Cuckoo by Joe Sparrow // Comic Review
Joe Sparrow’s Cuckoo is incredibly resonant. It feels like a love letter to every artist trying to understand their existence.
“Dorothy Weaver is an anxious 19-year old still living at home with her mother and failing a vocational art course when memories of a mysterious childhood event start resurfacing.
Something about a meteor in the garden… Now, she and others have begun manifesting strange powers.
Are these powers a gift or a curse? Psychic phenomenon or mass delusion?
Either way, Dorothy is changing — but into what?”
—Shortbox description of Cuckoo
What do you do with pain? Joe Sparrow’s sci-fi coming-of-age comic Cuckoo really tries to answer this question. Main character Dorothy has to deal with all kinds of pain — stress from her divorced parents, financial problems, art school, superpowers and aliens, all while trying to understand her place in the world. The book explores Dorothy’s journey through these anxieties, as she seeks to discovers who — and what — she is.
What I loved
Dorothy is a very believable character. Sparrow manages to create an entire anxious world in just a few pages, establishing years of history that give Dorothy’s story a strong footing. This believability feels necessary for a narrative that becomes a bit esoteric toward the end. I felt like I could relate deeply to Dorothy’s struggles (besides the part with aliens) as both artist and anxious mess. Her friend Ellie, as well as her parents, also have details to their lives that make them feel like people we might know.
Speaking of believability, the layouts of this book are so legible. There are some really complicated scenes that remain easy to read, with speech bubbles that flow easily. It’s clear, yet, the book does not sacrifice creative page design either. One example of this is a later scene in the book (starting on page 164, for those following along) in which the square panels become diamonds. I find this tone shift to be so exciting! It gives a real otherworldly quality to the story’s climax.
I also love the use of color in this book. The vivid shades of red and blue remind me of molecular models or 3D glasses, totally fitting for sci-fi. The light purple used throughout also brings a poignant and supernatural vibe to certain story beats. The environments also have a great sense of light. Sparrow gives every setting a vibrant atmosphere, whether it’s harsh fluorescents in a classroom, a shadowy park at sunset, or the magnetic glow of alien science-magic.
I’m curious about…
how much of the story is narrated. Dorothy has a distinct voice and experiences, and her being the narrator feels essential. Given that there are bits of telepathy in the story too, it really feels like we’re hearing the story from inside Dorothy’s head. For such a personal narrative, I’m sure too much of a third-person perspective could really take you out of it.
I’m also intrigued by the way this book connects Dorothy’s mental health to her supernatural abilities. She gets migraines — are they caused by the stress of her life, or her newfound powers? Are these powers adding to her stress, or are they a way to escape?
Final takeaways
I loved this book and everywhere it took me. Dorothy and her bestie Ellie are charming and compelling. The story is open ended yet satisfying. Cuckoo is incredibly resonant. It feels like a love letter to every artist trying to understand their existence.
Recommended for…
chronic worriers
mathematicians
art school students with money problems
anxious people whose best friends read tarot
Pairs well with…
alien vibes: the x-files, minecraft soundtrack
teenage hjinks: skins, night in the woods
electomagnetic waves: Everywhere Antennas by Julia Deplore
More of Joe Sparrow’s work can be found at:
joe-sparrow.com // @torpordust on instagram and X
If you’ve read this book, or if you have any thoughts about my review, leave a comment and let me know.