Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this books in exchange for an honest review,

At first I was a bit confused about the story and the it took me a little while to get used to the layout and the character art in the story, but once I got over the way Brim Eriksson makes the characters and the art style, the story and the plot was actually really interesting.

An dystopian graphic novel where the focus is that if you show any emotions then you need to be regulated and you end up being locked up to be fixed.

We meet our FMC in a fascist Sweden. Our FMC Betty is trying her best to go through her life and act normal and well-adjusted. After Betty witnesses a suicide and she breaking down on a train station, she is taken to the hospital for treatment. While at the hospital she meets Berina and they end up talking, even though they shouldn’t be able to because of the treatment. Betty finds out that Berina is part of the resistance and soon Betty is swept up in to their world and she begins to see the world and life in a different way.

Over all it was a interesting story that focuses heavily on mental illness and find your place in the world.

“A woman needs a room of her own with key and lock, enough money to support herself and maybe a firearm”

“Imagine every person has a drum inside them that follows the same beat. But for me, it’s like I’m always missing the beat, like I’m out of step or I’m following a totally different drum”

the premise here was strong, but the art style was a little difficult for me to get into. i feel like the story could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially about the treatments, but i do like the bits and pieces we did see of this dystopia.

"A woman needs a room of her own with a key and lock, enough money to support herself and maybe a firearm."
It was translated from Swedish by . Melissa Bowers and she isn't even mentioned on book's Netgalley page. 😩

The narrative has very little substance to it. It seems convinced we can't read the room. Multiple characters staring at the camera and being like "Fascism is bad actually." 😩 There's one scene where prime minister is being broadcast on TV and one of the characters comments multiple times how he destroed free press and is oppressing people and acting all indignant about it. And like no shit, it's already set up the the government is fascistic. Unless the character was born yesterday they shouldn't have such an emotional reaction to what looks like a mundane TV broadcast. If they were born into a dictatorship they probably shouldn't know press could be free and of course he wants to present himself better. If they weren't than all of the above is probably old news and has been discussed to death.

Characters always seem to voice exactly what they think. They also voice their back stories the moment you meet them.

Betty is less of a character and more of point of view in this story. She doesn't know herself (pretty relatable) and if my interpretation is correct mentally ill. She doesn't develop through the story. She's acting 100% justifiable all the time. I just couldn't bring myself to care.

The narrative has rather narrow view of mental health. And sure all emotions are valid, but sometimes you do need medication to help with that. And the demonization of medication that helps with mental health won't help anyone. Also the story doesn't get any deeper than emotions.


I found it funny how often characters would wear full-head masks but don't wear anything else besides underwear. Like you want to remain anonymous but somehow going around half naked is ok? (Especially if they have any noticeable moles/tatoos).

This graphic novel had such a unique art style and provided an interesting glimpse into resistance against fascism.

I thought the visuals complemented the themes so well, although it did take a bit to get used to the style. (And I was honestly surprised to learn that Berina and others were wearing masks cuz I low-key just thought it was the art style until they mentioned they were masks, haha.)

The discussions of fascism and resistance were interesting, especially the way medicalization was used to suppress opposition and "deviant behaviour." It all felt very believable, particularly when you saw the way society was overall similar to society today (with even many of the same products being advertised and used).

However, some of the world-building didn't entirely make sense to me. Like, why are people even allowed to wear masks to hide their identities? Would that not be something a fascist society would ban? And why did no one notice that the eye was a secret camera? (It seemed pretty obvious, plus they brought it into the hospital without checking it or anything?)

But overall, I think this is a graphic novel that will stick with me for a while. It felt like a modern and queer 1984, which I loved.

Thank you Fantagraphics and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fascinating dystopian story.

Betty lives in a society that is heavily policed. She falls foul of the authorities when she is caught crying on the streets. She is then taken to an Orwellian health facility to control her emotions and it there she encounters another patient called Berina. Berina is a member of the resistance and very soon Betty is swept up into their world and then she begins to see another life and the truth of the society she lives in.

