I gave up about 4 pages in -- there was already racism, drug use, and jokes about sexual assault. I'm all for talking about real issues but each time when one of these topics was brought up the author completely missed an opportunity to engage the audience and make them think about the topic whatsoever. This was an immediate no from me but perhaps other readers will want to stick with it; I just won't be one of them.

Absolutely captures the feel of high school in a rural Wisconsin town as you're just starting to figure yourself out and look to the outside world. Great art, too.

A great slice-of-life comic about growing up in a small rural community. The characters feel real, and Case’s art is dynamic.

SE Case’s Rigsby, WI is a coming-of-age new adult graphic novel set in 2002, where a group of misfit teens in a small town are all grappling with their own personal struggles. The tension between finding solace and navigating the uncertainties of youth is palpable. The friendship dynamic between Bethany, Jeordie, Erik, and Anna is the heart of the story, showing how they lean on each other as they try to figure out life. Bethany’s search for stability resonates deeply, especially as she forms connections with friends who are each carrying their own emotional weight. There’s a great conversation about CDs and making mixtapes that brought back some nostalgic memories for me. The art style is fantastic, and I loved the bonus comics at the end. They give a deeper backstory to the characters. As the first volume in a series, this is just the beginning of a story I’m eager to continue. I’ll definitely be picking up volume 2.

This was a really interesting character study. I liked the characters and the ways they interacted with each other. I also liked the time period of the early 2000s. It was interesting to read about. I think it would be a good addition to school libraries.

Foothold: Rigsby WI seems reminiscent of early aughts TV shows like 6teen. SE Case achieved her want of describing everyday people going through life in their own unique way. I liked the writing, enjoyed most of the characters, and felt like I would feel at home in this friend group.
I was not a fan of how the characters were introduced. There were so many names thrown at you without identifying who the characters were, that it made the story confusing. I also think the scene with the mother was a little too heavy-handed.
I look forward to volume 2.

*reviewed from uncorrected eARC via netgalley*

graphic fiction, series (vol. 1 from the Rigsby WI webcomic) - teens coming of age in 2002 rural Rigsby, Wisconsin; in this volume, Beth (who is homeschooled by her aunt, thankfully away from her intolerable, hypercritical mother) and her friends get ready for the homecoming dance, with the usual disappointments -- plus some bonus comics that provide interesting backstory. Jeordie is the one brown/Iranian person in school, Jenna is Jeordie's girlfriend of 3 months, Anna (still kind of a mystery) seems like a good friend, and Erik (who, like Beth, is considered "overweight") is crushing on a girl who doesn't like him that way. (CW/TW: fat-shaming, distrustful parent; cigarette and pot-smoking; potential medication abuse; making out and potentially going "all the way")

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but by the end I was wrapped up in these characters and their messy lives. Looking forward to reading more, thanks!

Rigsby, Wisconsin is a pretty typical small, midwestern town in 2002, populated by angsty teens. This is a slice-of-life volume, centering on troubled, 17 year-old Beth, who's trying to find her new normal living with her aunt in a new town. By her side are dorky, Iranian-American Jeordi, his intense, rich, goth girlfriend Jenna, their friend Anna, and jock Erik. The main plot line of this one is preparing for homecoming. It felt like an introduction to the world and the characters and I hope there's more. The art style is charming and the characters are a little derpy (meant affectionately).

This book captures youth angst and the feeling of being stuck in a small town in the Midwest well. Fans of Sophie Campbell’s Wet Moon series would feel at home here, though I’m not seeing any undercurrent of violence as with hers. The art is fantastic, the characters believable and likable. I want to read vol2, as this one mostly seemed to introduce me to the large cast.

A coming of age story set in the early 2000s post 9/11. The story is pretty solid and the setting really pulls you back in time. The language is pretty problematic (given the time setting) and the character interactions are pretty genuine. It touches on topics of mental health, racism, and sexism. I can see myself finishing this series.
The art is good but can be inconsistent at some points, leaving the reader wondering if that was the same character as before. Overall, a decent read with a story that has potential.