A review by robertrivasplata
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out for by Alison Bechdel

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Collection of Alison Bechdel's soap opera comic strips from 1987-2008. Features a large quirky cast of politically engaged Queer characters of diverse backgrounds. As such it's a chronicle of some pretty grim years during which political engagement & activism were seen as foolish & even self-indulgent. This is reflected back into the strip with the depictions of activism decreasing, while at the same time all the characters are being driven insane by the omnipresent news of the world consistently moving in the wrong direction. The tyranny of the news, & the 24 hour news cycle makes DTWOF is kind of like This Modern World, except with multiple interweaving storylines featuring a large cast of Lesbians instead of absurdist 50s kitsch humor. DTWOF also depicts the period during which the dream of making a difference in the world was replaced by the dream of just making a living. So, this collection is a good reminder to me that the 90s really were how I remember. 

In addition to the historical interest, it is interesting to see the evolution of Bechdel's art style over the course of the strip from a fun, cartoony style, to the more realistic style familiar to the fans of Fun Home. I really enjoy all of the humorous titles & headlines & brand names in the backgrounds. 

Pretty sure I first encountered DTWOF in the SF Chronicle sometime in the late 90s, sometime after the horniness content was diluted to levels suitable for late 90s mainstream newspapers. If I'd been able to read it regularly back then, I probably very much would have disapproved of Sydney's introduction. 

I would totally read The Exhaustive Dykes to Watch Out For.