Shutterbug Follies is a juicy little murder mystery with a quirky leading lady and surreal twists and turns that are sure to enthrall. For anyone who's ever wished that their hum-drum life were more like a movie, let SF serve as a warning. Sometimes you get what you wish for.
Shutterbug Follies, for me, was a study in the psychology of cover art. The copy at my local library has none. It's been on the shelf in the YA section for the two years I've worked here, and I've never seen it checked out. I hardly paid it any attention either. I suppose at some point or another our SF lost its dust jacket, and along with it a lot of its charisma. Our copy has a completely plain, blank maroon hardcover, with SHUTTERBUG FOLLIES stamped in military issue font along the spine. No summary or reviews on the back, nothing. Nada. Looking at it without the aid of its "YA GRAPHIC NOVEL" sticker, I would have guessed it to be an 80s published nonfiction tome about machine guns in WW2. That's how bad the cover is. But, seeing as how I've nearly read or become acquainted with every comic in the YA section apart from that blank little tome, I decided to take a peek inside. And was astounded by what I found.
First of all, no matter what SF ended up being about, I was in love with the art. Bright, vibrant, splashy art with dense pop colors and cartoony style, I felt that this book was drawn for me. And, by flipping through the pages, I could discern that the protagonist was a spunky young girl with a shock of orange hair. My kind of girl. So I checked it out. Not only was I surprised by the story, but I was genuinely impressed.
It's not often that you see a genuine mystery story written in comics anymore, even less so in books that aren't superhero tales. But that's what SF is, a straight up teenaged amateur-sleuth mystery, an updated 21st century Nancy Drew. Jason Little, the author, calls it "bubblegum noir".
Bee is saving up college cash by developing film at a photoshop. She is a voyeur who has a habit of making copies of pictures she finds interesting or funny, which she then goes over with her best friend. To cut the boredom of her 9-5, she engages her mind by making up stories and scenarios surrounding her favorite photos. However, her leisure hobby is kicked into high gear when Oleg, a photojournalist and artist begins having having her develop his photos. In the darkroom, grisly scenes of death greet her. Although she is assured that these photos are part of his work, Bee thinks something fishy is going on, and dives headfirst into a world of murder, high speed (and not-so-high-speed) car chases, and spying.
The story is fast-paced and fun, with art that is pure eye-candy. While not always innovative, it's clever enough to keep the reader guessing and genuinely surprised by the conclusion. Bee is plucky and likeable, and you'll find yourself cheering for her earnest resolve to solve the mystery, as well as the kindness in her heart. She's rather well written, leaving no question to her age or maturity level, but not becoming a teenaged stereotype. Another interesting note is that while the book contains scenes of nudity and death (the violence all occurs in the past or off screen), it is not done in a sexual or grotesque manner. Adult subject matter does crop up now and again (as with another aspiring teen photographer who takes "peeping tom" photos through his neighbor's windows), but all in all, the feel of the book is innocent and lighthearted.
Shutterbug Follies was originally published online and in newspaper before being released in a collected edition. The continuation of Bee's story, called Motel Art Improvement Service, is available online at bee comix.
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