Archie Bongiovanni’s comic title, Grease Bats, is now collected in Graphic Novel format, from BOOM!
The adventures of Andy and Scout, best buds, roommates and “gay disasters” originally appeared online on Autostraddle, the independent online and social network for lesbian, bisexual and queer women as well as non-binary people.
Andy and Scout, along with their friends and plenty of beer, are just trying to make it through their 20s. Andy is a genderqueer trans individual who dates compulsively and frequently. Their best friend Scout is still languishing and anguishing over her ex-girlfriend, since like, forever.
It’s a fun series of strips. Honest, blunt and open, Grease Bats delves into touchy and complex scenarios. The situations are rich with humour and angst; it sure ain’t easy to navigate through today’s complex world of misadventures, internet dates and flirting.
Archie’s short stories (most run a few pages) are fascinating for mature LGBTTQQIAAP readers who will likely laugh out loud at the drama-filled scenes. Archie’s (mostly) black and white cartoon drawings are expressive and loose; they are able to bring ideas and emotions to the page in an efficient and entertaining way. It’s way-out-there, of course, like all comic stories of people in their 20’s, but that makes its ring of truth all the more poignant!
BOOM, Grease Bats, 308 pages of content for $14.99. Mature readers
Anthony Andujar Jr. 
Newsdesk