Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Skottie Young
Artists: Brandon Graham, Brett B Bean, Erin Hunting, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Skottie Young
Issues: 20
Status: Complete
Some who watched the Alice in Wonderland film a few years ago probably, like me, wondered what it would’ve been like if Alice had chosen to remain in Wonderland towards the end of the film. Surely a life with whimsical characters and magical cakes and potions would make life all the more interesting? Well if I Hate Fairyland is anything to go by, Alice made the correct choice.
Like Alice, the comic’s protagonist, Gertrude, get sucked into the magical world of Fairyland, a dream come true for any young girl, and for the most part it lives up to all expectations. Gert’s quest is filled with wonder and color, with the most amazing of talking creatures, scenic paths and candy in every shape and form. For her quest to return back home, she is assigned a little fly named Larry, tasked with providing the knowledge to progress through the world safely and obtain the key to take her home. But as time goes on, our protagonist finds that her quest is not so straightforward, or not for her at least, and what should’ve been a relatively quick adventure, turns into a thirty-year prison.
Unable to escape Fairyland, the landscape turns dull and routine, the magic and majesty that once was fades into normalcy and boredom, the monotony turning wonder into woe. Even Larry becomes a somewhat depressed, chain-smoking shadow of the optimistic fly that he used to be, as he joins a now mentally mature adventurer in bouts of great violence and binge drinking. As Samurai Jack tirelessly missioned to find a way back into the past, so too does Gertrude tirelessly look for escape from the bright rainbows and talking animals of Fairyland.
Readers will be treated to a host of interesting characters, turned enemy to our protagonist as she explores one avenue after the next for escape. The long running series speaks to a truth that we all know all too well, that something is always exciting until it is committed to routine, too much good can often turn bad. The series is enjoyable in that it keeps readers interested in the final outcome, will Gertrude ever escape Fairyland, and when she does, will replacing the monotony of Fairyland with the real world be any better? And how does time operate within the different universes?
It’s questions like these that make for a fun read. The artwork is colorful and striking, which seems to lend well to the constant violence, and the comic does well to borrow from other famous titles in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways. However, the concept as a whole doesn’t really feel that original, it feels like something thought up by a couple of highschoolers who thought that a violent Alice in Wonderland would be cool. I also wasn’t really a fan of spinning the profanity to match the theme of the comic, using swearwords like ‘muffin fluffer’ or ‘fluff you’ instead of just real swearwords. Nit picky, I know, but it is sometimes the little things that can really give or take from a story.
I Hate Fairyland is still a very fun comic to read, despite its shortcomings. The many twist and turns, and the overall length of the comic, affords it the ability to explore the depths of its many characters. The feel of this comic is Samurai Jack, Power Puff Girls and Alice in Wonderland wrapped up in a bloody bow with a middle finger painted on the card. If you are looking for a dark comedy to latch onto for a while, try this one out. Happy reading ☺.