EVIL-ISH

Hawthorne Vandecast yearns for the glamourous villain life.

Miserable doing the menial work of a potion barista in their family business, nonbinary Hawthorne yearns to join the Brigade of Shade, an organization of elite villains who once ruled over their city of Idlewood. But when Hawthorne gets the chance to audition for the Brigade of Shade, it doesn’t go well. Worse, flower-loving Maple McCoy (who annoys Hawthorne with her sugary overtures of friendship) easily makes the cut. Freckled, redheaded Maple approaches Hawthorne with an idea for a do-over that goes awry—but leaves Hawthorne the Brigade’s new leader. Finding the organization’s day-to-day operations stagnant, Hawthorne whips the Brigade back into mischievous shape. But soon their efforts pay off beyond what they wanted, as the newly competent Brigade engages in evilness well beyond Hawthorne’s comfort zone. Since Hawthorne’s flirtation with villainy started this whole mess, it’s their responsibility to make things right, which includes coming to grips with thematic questions at the heart of the story. Tarrell’s portrayal of life in Idlewood—a charming combination of medieval fantasy standards and modern twists—includes plenty of humor while establishing pale-skinned, pink-haired Hawthorne’s angsty misfit relatability. Although the characters’ motivations aren’t particularly robust, the aesthetics and vibes—beautifully moody color palettes and expressive, active illustrations—make this fast-paced story compelling. The Brigade members and Idlewood residents are racially diverse.

A dynamic, funny read for emo days.