The Essential Dykes To Watch Out For

And there they are on pages 76-77, the first DTWOF strips I ever saw. They were in a student run women's paper in the Fall of 1991, I had just arrived at the university and my life was about to change for the better. Therefore, it's impossible for me to be completely objective when I talk about this strip and its brilliant creator (channeler?), Alison Bechdel. At first I didn't know what to make of the strip - I feel like I walked through my first two decades in a haze because I was not used to a comic strip dramedy. It didn't take me long to fall in love with it. I bought all the collections that were available at the time (three books!), saw Bechdel's slide show when she came around to my school and even wrote her a letter - and she responded. I still have that letter. It's great to see so many strips reproduced here, forming a running narrative of twenty years in the lives of the characters. Not all of the strips are here nor are the nifty little supplements that the older books included but for the first time reader, I don't think they'll feel the loss. They can also go and seek out some of the older books for completion. This is one of the best graphic arts collections of the year.

Whether you've been anxiously awaiting the next installment after Invasion of the Dykes to Watch Out For, or have lost track of our favorite lesbian heriones and want to get caught up, this is the book for you. Hardcore fans will be delighted to see that we have an entire new book's worth of fresh, unpublished comics to get us up to date. I looked at how many comics each of the previous books has had, and we have an equal amount of new content in this one. But, for only a little bit extra, you get this thick, glorious retrospective which takes us through the entire series, giving us clips and the best highlights from over the years. If you missed the last couple books - no worries - this will catch you up enough to enjoy the latest comics at the end. And if you've read everything and just want the latest book - you won't be disappointed with everything else included. I've read every book multiple times, and I enjoyed reading the entire thing as a lead-up to the new comics at the end. Bechdel is my number one favorite cartoonist ever, and I'm not even a lesbian - I just find her characters are so human and so interesting that I connect with their lives deeply. So if you read Fun House and aren't sure if you might like to move on to this series, I'd encourage you to pick up this book and give it a try.

I’ve spent many hours enjoying this wonderful compilation of Alison Bechdel’s “Dykes to Watch Out For” cartoon series. Drawn between 1987 and 2008, the “Dykes” strip focuses on the misadventures and foibles of a group of close-knit LGBT friends as they pursue education, work and love affairs while debating personal politics and political correctness. The strip is funny but also thoughtful in tone. It’s unique in that it features multi-sexual, multi-racial, multi-ethnic characters and continually comments on the culture and politics of the times: lesbian and gay rights, the AIDS epidemic, the wars in Iraq, 9/11, celebrity culture, transgenderism, the financial crisis, etc. The characters attend many an anti-war protest, Pride parade and women’s music festival. They debate and spoof the latest twists in gender theory. The feminist bookstore owner Jezanna rails against “Bunns & Noodle” stealing her business. The protagonist, Mo, is forever analyzing and second-guessing herself (like a lesbian Woody Allen). Her pal Lois is sexually omnivorous and proud of it. Other characters include Harriet, Sparrow, Ginger, Malika, Clarice and Toni and their kid Raffi. They are a lovable, oddball “Our Gang” whose friendships, arguments, love for and exasperation with each other blend into an astute, layered saga of a modern family, with all its warmth and complications. I read this toon when it first ran in alternative newspapers back in the 1990s. Reading it again still made me laugh and think. This would be a great gift for an LGBT or feminist friend.

Wonderful cast of characters; great facial expressions, personalities, peccadillos, relationship realities. These stories could have been written now in the _rump era. Repeating republican propaganda syndrome examined. Yikes.

the package was slightly ripped but other than that this is the Good Gay Book and it's worth buying!

A compelling read, and as another reviewer had said, one doesn't need to be a lesbian to totally appreciate and enjoy this book. I'm an avid reader of graphic memoirs, and in my opinion, Alison Bechdel and Joe Sacco rank head and shoulders above the rest in terms of their writing style, content, keen observation, wit/humor and highly detailed drawings. Almost every frame is a work of art. Extremely, extremely gifted. I'm disappointed that there aren't any more new materials from Ms Bechdel for me to indulge in, for now, and hope I don't have to wait too long for her next release!

As a general review of "Dykes To Watch Out For," it is a wonderful, human series. Much as, in her introduction, Ms. Bechdel critiques the idea of herself becoming an entry point into the culture, she is, but she also presents an amazing, evolving story, that gives the reader a real glimpse into human life and poses questions that the characters model asking themselves that, really, most of us should ask ourselves, at at least one point or another. All this comes along with effective, real-life style humor. Frankly, I think everybody should read her work.

This was fun to read. As someone who didn't grow up in north america and does not have much knowledge of the queer movement of the 80's and 90's, this was really interesting to read. Queer and funny and full of insights. This collection is lighthearted and silly and purposeful and loaded at the same time.

Un livre à offrir !! Cette BD est un classique à partager avec ses amis.

Divertido culebrón lésbico editado en una magnífica edición que recopila la larga trayectoria de la tira cómica de Alison Bechdel. Decenas de personajes interaccionando de forma real, con un toque cómico, y un análisis de las relaciones sentimentales, de amistad y laborales conforman el 'Moeverso', la parcela de realidad que rodea a la protagonista Moe, alter ego de la autora. En definitiva, obra recomendable para cualquier amante del cómic independientemente de su inclinación sexual.

I love this set if Cartoons. As a gay woman it is refreshing to read a clever, funny and political set of graphic stories. The characters are a blast from the past and after a few pages I was hooked. This is a must for any lesbian who wants to spend some time reflecting on the lesbian library verses the pub. Excellent writing at times laugh out loud a comic time machine. The drawings are fantastic the characters feel like old friends. Read it she is fantastic.

So many lesbian life insights in an engaging and fun format with interesting (although sometimes detestable) characters. Highly recommended. Whenever I pick it up I spend at least an hour reading it!