Ask Me About Polyamory

July 25, 2016
This debut collection of the Kimchi Cuddles webcomic begins with a flowchart to show the relationships between its various characters, but this is hardly necessary as the comic itself rarely delves into any narrative that could be called a story. Mostly, the book is a series of short strips explaining polyamory and the joys and stresses it brings to those who practice it. Wolf's bright, simple art is lively, but it exists largely in service to the dialogue, which is often explanatory rather than conversational. At times, the character speaking becomes a tiny figure in a panel mostly obscured by the word balloons, leading the reader to wonder whether the subject would perhaps be better served by plain or illustrated prose. Conversations about what love means in polyamory, perhaps eye-opening and sweet at the beginning, become dulled with repetition. A book that focused more on storytelling in the vein of Dykes to Watch Out For could have provided a better window into polyamorous life.

July 1, 2016

Speaking through the fictionalized Kimchi and her friends, Wolf shows how polyamorous relationships can be much like traditional pairings--just more so. Dating from the 1990s, the term polyamory refers to having multiple ongoing romantic relationships, with everyone informed and consenting. Originally a web comic collected through Kickstarter support, Kimchi's friendly musings are grouped by topic into a lightly humorous guide for experiencing polyamory and explaining it to others. Sections address discovering the lifestyle, household arrangements, what works and doesn't, troubleshooting, dating, and identities (including trans, queer, fluid, and asexual). Each vignette features a wide range of characters inspired by real people, discussing a question or conundrum and reaching insightful resolution. Wolf's simple, outline-based color art infuses the dialogs with visual interest through skill with minimalist facial expressions and sometimes pictorial metaphors--one lovesick individual gets a hyperromantic Disney princess look. An engaging Baedecker guide for readers intrigued by columnist Dan Savage's term monogamish, this will also appeal to those already exploring beyond coupled twosomes. Many of the suggestions also apply to monogamy. VERDICT Not explicit in either images or text, this work will serve well both youth and adults.--MC

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