Review by Frank Plowright

In 2004 Ash and Carson are two bored teenagers hanging out in a small American town dreaming of the day they can be somewhere else. In the meantime they cling to each other as a mutual support group offering up snarky comments about anyone who comes within ten feet of them. Boys, girls, friends, enemies, family, teachers and everyone else falls victim to their withering wit.

It’s only an opening in the present day accompanied by some reflective moments of self-doubt that offer a glimpse of hope that creator K. Wroten may actually consider them tiresome stereotypes rather than the ultimate role models, but these girls are always on. That sort of cynical dialogue only comes from hours of practice in front of the mirror, not the spontaneous spurts Wroten would have us believe. Mitigating circumstances are provided in an attempt to supply more rounded characters – broken families, alcoholic mother – but even taking that into account, no-one with any sense would want to spend time with Ash and Carson.

Of course, the title denotes the mutual dependency, and the storytelling method of Carson’s notes to her mother from the future indicate a change is going to come at some stage. It does. Friendship develops into something more, and although it might not seem possible, the pair become even more unlikeable. It’s partly the point, as Everything Sux But You ultimately deals with a toxic relationship and extrication from it.

Wroten’s art is black and white with purple shading and the odd-looking people take some getting used to, but they eventually come to reflect the circumstances really well. Those circumstances take one hell of a time to drop into place in a story that could easily have been cut by around a third, and it’s somewhere just past halfway when Wroten’s narrative finally moves beyond glib soundbites to substance. However, by then many readers are likely to have given up.

Those who persist will discover depth is present after all, alongside points to be made about first love, the superficial attraction of the rebel and about the effects of depression. Carson being trapped in what she knows is wrong has a poignancy, and there’s the clever use of a different form of outsider to open eyes. However, Everyone Sux But You needed greater editorial input.