Snotgirl is a series of comics created as a collaboration between writer Bryan Lee O'Malley and artist Leslie Hung. They concern Lottie Person - also known as Snotgirl - a fashionable social media star with severe allergies. The first issue was published in 2016 by Image Comics, and three collected editions have been published between 2017 and 2020.[1] The series has been praised for its creativity, visuals, and compelling story.[2] In 2017, O'Malley was nominated for a Joe Shuster Award in the Writer category for his work on the first five issues of the comic.[3]
Snotgirl is O'Malley's first collaboration with Leslie Hung, and his first time releasing monthly comics instead of graphic novels.[4] Both Hung and O'Malley suffer with pollen allergies, which acted as an inspiration for Lottie's own allergies. O'Malley felt inspired to make a more racially diverse story - especially one featuring mixed race characters - after noticing the lack of it in his other stories, and has spoken on how he felt he didn't see himself represented in his own work.[5] Fashion is a long-term interest of Hung's, and she has stated that she takes fashion inspiration for a lot of the characters from magazines, blogs and Pinterest.[6] Despite O'Malley normally working with graphic novels, the pair decided to release Snotgirl episodically to mirror the rapid social media trend cycle, and make each story seem more like a moment in time.[7]
Lottie Person is a fashion blogger struggling to juggle her influencer status with her chronic allergies and poor social life. Things quickly change for her when she meets Caroline, a beautiful girl with the same coffee order as her. The two decide to go for drinks, and this kickstarts a rapid chain of events that are beyond anything Lottie would've expected from a simple first date.[8]
Snotgirl has had a generally positive reception. CBR praised its frequent blending of fantasy and reality, and its honest depiction of the realities of adulthood; citing Hung's expressive, bubblegum-pop art style as high points.[9] WWAC's review of the first volume also cited the art as a stand-out feature of the comic, but also commented on the way the none of the characters 'feel insignificant or interchangeable'.[10] Snotgirl has also been commended for its range of LGBTQ+ characters, with AIPT Comics placing it number four on their list of the best queer comics of 2018.[11] In 2019, the American Library Association included it in a list of graphic novels and comics that could be used to start discussions on social justice surrounding body image.[12]