Graphic Novel Review: The Blouse

Published by: Ablaze

Written by: Bastien Vives

Illustrated by: Bastien Vives

ISBN: 9781950912667

Ages: 18+

Severine is a literature student at a university, living reasonably everyday life. However, she seems drastically unnoticed in almost every situation. Her boyfriend has different interests, yet they always seem more important than hers; her professor isn’t listening when she asks for help, and the father of the child she babysits has his gaze on all his issues. This all changes when the child gets sick all over her shirt, and she is given one of his wife’s blouses to change into.

A white silk blouse, form-fitting and lower cut to show off cleavage, just wearing it gives Severine confidence. Men indeed begin to notice her, and their eyes are filled with desire. It’s as if something magical has changed her, and the power of finally being seen will never allow her to go back.

Author Bastien Vives (POLINA, A SISTER, THE BUTCHERY), a French author and artist of renown, brings this tale that, in my opinion, achieves two goals: 1) Shows the power the female visual form has on men. 2) It Shows us, as the reader, an all too common trope of both visual and written entertainment: an attractive woman can do whatever she wants, provided she has both the body and clothing to attract men for purposes of attention and sexual conquest.

Nowadays, society strives for body positivity among all shapes, sizes, races, and genders, so this narrow-minded view feels like a step backward. Vives can convey his point well with his minimalistic art style and visual storytelling, but the message feels like something we’ve seen before.

Adults only, as this contains graphic sexual imagery.

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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