BOYS WEEKEND

Lubchansky uses science fiction, horror, and the comic book form to explore the terrors of coming out as transfemme in a world dominated by dudes.

Sometime in the not-too-distant future, Sammie Kavalski is packing for their best friend Adam’s bachelor party blowout. They’re not thrilled at the prospect of spending a weekend at El Campo, a floating resort in the South Pacific. And they’re even less excited about hanging out with old pals who still treat them like one of the guys. This ostensibly pleasant excursion will prove to be beyond Sammie’s worst imaginings. During days of lawless partying on the high seas, Sammie will have to deal with toxic bro culture, a dangerous cabal, an eldritch horror from the deep, and people who consistently mock and misgender them. Although it’s set in an invented universe, Lubchansky’s graphic novel offers commentary on our own time and place. El Campo is built on a garbage island, and on their way there, Sammie is upcharged for having gained 3.3 pounds since they booked their “Super-Saver Plus Plus” ticket, and they have to pay a landing fee before they can exit the airport. When they check into their hotel, they have to offer a blood sample so they can participate in fun activities like hunting and killing their own clone. And the cabal—which calls itself a “vertically integrated marketing platform for a global network of entrepreneurs”—issues fleece vests not unlike those favored by fintech guys to its members. The fantastic elements of this graphic novel are intriguing, but the bulk of the book consists of repeated scenes of Sammie being abused by the bachelor-party cohort, retreating to deal with the emotions that stirs up, and then rejoining the group. These two parts of the story don’t work well together, though. Neither the relationships among characters nor the sea-monster cult is given enough space to develop. That said, Lubchansky gives Sammie a chance to reconcile with Adam and their past self in a way that is very satisfying.

An uneven but undeniably original adventure.