Alison Bechdel is maybe best known as the origin of the Bechdel test (this looks like it might be the original idea) – a way of measuring female representation in fiction or film. While it’s taken seriously, Bechdel told the Guardian in 2023: ‘It was a joke. I didn’t ever intend for it to be the real gauge it has become and it’s hard to keep talking about it over and over, but it’s kind of cool.’
I discovered her by accident, browsing the graphic novel section in my local library. I borrowed The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, a beautifully observed comic strip that follows the lives of a set of characters and their relationships, work and politics, and was eventually made into an enjoyable and knowing series on Audible. Throughout, Bechdel’s ability to explore her characters’ lives with nuance and depth mixes delightfully with her sense of the absurd and ability to find a funny angle on a serious theme.
Spent centres around fictional Alison’s attempts to start work on her next book as she watches developments in the world with despair (‘How is she supposed to sit here writing a book when the world hangs by a thread?’). She becomes more and more alarmed as the TV series made from her autobiographical book diverges from her life in increasingly absurd ways. It’s a deft combination of autobiography and fiction that explores the desire to live by ethical values in the real world, with results that are funny, familiar and often poignant. She makes serious points about consumerism, sustainability, and how to stay connected in an increasingly polarised society – while affectionately poking fun at her hand-wringing fictional self.
The drawings are lively and joyous, and often decorated with cats winding around the protagonist or trying to take part in the action. It’s also a treat for long-standing fans, as it reintroduces some of the characters from the Dykes to Watch Out For series, whom she stopped writing about in 2008 (though there were three single strips in 2016 that looked at how our heroes responded to Trump: Pièce de résistance , Postcards from the edge and Things fall apart).
I gobbled it up in one sitting, then rushed off to hear Bechdel talk about it at Foyles on Charing Cross Road. Foyles sits in an area that was once home to well-worn gig venues like the 12 Bar, the Borderline and the Marquee, as well as guitar shops most musicians could afford to use plus a rehearsal studio, but it’s now filled with flashing billboards, chain stores and identikit corporate coffee chains. Foyles, which I remember from the clubbing days as a hard-to-navigate rabbit warren of wonky shelves, full of exciting finds, now resembles the newcomer Bounders book shop from Dykes to Watch Out for, which drained the life out of the Madwimmin Bookstore our heroes worked in – though it still has the exciting finds.
I arrived late and got a crap seat behind a pillar, next to a very tolerant neighbour who was gracious when I leaned over them every time there was a new slide. Bechdel gave a talk that was like the rest of her work – both entertaining and poignant. She started by taking us through the themes she has explored in her work, illustrated by artwork from her books: the complexity of loss and how things have changed for same-sex couples (Fun Home), how we exist through our relationships (Are You My Mother?), and what real strength means (The Secret to Superhuman Strength).
Then it was on to an insightful perspective on what’s happening in the world, and what we can do to support each other and everyone else. Conservatives, she told us, want us to feel alone, and reminded us of Thatcher’s belief that there’s no such thing as society. She contrasted that with her own experience of finding a community after coming out – and what community could mean for our future. ‘We think holing up and watching Netflix will help, but it won’t’ she said. ‘We need to connect with each other.’ Things are going to get more difficult, she thinks, and we need to face that together. She was delighted to see how much solidarity was going on. Take action because they’re coming for others, she said – not because you’re scared they’ll come for you.
A few of us were busily scribbling notes. At least one person was drawing Bechdel as she spoke and then answered questions from a bright, inquisitive audience who had clearly read all her books. Even though she’s worried about the state of the world, Bechdel said she felt ‘weirdly hopeful’ that the situation might lead to a ‘critical mass of solidarity’, and gave us Judith Butler’s description of that. Unfortunately my pen wasn’t fast enough to catch it – you’ll have to see her yourself.
Reviews by Hannah Boothby
Spent is out now as a book and an Audible series. Dykes to Watch Out For is on Audible, and you can buy various collections of the original comics – I loved this one.
Alison Bechdel Website | Instagram | Bluesky
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List