A review of Parasocial, a graphic novel that’s Stephen King’s Misery for the TikTok era

In Parasocial, a fan kidnaps her idol, and in the process, we consider the exploitative, transactional nature of fandom.

Writer Alex De Campi created some great exploitation comics in her Dark Horse series, GRINDHOUSE. And she previously collaborated with Erica Henderson on their Blaxploitation-homage, DRACULA MOTHERF**KER! I loved that book, too, with its moody pastel pallet.

The pair developed a working rhythm because Parasocial is a standout work for both creators.

Now, I can tell you with words why this comic book has deep themes and thought-provoking content. But this is comics! Parasocial has impressive illustrations. The story is told visually, combining words and images in ways only comics can.

Consider this four-page car crash:

Incredible! The layout utilizes dynamic fonts and onomatopoeia, so sounds jump off the page, and you can hear that 18-wheeler’s horn. The headlights on the truck and car illuminate the scene in a halogen glow. As our driver loses consciousness, the panels snap away from the grid, and moments start overlapping, moments and slow, drowsy repetitions. This action is much more visceral than contemporary superhero junk.

Henderson’s style reinvents itself on every page. At one point, I checked to see if there were multiple artist credits. So many styles are represented, but when the characters embrace, and it’s rendered like a 90s Shojo manga, I knew this must be one of the year’s best comics.

Unlike its celebrity protagonist, Parasocial is not all just surface-level good looks. The work wonders a provocative question: why might a fan deserve revenge on her idol? The introduction uses a montage to show all the people at the fan convention and the scope of the event. For a moment, the focus is on one crying person offering a deeply revealing confession.

Fandom is a pay-to-play. You belong to the community as long as you can afford to belong to the community. You can’t be a fan if you can’t afford the new thing. Fan conventions and costumes, merch, signings, and photographs cost money. This background character is getting into five figures of credit card debt so she can see her friends and pretend to be a cat.

You belong to the community as long as you can afford to belong to the community.

Something disconcerting is going on here. When our celebrity protagonist, Luke Indiana, is tied to a chair in his #1 fan’s kitchen, he asks why he should remember her. She points to her bulletin board.

I count five pictures of Luke and Lizzie together, so they met five times. He even hugged her. Each time, she probably paid $100 to get those photographs. That’s $500 for five minutes of his time.

And he still doesn’t even know she exists. That’s cold. Despite this, the fans persist.

They dream of getting with their celebrity crush. Parasocial bluntly points out that the only way that is actually going to happen is your crush is kidnapped and hogtied.

Is it any surprise Lizzy’s filled with rage? Celebrities treat their fans like servants yet rely on them for financial support. Like all good exploitation stories, Parasocial blurs exactly who’s exploiting who.

The work is short, yet every panel counts. I loved this book and immediately reread it.

Maybe I should kidnap the creators and tell them how much I loved their new graphic novel?!?!

It’s out now, so get it from your comic shop or an online retailer.

Thank you, NetGalley and Image Comics, for providing an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Parasocial
by Alex De Campi (writer) and Erica Henderson (artist)
Image Comics, 2023