Fantasy Book Critic: Graphic novel review: Tender by Beth Hetland

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Beth Hetland is a Professor, Adj. at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she teaches several comics and comics adjacent courses. She holds an MFA (2011) from The Center for Cartoon Studies and BFA (2009) from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Publisher: Fantagraphics (March 12, 2024) Length: 162 pages Formats: ebook, paperback

Whoa, it was surprisingly dark. "Tender" opens with Carolanne happily married and pregnant. The story has good timing and is simple to follow.

After a while, Hetland takes readers back to the past to reveal how the idyllic life started. That's when they realize things aren’t as they seem on the surface, or in the Instagram posts so important to the protagonist.

Carolanne may appear nice at first glance, but as you delve deeper, you discover her manipulative nature. She manipulates others to satisfy her desires. Desires that aren't particularly unique or malicious—she simply craves a happy, "Instagrammable" life.

However, everything comes at a cost. Carolanne is fixated on the image of a perfect, happy life and tries to control the uncontrollable. When she experiences a devastating loss, the story morphs into one of obsession and body horror.