This is a spoiler-free Virginny review.
Summer is here and everyone is coming out of their houses to do yard work, play games, and exercise. Since I live in the Northeast, this is a great contrast to being cooped up in the house all winter. While summer is a great season, it can also come with a price. This week, my allergies had me feeling lethargic and foggy.
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Even though it is nice out I still have a lot of work to do indoors. Adulting doesn’t stop when it is warm out. My wife and I are tackling a bunch of home improvement projects that have us exhausted before we even leave the house. This week I found myself romanticizing the carefree lifestyle found in childhood. I wanted to spend all day outside skateboarding and inventing new yard games. To be honest, I may have went outside to drink from the hose for old time’s sake.
Virginny Review
Virginny is written and drawn by John S. Troutman. The comic was initially released in May of 2018. It came to Comixology on June 13th 2018. Virginny is a slice of life comedy about a very pessimistic little girl trying to navigate her childhood social life.
It is Virginia’s birthday, and like many kids is having a party at local jungle gym arcade. She is upset because her friends aren’t showing her as much attention as she would like. These feelings get worse when she finds out the ever-optimistic Iris is also having a birthday party in the same venue. Instead of making friends and having fun Virginia decides to go to war.
The action and dialogue in Virginny is really funny. Virginia’s distaste for other children paired with Iris’ love for companionship creates an excellent dynamic. There are also a lot of silly panels and slapstick moments. Who else remembers drowning in a ball pit, or being bonked in the head with a nerf dart?
Virginny is drawn in black and white with heavy inking. I really enjoyed this style choice for this story. The book takes place in a Discovery Zone/Stompin’ Ground-style jungle gym arcade (sorry for dating myself). These places are often very bright and colorful.
Troutman does a great job of recreating this lively landscape with only two colors. That is no easy task. My favorite panel is the full page spread of the girls playing tag. It has a lot of hilarious action and has a great use of perspective drawing.
I had intense feelings of nostalgia when reading Virginny. This comic is filled with many nods to ‘90s toys and culture. Outside of the setting, the children play Carmen Sandiego and duel with what looks like the Nerf bow and arrow. The way the children interact with each other remind me of when I was their age.
One scene really hit close to home for me. While the girls are playing tag, someone catches Virginia in one of the jungle gym tubes. Instead of admitting defeat, she begins to kick the child who is tagging her ankle. I must admit I did the exact same thing while playing tag at Stompin’ Ground twenty years ago. Sadly, I was kicking a child I had just met and was nice enough to include me in their game of tag. It was not a good look for me.
I have not read any other works by John S. Troutman, but that will not be true for long. Virginny was the fun and lighthearted comic that I needed this week. This comic currently costs one dollar and is worth every penny.
Where To Find Virginny
Virginny on Comixology
Troutcave Comics’ Official Website
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