candy X and Candy O (both former "Darling Candy" fashion dolls), who run Jigsaw, a used clothing store where they can choose the clothes that make them feel most them, and they move into the doll hostel down the street run by the welcoming Kewpie. Just when their lives begin to feel livable--Kitty's even had surgery to get articulated arms, so she can arm wrestle--Dolltopia is threatened by a human invasion. Possible favorite moments: when the doll doctor fashions Heady--one of those giant body-less heads kids can put makeup on--wheels so she can move independently and arms so she can hold things, and she later puts them to use battling a lobster the dolls run into on a dock as they scout for a new location for Dolltopia.

[Lindsay Deacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that I read in about one sitting. I teach 6th grade and contacted the author because I want it incorporated into my classroom. I think it would be great in middle school and high school libraries EXCEPT for the "Afterword" at the end of the book. It is not written by the author, but is a review from a feminist critic. Whereas Dolltopia is subtle and cute and clean, the Afterword talks about women "banging aging rockstars" and stripper dances and so on...When I received several copies for my classroom, I had to rip out the last page because of it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, any graphic novel that comes with it's own paper dolls is pretty freakin' boss in my book. (How very DIY...)

This graphic novel is a modern day humanist/post-humanism query into societal function, with a riot grrrl, queer, feminist attitude.

Plus it's pink. And who doesn't like hot pink.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book caught my eye in the background of a scene on Portlandia (feminist book store). Sure enough it was available on Amazon.

This graphic novel is like a queer punk rock version of Toy Story and Animal Farm. The colors, design, and artistic style is just really cool. I loved every panel and was saddened when I came to the end. Will definitely be checking out more work from Abby Denison!

[Zefyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a kid playing with dolls, telling their story, and then the kid isn't really there anymore and it's just the dolls doing their thing. This book brings the dolls to life as a way to explore questions around identity and body. Identity exploration in particular was interesting, as the story explored why some people seek something new and outside of what they know, while most don't. Direct without being heavy-handed, and with a range of queer and gender diverse characters.

[Gacela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy original pero también extraño. No sabría bien qué decir de él. Me ha gustado leerlo pero no lo compraría... En fin, sensaciones encontradas.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Abby D's ponytail is too tight! They created one crazy, mixed up commentary on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. The use of pink can be mind numbing but is important to the flow of things.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición española del comic independiente de Abby Denson en versión completa.

[Sierra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly think this was a pretty liberal review, maybe I should have given Dolltopia one star. When I first started, this book seemed to have cute feminist ideals and when you read the book your first thought is "wow this author is trying to tell me that it's ok to be whoever you want to be and that there's a place for all of us" but in reality when you look a little deeper it has some pretty misogynistic and disturbing undertones. For example, the book seems to think that wanting to live happily the way that dolls were intended is inherently bad. Candy X and Candy O comment on how "[they're] so sick of [other dolls] and their Fantasy Home", like its a bad thing to be who you want? Sure some people are conforming but maybe that's their choice. Just as modern women are allowed to be housewives if they so choose but mostly because it's what they've chosen. Also what's up with that odd little drug addiction thing happening with Candy X, was she lying when she said that the dosage was manageable now? It seemed a little fishy to me. I don't know, maybe I'm reading way into this whole thing but it seemed to me to have a very strong us and them mentality when we should be teaching women to respect each other no matter our differences. There were too many loose ends and I felt like even though the books message was to shy away from how humanity has made us into "dolls" it seems that everyone's problems were meant to be solved by plastic surgery (except for Scotty idk what was up with that). Either way, be critical when reading this graphic novel, there seems to be some not so shiny undertones to it but maybe that was on purpose and I'm just missing the point who really knows.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I'm not sure why it was in my library's Adult Graphic Novels and not just general gn's because the message was truly appropriate for YA. The idea of being an individual, and not conforming to the cookie-cutter life that seems predestined for us, is one that I think all of us may need to read.

Kitty Ballerina wants to know the meaning of it all. She wants to understand the purpose behind her cutesy ponytail and tutu. She has no interest in her predetermined beau Scotty or their fashionable Dream Home. In an attempt to discover the life outside of "perfect", she sets out on her own. After meeting up with an "Army Jim" doll, the two of them set out to become part of Dolltopia, where dolls go to be free of humans.

I loved everything about this book actually, from the minimalistic pink, black and white illustrations, to the outstanding afterword provided at the end to tie it all to the "real world".

This was my first title by Abby Denson, but I'm sure now that it won't be my last.

[H. Givens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book - The message seems straightforward, "it's okay to be different," but in practice it gets weird. It's hard to tell what the author meant to be positive and what was meant to be negative. So, that might be a good thing, more nuanced characters than expected, but it also makes for a slightly uncomfortable reading experience since you don't really know who to trust in the narrative. It also doesn't tell a whole story... Every time it seems like something's happening, that plotline just disappears. It's a series of events, not a story.

[Sarah]

The theory behind this book is great -- dolls escaping their oppressive existence and rocking a punk-rockabilly look. But don't look too hard for plot. The story itself feels plodding. There is a lot of good concept here, but it doesn't translate further then a Womans Studies 101 lecture. The characters are literally cardboard cutouts with little to tie them together and it is choc full of plot devices. If you like feminism and women in comics, give it a read. But don't get your hopes up.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, feminist, humanist fantasy for children that still manages to be pretty punk rock, written and drawn by one of the nicest people working in comics today. Way to go, Abby!

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is a good book!

[Kevin]

It was interesting, but it didn't tell what the end didn't tell what would happen.

[Reba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! Mr. M is my hero!

[Laura Ann she-her · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. This book is one of my all-time favorites.