Meat Eaters by Meredith McClaren

Genre: Horror (Graphic Novel)

Themes: Death, Confronting Trauma, Unexpected Friendship, Overcoming Monsters

Rating: 3/5

Premise:

Ashley's determined to escape her suffocating, dead-end town, but her plans are irrevocably derailed when she wakes up in the woods...dead and soaked in blood. No pulse? Check. A newfound, inescapable hunger for flesh? Also check. Unsure how to navigate her sudden entrance into the world of ghouls, she's directed to a bar where she discovers even more monsters go bump in the night, including vampires and werewolves. Doubtful of herself and where she fits in her present landscape, Ashley navigates the difficult truth that just because your heart stops doesn't necessarily mean life does, too. 

My Thoughts:

Meat Eaters was promising, but it was missing some form of IT factor. Satisfying graphic novels, horror or otherwise, are difficult to come by. Either the pacing feels distinctly off -- like the book could benefit from another hundred pages to better expand on plot and character development -- or there's a disparity in the strength of the storyline vs illustration style (preferences for art are 100% subjective, and I firmly believe there is an audience for every book no matter what). (In Utero by Chris Gooch is the closest I've come to the perfect graphic novel, and I'm desperately searching for the next best one to fall into my lap.) 

Aside from the obvious horror label, I'd describe Meat Eaters as a narrative rooted in dramedy, a tried and true classic blend that's satisfying when done right. The problem here is that the book's uneven in its portrayal of either genre. It starts off highly comedic to the point where I was (probably inappropriately) smiling to myself as Ashley explains her horrifying situation and begins plotting how she can move forward. Then, the drama slowly sets in as we realize the full extent of Ashley's situation - she was made a ghoul because she died in some heinous, disturbing way. As she confronts (and tries to deny) the grief she feels over her lost life and the trauma associated with her last moments, the heavier tones you'd expect from the drama side of the duo are kicked into overdrive. While the narrative's playfulness still exists, with humor finding its way into even the most dreadful of scenes, I felt like there was an overall adjustment towards the serious and emotional as the story neared its conclusion. 

In all honesty, the shift from comedy to drama is a brilliant idea. Ashley shoves down the unpleasant memories from her last night as a human because they're too much for her mind to confront. At first, the idea works well enough, and that's when we lean more toward the humorous end of the spectrum. She's doing her best to cope, but her tactic seems rooted in avoidance. Then slowly but surely, the trauma and negative feelings become unavoidable. They crush her, eating at Ashley's mind until they're crippling. The reader begins to feel the weight of her situation, joining Ashley as she gradually creeps toward her boiling point. As this natural progression plays out, humor can no longer act as a bandage. Consequently, the anxiety and despair that consumes the MC rightfully darkens the story. It makes absolute sense that different elements (drama vs comedy) are utilized to reflect headspace or mental health. It's just my personal preference that the two be blended more seamlessly, mixing to be an even amount of the two. My sweet spot is when an author evenly walks the line rather than favors one over the other. Nevertheless, McClaren did a phenomenal job of portraying how mental pain and a lack of closure can gnaw at the mind and one's sense of self. 

The graphic novel's other notable element is the group dynamic. Ashley's a loner who happens to fall into the orbit of two highly solitary, chaotic werewolves named Motley and Harrison. When the three begin to develop a rapport that becomes something more akin to unexpected but welcomed companionship, the scenes are undeniably cute. Finding your crowd is nothing short of magical, especially when you get to experience so many firsts together. Motley and Harrison are severely sheltered, and they want to go through the same rites of passage as their peers (e.g., attending parties and getting jobs). Ashley is their reluctant guru, which makes for some hilarious scenarios. Sadly, I was never fully invested in the trio. Even though they made me laugh, it was hard to take to the werewolves because so much focus was on Ashley. Yes, I had a firm grip on their backstories and main personality traits, but I would've loved to see them fleshed out further, making for a more touching relationship. Nevertheless, I was very pleased to find Motley giving serious Lilith energy from The Order. 

Conclusion:

Meat Eaters was a dark, bloody story that started strong and landed with its humor. Just don't expect it to maintain a heightened level of hilarity throughout. Ashley's story is one of death, exploring turmoil and leaning into heartbreaking scenes as the story progresses. McClaren does a standup job portraying a rich, complex experience about denying ourselves the truth and the subsequent process of facing what we've hidden in the shadows. While I wasn't expecting the graphic novel to make me feel as existential as it did, I can appreciate its narrative even if my preference is a cleaner vacillation between light and dark elements.

Recommended for those who enjoy:

Supernatural Horror

Dramedies

Gore

Trauma Exploration