Baby Blue was one of the best graphic novels I've read in years! I loved the animation style and the characters and the storyline is very appropriate for our current political climate. I think anyone who reads this book will enjoy it and all of the beautiful illustrations along the way!

As much as many may not want to admit it, the world is moving once again toward conformity and tribalism. It is nice to see that some recognize it and are using their art to illustrate what very well could be our future.

I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I have a hard time with dystopian fiction (due to the fact that most of it isn't as fictitious as I'd like it to be lately) but Baby Blue caught my eye due to the interesting art style and queer themes. The story follows Betty who lives in a not-so-distant future that policies mental health and when she is seen crying in public she is sent to a rehab center to help her "get better." From there the story follows a resistance of queer femmes trying to just fight for a place to be themselves.

I wish there was a little more story, especially more backstory on the characters of the Blue House, because this really was a great read. It was a bit quick for my personal liking. The art is interesting as Eriksson likes to play with proportions and textures. I feel that people who look for graphic novels that are out of the norm will be intrigued.

Bim Eriksson uses dystopic setting as a tool in Baby Blue to expose LGBTQIA+-phobias that unfortunately persist in reality. These phobias, enforced by those making laws and keeping the peace in Baby's world, force people to suppress themselves under the societal eye. As readers, we see Baby surviving unhappily in this world. That is, until she meets blunt and mysterious Berina. I really am happy this is getting a US publication. Eriksson's artistic expression is distinct and deliberate. The head-to-body proportion ratios were my favorite to witness, and this is what made me pay the most attention to Baby's expressions. Thanks for the chance to read this, NetGalley and Fantagraphic Books for the chance to read this work.

Phenomenal! 'Baby Blue' is the modern equivalent of '1984'! With an incredibly rich drawing style (definitely very recognizable amongst many), it grips your hand, winks at you and starts running. From the very first page I was enchanted by Erikssons graphic novel. The sujets covered by it range from mental illness to finding your truth and friends, from queerness to the pharma industry. Very excited for the next one!

I really in enjoyed the art style and found the story to be captivating! Betty's growth through the book was fun to watch and well shown. Berina character was fun to explore, and I wish we had a little more time and background with them.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I have no idea what to say except 5 stars. The art? Creepy, reminds me of The Yellow Submarine movie animation, loved it. The story? Fantastic, I was highly motivated to finish, would absolutely read again.

Overall, this is definitely a graphic novel that makes its readers feel things and wonder about what a dystopian future might look like where the government tries to chemically alter mental illnesses out of the population. I think I'm actually going to pick up the physical copy of this book.

Baby Blue is an engaging exploration into an Orwellian near future where the government heavily monitors emotions. Eriksson's art style creates an eerie scene with exaggerated characteristics regarding character design. Baby is a simple yet interesting main character. She feels something is fundamentally wrong with her that makes her different from others and deviates from the norm. Through the resistance, she finds she can be celebrated as her whole self without any censoring. Overall, the characters were compelling if somewhat under-explored, and the plot was engaging but somewhat predictable. Without the art style, I think the story would be less unique, but Eriksson shows how character design and setting can add their own meaning to a story. Despite my mild criticisms, Baby Blue was compelling enough to read in one sitting, and I would recommend it to others who have similar thoughts about their deviation from societal norms. 3.5 stars.