This is such an interesting story because it leads us to think about our own norms and how we conform and fit in or don’t.

The story has lots of twists and turns and is gripping. This is one to read, especially for those of us who don’t fit in.

Baby Blue by Bim Eriksson

challenging dark mysterious Graphic Novel
5.0

Strange & Beautiful illustration that just add to the surreal nature of this dystopian tale.
What I loved 💕
💕Illustrations
💕Body horror aspect
💕Dystopian world is eerily close to ours
💕FMC is relatable
💕 I loved how even in the darkest of times you can find your people.

Not my cuppa tea ☕️
☕️I wanted more

Ideal reader:
⭐️ Fans of dystopian
⭐️ Fans of beautiful illustrations

Themes/Vibes: challenging, dark, emotional, mysterious, sad, tense, fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Rating: 3.5/5.0

Thank you to the publisher and the author for this NetGalley eARC!

At first I was confused, due there being only minimal dialog. I thought it was a mistake, but the more I saw the story unfolding, I realized this was intentional and I haven’t read anything like it. The art is really unique and the story strangely dark, with some hopefulness sprinkled in. Overall, I liked it! I don’t know if the dialogue would have added to or distracted from the plot. It felt familiar in some ways, but also new. I’d be interested to look into other works by this author, as well.

Received this book as an advanced review copy from Fantagraphics through NetGalley.

The book doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it was a good read. The classic feeling of impending doom when reading dystopia is there.

The flow of the book is smooth, and there is enough intrigue to keep you reading. I loved the wacky art, and the consequences of unchecked fascism are shown well. (Also, I loved that reference to a certain Jim Carrey movie I love )

If you already read a lot of dystopia, it might feel a bit uninspired. But if you are new to the genre, you’ll appreciate how accessible and easy to read it is. Overall, an easy recommendation from me.

while I did like the story, I didn’t like the drawing, the girls looked like trans woman, at first I thought that may be the queer side, but no… well for a dystopian story, it was ok, very much like 1984, people are under super-vigilance at all times..

did it stick on my mind… what stayed is that I didn’t like the drawing that much, but maybe its something you’ll like, just it wasnt for me…

Thank you NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books | Fantagraphics, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An incredible and impacting story. Well narrated, with a simply expressive drawing.

A timely story that was originally published in 2021, now translated. I absolutely adored this. I loved the characters, the art style, and the world building. Highly recommended!

I absolutely loved this read! Dystopian stories with a badass resistance is always a win for me. I zoomed through this, loved every bit of it, the world building, the characters, Briana and baby would do anything for each other and I love seeing that kind of love in stories. Also theres an awesome playlist at the end that I'm listening to right now.

Very informative and deep. Really made me think especially with the administration that we have in office now. A very weird but enjoyable read.

In a dystopian future where emotions are regulated, showing emotions will get you locked up to get fixed. However, while in lockup, our hero meets the Resistance, and sees a different path forward.
The story was interesting, but I could not deal with the art style. I don't know why. Something about it was just super not my cup of tea.

The story and the art style are very unique. It shows Baby going through life in a world where mental health is problematic and a crime to have feelings. What I like about this story it shows how some people view mental health in today’s society and world. From how it is a struggle to find your identity and show emotion. I like how Baby found herself in a place where she belongs. Berina is there every step of the way with her showing her that there’s nothing wrong with her. The two together have a strong connection that brings them closer. Also shows just how much they found a place in someone that understands them. I enjoyed reading Baby Blue very much.

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley.

