Scan barcode
tlrhfr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ellahatmotivation's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aalderman8's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
justabean_reads's review
3.5
I don't see a translator here, so I'm assuming Bulling wrote the English version themself. This was originally published in German a few years ago, and is now out in a gorgeous English edition by Drawn & Quarterly, whose books are so well-constructed that I want to lick them. The art is sketched, all fast-moving curves, black and white save for the many meanings of red as it comes in and out of the picture. And again, the book is so pretty as an art object.
As wild fires rage in Australia and existential dread creeps over a whole generation as climate change makes things very bad very quickly, a queer German party enby tries to figure out of there's much point exploring their gender feelings or figuring things out as the world's in the midst of ending. They're dating a trans woman, who is doing her best to be supportive, while dealing with her own damage, but as the months pass, stress builds in the relationship.
As you can probably tell from the above, there are a lot of unresolved feelings on the go here, and they remain unresolved at the end of the graphic novel. I appreciated the rawness, and how of the moment it felt, but I do think I'd have liked it to be a little longer, and to have spent more time with the characters.
As wild fires rage in Australia and existential dread creeps over a whole generation as climate change makes things very bad very quickly, a queer German party enby tries to figure out of there's much point exploring their gender feelings or figuring things out as the world's in the midst of ending. They're dating a trans woman, who is doing her best to be supportive, while dealing with her own damage, but as the months pass, stress builds in the relationship.
As you can probably tell from the above, there are a lot of unresolved feelings on the go here, and they remain unresolved at the end of the graphic novel. I appreciated the rawness, and how of the moment it felt, but I do think I'd have liked it to be a little longer, and to have spent more time with the characters.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a great slice-of-life graphic novel about a 30-year-old queer person from Berlin moving verrrrry sloooowly through some gender feels and navigating a longterm relationship. As per the title, there's a lot of metaphorical and literal fire in the book. Ingken, the protagonist, is going through a crisis, trying to figure out where they land in their own transness. Their girlfriend Lily, also trans, tells Ingken to burn themselves down and build a new self back up. Ingken isn't so sure about this metaphor, particularly as the story is set during the Australian bushfires of 2019/20 and they can't stop doomscrolling. Lily and Ingken also observe some firebugs on a summer night out in the country, wondering about insect reproduction and sexuality.
I don't read a lot of fiction by European authors or set in Europe, and Firebugs was an interesting window into a certain queer party scene in Berlin and also (briefly) Paris that's very dominated by drugs. There's no judgment on this or on anything else in the novel -- the tone is very much "this is what's happening, isn't it interesting" with no hints of morality or right or wrong, even when it might seem obvious someone is "behaving badly."
The art is bold black and white with pops of red. The spreads of queer dance parties are especially cool. There were also some very spot-on expressions on Lily and Ingken's faces when they were having relationship talks and disagreements. Almost too real!
I don't read a lot of fiction by European authors or set in Europe, and Firebugs was an interesting window into a certain queer party scene in Berlin and also (briefly) Paris that's very dominated by drugs. There's no judgment on this or on anything else in the novel -- the tone is very much "this is what's happening, isn't it interesting" with no hints of morality or right or wrong, even when it might seem obvious someone is "behaving badly."
The art is bold black and white with pops of red. The spreads of queer dance parties are especially cool. There were also some very spot-on expressions on Lily and Ingken's faces when they were having relationship talks and disagreements. Almost too real!
mekowaletti's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5