Of Her Own Design from Mad Cave’s Maverick imprint is a relatable coming-of-age tale about trying to express struggles. When everything around you just feels like work, the stress and exhaustion can make you forget why you like something. So a few new looks at everything can make a big difference.
Of Her Own Design Isn’t Just The Protag’s
Birdie Willis and Nicole Andelfinger might focus a lot of this graphic novel around the protagonist, but other characters POVs are just as important. Brie Page’s struggles are mirrored by people around her like ex-best friend and crush. Brie’s friend-turned-bully Viv for example hides behind bravado to hide from her insecurities. While Brie’s crush Kay… seems perfectly normal and just wants to get to know a socially awkward girl. But Brie’s missing their confidence to confront or make conversation, both with them and herself through writing.
Then there’s Brie’s parents who represent Brie’s choice to either try and make life better or go somewhere new for fulfillment. Decisions like these much like writing a story have a lot of weight attached to them. Kind of like getting tired of one story and pushing it aside for a new one. Even if it can be equally as unfulfilling.
Finally there’s the mysterious shopkeeper Ambrose. They like Brie are stuck in a rut and want a new perspective to bring back some passion of life. Even if they make a few changes with a bit of pretentious meta commentary.
Of [Artists’] Design[s]
Of Her Own Design features multiple art styles to highlight the change in Brie’s outlook and the shifts to different stories.
Vash Taylor is the default artist where everything begins in black-and-white and feels overwhelming. Between negative space, blank backgrounds, and backgrounds sometimes on a tilt, readers feel Brie’s emotional weight.
When scenes shift to Fiona Marchbank’s art, her simpler style feel freer and more liberating, with Brie able to express her emotions. The way she writes stories in reaction to things happening around her feel larger than Brie’s real life. But once she starts entering and exiting the stories she created, more color starts to show up. It’s an visually appealing sign of Brie and co.’s development.
Laurent Reis makes Brie’s fantasy world an expressive and lively place that feels like pure wish fulfillment. But it’s near the climax of this chapter where the art reaches its peak. The panels react wildly to Viv as the villain but after getting taken out of her trance, and emotions start to unravel that readers experience a breakthrough. When Viv’s cape shows photos of her time with Brie, they feel so old, distant, yet too important to let go of.
Eva Cabrera’s art in Brie’s space opera is alright, especially when Brie gets into the swing of swashbuckling. But the pace feels a bit off afterwards, even if narratively speaking that’s by design of Ambrose. The best part is probably when Brie rescues her parents as they approach a vortex, evoking how Brie feels when she needs to get involved in their arguments.
Finally Rowan MacColl’s art is okay with its lighter atmosphere contrasting with how busy and constrained everything is. But the suddenly subtle shifts that Linden Calhill’s colors highlight makes me scratch my head at times because I’m trying to figure out what’s happening.
Major shoutouts to Saida Temofonte’s lettering where each scenario have unique word balloons and captions.
Of Her Own Design: Good, But Flawed
As a coming-of-age story, Of Her Own Design is something to remember. A lot of people can relate to how living can turn into a lot of work. Especially when the safety nets start to fall apart. So Brie being able to immerse herself in her writing is a fancy way of being able to get around walls.
If there are any weaknesses, it’s how underdeveloped Kay is as Brie’s love interest.
Then there’s Ambrose as an antagonist, which I’m kind of on the fence with. The way they set up events feel performative, especially in parts where they comment on the pacing of Brie’s stories. That part feels off because it’s like the writers admit they couldn’t think of something better and brush it off. Although, Ambrose’ ultimate goal with how nonchalant they are about being outsmarted is interesting. It’s like they were just performing again, satisfied that Brie isn’t held back any longer.
So with that, this gets 8/10.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.