This graphic novel presents a dystopian fascist Sweden, where mental health is regulated and those who cannot present adequately are fixed. The main character Betty is trying her best to go through the motions and pass as normal and well-adjusted, but after witnessing a suicide and crying in public she is sent to a hospital for treatment. There she meets a woman wearing an animal mask, who seems unaffected by the lobotomizing drugs they are given just like Betty is and soon she’s part of a resistance movement fighting for autonomy.
The plot moves fast, only giving enough detail to build this world, most of it dark. I was reminded of another dystopian book called “Failure to Comply” by Cavar, both in the heavy control exercised over emotions and mental health of citizens to create a healthy populous, the dangers for those who cannot (for whatever reason) just be normal as well as the portrayal of the forest as a place to escape this control. What I also found intriguing is that any characters whose differences would be too visible (f.e. physical visible disability (two characters are blind in one eye, but cover that up most of the time) or more visible mental illnesses such as nonverbal autism or psychosis) simply do not exist in this graphic novel and hints of heavy eugenic population control are given (but not explored in detail). I definitely found it interesting to see, who was missing from this book and what that means about the society presented here.
I also enjoyed the art style, it was eerie and unsettling, presented in navy-blue and white and presenting characters with really interesting and varied body and facial shapes that made it easy to keep them all distinct.
All in all this graphic novel is a quite interesting story of resistance against oppression with a focus on mental health. It doesn’t dig as deep as I would like and a few of the horrors can only be inferred through looking at who is missing from the narrative completely, but all in all, I had a fun time reading this and enjoyed it.

TW: ableism, coercion, drugs, eugenics, governmental control, sexual assault, suicide, violence

Posted on Goodreads, StoryGraph, fable and Tome

4/5⭐️

This dystopian fascist society focuses on “improving” people’s mental health and they’ll stop at nothing at finding the perfect cure…even if it leads to death.

Betty…aka Baby(eventually) has always felt like she doesn’t fit in. She marches to the beat of her own drum and listens to forbidden music. When she’s seen crying by a peacekeeper, she’s swiftly taken to the hospital to begin a new treatment that will help cure her woes and make her a functioning member of society. However, it doesn’t end up working and she ends up making a friend who opens her eyes.

This sapphic dystopian has some of the funkiest artwork I’ve ever seen, but, I loved it. It tackles some very hard topics but that artwork distracts from the grimness of it.

Thank you netgalley, fantagraphics and Bim Ericksson for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

4.25 Stars
Thank you NetGalley for giving me early access to this book. It's important to note that this is Brim Eriksson’s first US release and is an english translation of her book by the same name released in Sweden in 2021.
A very brief summery: In a not so distant future Betty lives in a society that “corrects” and punishes mental health issues. After she's caught crying in public, peace keepers take her to a facility that will help “fix” her. There she meets a friend who opens her eyes to what's really going on, and gives her an opportunity to live more freely.

So right of the bat I had 2 options: wow this is really interesting I can't wait to see where this story goes, and I’m not so sure if this art style is for me. I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed where the story went, and the art style really grew on me. The idea isn't something completely new, but I really enjoyed how Brim tackled this concept and where she went with it. I loved the ink being blue and think the pages were structured well and complimented the art style. I really don't have to much else to say other than I really enjoyed it and definitely will be recommending it!

I don't struggle with any kind of mental health problem (that I know) but if I had one, I would be part of the Resistance. I hope there's more books like this one.

3 stars

A dystopian tale set in Sweden. It's sad to say, but it is a timely story about oppression and silencing diverse voices. The plot is pretty straightforward so I won't say much, just that we are following a girl in her twenties, struggling with depression and feeling lonely. Her mood quickly catches the eye of the peacekeepers, and she is soon forced to start therapy and put on aggressive meds. In here, she'll meet a mysterious girl, someone fighting against injustice and oppression.

First, the positives. I really enjoyed the art style. It's not a common style, the character design is not pretty per se, but it's original. I liked the masks the characters wear, they are a bit grotesque sometimes but makes the aesthetic something unique. As for the plot, I liked that this story centers a lot in mental health. I also feel like the pacing is good, balanced.

When you have read other dystopian stories, they feel quite predictable and Baby Blue is not the exception. It was a fine graphic novel, but nothing that I could truly call special. I appreciate the message, as always, and sadly with the current political landscape stories like these are quite important to have. So, if you feel like supporting an indie author that is trying to elevate the voices many people are tryng to silence today, you should give this a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for this advanced copy of the graphic novel.