Left Bank Books presents Mattie Lubchansky, Ignatz winner and a Herblock Prize finalist, to celebrate the success of their graphic novel Boys Weekend! Lilly Wachowski describes it as "A brilliant saga and 'how to' of trans survival in the nightmarish crypto-cis-bro-cult underworld of bachelor party indoctrination. I giggled so hard I blew snot bubbles!" They will be discussing the book with local author S.L. Coney (Wild Spaces) and Left Bank alum, local illustrator/cartoonist Phoebe Santalla!
Lubchansky will personalize and sign copies after the presentation!
About Boys Weekend
Newly-out trans artist's assistant Sammie is invited to an old friend's bachelor weekend in El Campo, a hedonistic wonderland of a city floating in the Atlantic Ocean's international waters--think Las Vegas with even fewer rules. Though they have not identified as a man for over a year, Sammie's college buddies haven't quite gotten the message--as evidenced by their formerly closest friend Adam asking them to be his "best man."
Arriving at the swanky hotel, Sammie immediately questions their decision to come. Bad enough that they have to suffer through a torrent of passive-aggressive comments from the groom's pals--all met with zero pushback from supposed "nice guy" Adam. But also, they seem to be the only one who's noticed the mysterious cult that's also staying at the hotel, and is ritually dismembering guests and demanding fealty to their bloodthirsty god.
Part satire, part horror, Boys Weekend explores what it's like to exist as a transfemme person in a man's world, the difficulty of maintaining friendships through transition, and the more cult-like effects of masculinity, "hustle" culture, and capitalism--all through the vibrant lens of a surreal, scary, and immensely imaginative romp.
About the Speaker & Conversation Partners
Mattie Lubchansky (they/them) is a cartoonist and illustrator and the Associate Editor of Ignatz award-winning magazine and website The Nib (thenib.com). They are also an Ignatz winner, a Herblock Prize finalist, and the author of The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook. They live in beautiful Queens, NY, with their spouse.
S.L. Coney (they/them) obtained a master's degree in clinical psychology before abandoning academia to pursue a writing career. With ties to South Carolina, and roots in St. Louis, Coney's work has appeared in St. Louis Noir, Best American Mystery Stories 2017, and Gamut Magazine, and their debut novel Wild Spaces received rave reviews from the likes of Alma Katsu, Paul Tremblay, and Laura Benedict.
Phoebe Santalla (she/they) is a second-year graduate student of Illustration and Visual Culture at WashU's Sam Fox School, whose work is focused on creating imagery around some of the queer history materials in the Mapping LGBTQ St. Louis archives.
Review Quotes
"A brilliant saga and 'how to' of trans survival in the nightmarish crypto-cis-bro-cult underworld of bachelor party indoctrination. I giggled so hard I blew snot bubbles!" --Lilly Wachowski, Director, Writer, Producer
" Boys Weekend is a joy to read, filled with fun, inventive, and seemingly effortless cartooning even it leads you through bachelor parties, a hyperlibertarian nightmare island, and a killer cult. With the skills and tight pacing honed from short-form cartooning, Mattie makes every panel of this debut graphic novel sing." --Ryan North, author of How to Take Over the World
"A witty, tender romp through the cosmic horror of being alive." --Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties
"A hilarious satire about capitalism, gender, sea monsters, the slow dissolution of old friendships, the difficulty of being truly seen by those closest to you, the nearly impossible task of forgiving the people who have hurt you (especially when one of those people is yourself), and most importantly how much bachelor parties suck." --Joseph Fink, co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale
"Nervy, fluid, punchy, like a cup of skeletons. Sensitive and fraught without sacrificing fun or black magic, with a winsome heroine one wants to root for and wipe blood off of in equal parts. I want more!" --Daniel M. Lavery, author of Something That May Shock and Discredit You
"With their deftly-sketched characters, biting social satire, and endearingly expressive cartooning, Lubchansky has created a story that hides its fangs until it's close enough to strike." --Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt
"Lubchansky, an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator, brings the book to life with lively, bold artwork, illuminating the book's techno-dystopian world with sly humor and hinting at the eldritch foundations on which the island was built. Boys Weekend is tightly constructed--you can read this one in an afternoon--but it rewards lingering over: Humor and horror are beautifully balanced in support of the emotional arc of Sammie's story." --Emily Hughes, Vulture
"If you're looking for a horror read that has a touch (or two) of satire, then you'll like this poignant story by award-winning cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky." --Melanie Curry, Cosmopolitan, "The 17 Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2023"
