Comments on: Let’s Discuss: Jeremy Love’s “Bayou” (Chap. 1)

By: Coming Soon: More “Bayou” Discussion « The Bottom of Heaven

Coming Soon: More “Bayou” Discussion « The Bottom of Heaven — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:35:41 +0000

[...] of Jeremy Love’s webcomic, Bayou, focused on the opening chapter. Thanks so much to all who responded! Next week, I’ll post a new open thread on Chapters 2-4 (pages 33-154), in which Lee begins her [...]

By: Lost & Found: Snow Day « The Bottom of Heaven

Lost & Found: Snow Day « The Bottom of Heaven — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:14:16 +0000

[...] THIS: The 2010 Glyph Comics Award Nominees have been announced! I’m pleased to see that Lee Wagstaff is in the running again for “Best Female Character,” but I’m also excited that [...]

By: Claudia

Claudia — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:18:18 +0000

This is just a quick follow up comment to say thanks again to everyone for participating in this thread on Bayou. I'm planning to post another to discuss Chapters 2-3 at the end of February so I hope you'll return and share your thoughts!

By: Wilhelmina Jenkins

Wilhelmina Jenkins — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:42:06 +0000

Oh, it’s the usual that we have all seen with black girls – playing with a white girl’s hair, wishing for “pretty” hair like hers. I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen in real life, but I wish that it hadn’t happened here. It gets worse later in the story when she compares her hair with her mother’s and when Mrs. Rabbit pulls out the straightening comb. Lee is such a strong little girl – I wish she had been happy with her cute little Afro and her braids.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:09:33 +0000

Hey there, Gretchen! Thanks for checking us out. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

By: gretchen

gretchen — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:55:04 +0000

Wow, thanks for posting this, I’ve never heard of it and it seems amazingly sad and wondrous.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:36:07 +0000

Thanks so much for your comments, everyone. I meant to respond sooner, but my day job took over…! So now I’m going to try to catch up.

Mina, I’ve got to hear more about your thoughts on “the hair issue” – what bothered you the most? I was actually struck by the way the texture and length of Lee’s own hair changes during the story. (I like her little Afro when Bayou pulls her out of the water.) But I know that’s not what you mean when you say, you could have lived without it.

I also like the butterflies and ladybugs, Zetta. And what’s so intriguing about the way these insects are used is that once Billy’s spirit becomes associated with the lovely amber-colored butterfly, then all the butterflies take on new and reflective gravity, whereas before they were just pretty insects. (And I didn’t think about the comparison with Beloved; definitely an unfortunate film, but a great scene.)

I know we’ve got a few more lurkers out there…. so c’mon and tell us what you think! :-)

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:21:26 +0000

LOL, Rich! I have to admit that when I first saw Bayou, I thought he looked odd, but not odd enough to be distinguished from other adults in the story. If that makes sense? He certainly works with the idea of an “in-between space of life and death, decay and growth” that Zetta describes so well.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:16:03 +0000

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, mama! I’m glad you stopped by and I hope you’ll keep reading and telling us what you think. I got freaked out by your name there for a sec, since my own mama doesn’t know about this blog….!

By: Rich Watson

Rich Watson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:43:27 +0000

I dunno, I kinda dig Bayou’s design. He kinda looks like a cross between the Hulk and Swamp Thing.