The Story of my Tits
A Graphic Novel by Jennifer Hayden
There are times as a comic reader that we just don’t get to read great stories as they come out. Theres so much talent and epic stories going on in any given time in this industry that we don’t get to hear about some really awesome comics being done for one reason or another. For me, the year of 2012 I found myself in a different country with internet which unfortunately made me miss this great book.
Now, that I work of Fangirl Review and have the opportunities to read more comics than I ever had before. I decided to look into what I have missed in the off years I got to travel the world. This particular opportunity came knocking when Brett from Top Shelf emailed me of things they were celebrating this year at his company. And one of those books was the amazing graphic novel called “The Story of My Tit’s” by Jennifer Hayden.
Jennifer Hayden is a great comic artist who has created the critically acclaimed online hit “Underwire” that is featured on www.ACT-I-VATE.com every month. She has also wrote a great children's book called “Liberty Cafe” (which my daughter has enjoyed a lot). Hayden’s is always fun for me to check into as a fan and an avid comic geek. So when I heard about the story she had done back in 2012 called “The Story of My Tits”; 1. I had to check it out after knowing its premise and 2. I felt like I needed to share it here on Fangirl Review because of its powerful message. Top Shelf will be releasing its full completion this coming October, 13 2015. So keep an eye out for it in comic shops and book stores.
With that being said. What is Hayden’s “The Story of my Tits” about? It is a slice of hard hitting life about women’s breast cancer. Hayden drew upon her own life struggles with this issue and did the most beautifully poetic thing an artist can do and made it into a great piece of artwork. This story is by no means the faint of heart as it’s a real life memoir from someone’s first person account on the subject manner. However, it is definitely a deeply important literary piece that holds its true weight in salt and should be (in my opinion) bought and read.
Hayden opens up to the reader and tells them that she grew up with this idea that breasts are what makes women feminine and how they are thought to be the main attraction for the opposite sex. However, by the time she is in college she learns her own mother has been diagnosed with having breast cancer. From this point Hayden shares her love and fear relationship she has with her breasts as she watches her mother going through a tough battle that leaves her mother losing her breast. This was hard for me to read since two great women in my life went through breast cancer and survived (though they were able to keep their breasts), this book is an eye opener to the real deadly dangers women face with this disease.
Fast forward a little bit as Hayden then discusses her breasts from the viewpoint of a mother, who gave birth to children and notices her breasts grew in size because of her being pregnant. It is after this that Hayden opens up about her own personal struggle with breast cancer that just floored me as a reader. The strength of this woman is incredible folks. This is by far the best damn comic I have read this year.
Yes it is dealing with a hard issue, but Hayden keeps a clear optimistic view on the whole thing and she even brings her sense of humor to the book that she is known for. She even allows her imagination to make her conscience a bird within this story as she opens up about the fears, regrets, and humiliation that women face in this situation. Mad respect for you Jennifer Hayden, thank you for allowing us into your life and giving us this wonderfully powerful story.
So in closing, on the comic epicness scale what do I rate The Story of My Tits?
- Craptastic
- Die Hard Fans Only
- Awesome Sauce
- Brilliantly Fantastic
- Epic...
Epic! This book is such an amazing piece of art and story that it should definitely belong on your home book shelves.
Thank you for joining us on Fangirl for this review on The Story of My Tits. Hope to entertain you soon,
Sincerely,
FLIP Knox
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