Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
There’s a box. There’s a knife. And then we meet protagonist Jane, lying on a bed, asking her boyfriend if he’d still love her if she became fat. She already has body issues, hates living at her mother’s suburban little home, but cannot afford to move out in the graphic novel “Bottled” by Chris Gooch. So, when her successful model friend Natalie comes visiting from Japan, a bitter Jane does something unthinkable to exploit her friend for money. Okay, maybe not unthinkable, but it’s pretty bad.
Chris Gooch uses a three-color palette for “Bottled” – black, white, and brick red, or well, I am no color expert so it could just be something else. Regardless, this black-white-red color works well for the angst-y themes of the story. The artwork is kind of engaging, but the character illustrations aren’t consistent, and I don’t know if it’s deliberate, because in certain different angles, Jane looks like a completely different character. In some panels she has a rectangular boy-ish face, in others her head looks more rounded. However, some of the more static panels are quite striking, where the creator simply sets a scene without any dialogue. For example, the opening pages feature four panels depicting a box lying on the ground, with a hand grabbing it in the fourth panel. Another instance is a page with three panels showcasing a flight soaring through the sky.
In the tale, there are three primary characters: Jane, her boyfriend Ben, and Japan-returned Natalie, their conceited model friend. One detail the author fails to clarify is why Jane is seeking to rent an expensive room with Ben when he seemingly already has a place of his own. Is he also living with his parents, or is his lease expiring? This ambiguity leaves readers puzzled. Although, through various little incidents, the author does establish that Natalie can be exceedingly selfish.
“Bottled” essentially presents a peculiar and somber narrative about a bitter young woman who betrays her friend’s trust for her own benefit. One of the most compelling themes in this contemporary graphic novel is the exploration of friendship, particularly the enduring bonds people maintain even when they no longer genuinely like their friend. This dynamic is depicted through the Jane’ actions as they continue to bottle up their negative emotions for the sake of friendship. Eventually, this pent-up animosity reaches a breaking point, resulting in harmful consequences.
The graphic novel ends rather abruptly, but there’s some sense of resolution regardless. I didn’t particularly enjoy “Bottled” but it’s a decent one-time read about contemporary friendships and personal struggles (of people who aren’t likable).
Rating: 2.5 on 5. “Bottled” is also on Kindle Unlimited.
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