Review by Ian Keogh

An anthology whose connecting point is women producing all strips may seem patronising in 2022, but almost all the contributions address struggles in male-dominated industries. It’s a topic partially addressed in editor David Hernando’s introduction, by his noting that when approaching women to contribute a common response was “I have nothing interesting to tell”. It prompted the title, as everyone actually did have something interesting to tell.

However, that’s not the entire story about this translated Spanish collection, as everyone approached to contribute is already successful in another field. Patricia Campos is a football commentator and was Spain’s first female jet pilot; Lola García is deputy editor of Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia; Almudena Grandes has published a dozen novels; and Eva Amaral is best known for being the singer and writer for Spanish band Amaral. These are people whose achievements merit Wikipedia pages. That’s not always the case for the artists, some of whom already draw comics, with others gathered from the world of illustration.

The theme becomes how much more difficult it is for women to succeed in a world where too many men still cling to the idea that a woman is less capable. It’s addressed in various ways, most efficiently by García’s role reversal fantasy neatly illustrated by Agustina Guererro (sample art left), while several contributions deal with insecurities. The worst case is Diana López Varela describing how an offhand cruel comment during her teens led her to spiral into anorexia. Autobiographical or biographical experience is nearly universal.

However, for all the good intentions, this collection is ordinary, and that falls squarely on contributors outside comics not being given enough guidance or ignoring the guidance given. Several contributors submit writing that can only become the most abstract of comics, or text with illustration (see sample from Amaral and Sara Harranz), while too many artists are technically great, but don’t know how to break down a story as comics. A further drawback is contributions taking too long to say too little, a prime offender being the conversation provided by Leticia Dolera and illustrated by Raquel Riba Rossy, in which pauses and incredulous expressions pad out a simple and worthwhile anecdote otherwise well drawn.

The intentions are good, but the result is patchy.