Blue Monday (comic)
Encyclopedia
Blue Monday is a comic book
title by Chynna Clugston
. It is published by Oni Press
in the form of one-shots and several miniseries
, which have also been collected into trade paperbacks
. The first four-issue mini-series, Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright was published in 2000.
Blue Monday tells the adventures of Bleu L. Finnegan, an everyday teenager and Adam Ant
fan, and her friends Clover, Erin, Victor, Alan and Monkeyboy (Chris), attending Jefferson high school in California
during the early 1990s.
In creating the comic, Clugston borrowed heavily from the style and visual cues of Japan
ese manga
. However, the comic has a distinctly American
feel, plot, and characters, entirely unlike a shōjo
manga
. One example of this influence is that the main character (Bleu) has blue hair, a common trait in both manga and anime
. However, she's the only character with this trait, and other characters consider her strange for her hair coloring.
Other notable storylines include: the guys filming Bleu naked while she takes a bath
; masturbation
; Alan trying to get Bleu to go out with him; and a murder mystery dinner gone haywire after three different attendees independently spike the punch. Many of the plotlines overlap.
Also central to the characters' lives are holidays. At Bleu's favorite holiday, Halloween
, they gather to tell ghost stories
that are humorous versions of Return of the Living Dead
, The Rocky Horror Picture Show
, and Dark Shadows
. Valentine's Day
marks the "anniversary" of the initial meeting between all six of the main characters. On St. Patrick's Day, practically every guy in the school follows Clover around while singing annoying Irish
love ballads. On April Fools Day, Victor reverts to his goth
style for one day, unintentionally charming many of the female students with his angst
and poems copied from Lord Byron (Victor's birthday
falls on April Fools' Day as well). Christmas gets covered when Clugston does a story where her characters meet Paul Dini
's Jingle Belle
.
Although the characters tend to be antagonistic (and, sometimes, downright abusive) towards each other, they are all extremely close friends, and the comic gradually reveals strong romantic attractions underneath their adolescent hi-jinks. (Indeed, the series has been described as "Archie
on crack.") Victor and Clover both have feelings for each other, but with few exceptions, are either unable or unwilling to express them. Alan, formerly an indiscriminate "ladies' man," completely changed his act after he first met Bleu, although it's unclear if Bleu returns those feelings on even an unconscious level.
In some of the stand-alone stories, Clugston also includes characters from her other comic series.
In addition, the comic includes some characters who may or may not be imaginary.
The chronology of the collected editions is different than the numbering. Timewise, the volumes come in the order: one, two, four, three. As several stories make reference to past events, this order can become confusing. In an add-on comic in volume four, Clugston addresses this issue.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
title by Chynna Clugston
Chynna Clugston
Chynna Clugston is an American comic book creator known for her manga-influenced teen comedy series Blue Monday.-Early life:Clugston grew up in Fresno, California and attended the Roosevelt School of the Arts...
. It is published by Oni Press
Oni Press
Oni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
in the form of one-shots and several miniseries
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, which have also been collected into trade paperbacks
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
. The first four-issue mini-series, Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright was published in 2000.
Blue Monday tells the adventures of Bleu L. Finnegan, an everyday teenager and Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
fan, and her friends Clover, Erin, Victor, Alan and Monkeyboy (Chris), attending Jefferson high school in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the early 1990s.
In creating the comic, Clugston borrowed heavily from the style and visual cues of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. However, the comic has a distinctly American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
feel, plot, and characters, entirely unlike a shōjo
Shojo
The term refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10-18. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女 , literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction — often with a strong...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. One example of this influence is that the main character (Bleu) has blue hair, a common trait in both manga and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. However, she's the only character with this trait, and other characters consider her strange for her hair coloring.
Overview and plot arcs
The series is notable for its raunchy form of humor, combined with a sympathetic view of the main characters. It is fair to say that nothing is off-limits. For example, the first storyline follows the following revenge pattern:- At high school, Alan and Victor run into Bleu and Clover, giving them cookies they swiped from a home economicsHome EconomicsHome economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
class. - As it turns out, the cookies were meant for a fundraiserFundraiserA fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for children with Down's Syndrome, and a teacher catches the girls and punishes them. - Realizing that the guys purposely turned over the cookies to avoid trouble, the girls respond by vandalizing Alan's house with toilet paperToilet paperToilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain personal hygiene after human defecation or urination. However, it can also be used for other purposes such as blowing one's nose when one has a cold or absorbing common spills around the house, although paper towels are more used for the latter...
and condoms filled with whipped creamWhipped creamWhipped cream is cream that has been beaten by a mixer, whisk, or fork until it is light and fluffy. Whipped cream is often sweetened and sometimes flavored with vanilla, in which case it may be called Chantilly cream or crème Chantilly ....
. - Pretending they didn't know who was responsible, the guys trick the girls' parents into forcing them to help clean up the mess. Afterwards, when the girls go for hamburgers at a local diner, the guys put pubic hairPubic hairPubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region....
in the burgers, then flip the girls off as they realize this. - In retaliation, the girls sneak into Alan's room and steal his extremely large collection of pornographyPornographyPornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
. After removing posters of naked women from his walls, they substitute pictures of naked men. - Not to be outdone, Victor hatches a plan to "kidnap" one of Bleu's stuffed animals- an Oscar The Grouch doll.
- The entire storyline culminates in a "standoff" scene, where the guys tie up Bleu's stuffed animal and scribble SatanicSatanismSatanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
symbols around it, while the girls hold Alan's favorite porn magazine up to a lighter.
Other notable storylines include: the guys filming Bleu naked while she takes a bath
Bathing
Bathing is the washing or cleansing of the body in a fluid, usually water or an aqueous solution. It may be practised for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes or as a recreational activity....
; masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
; Alan trying to get Bleu to go out with him; and a murder mystery dinner gone haywire after three different attendees independently spike the punch. Many of the plotlines overlap.
Also central to the characters' lives are holidays. At Bleu's favorite holiday, Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, they gather to tell ghost stories
Ghost story
A ghost story may be any piece of fiction, or drama, or an account of an experience, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. Colloquially, the term can refer to any kind of scary story. In a narrower sense, the ghost story has...
that are humorous versions of Return of the Living Dead
Return of the Living Dead
The Return of the Living Dead is a 1985 American zombie film that was followed by several sequels. The film was written and directed by Dan O'Bannon and starred Clu Gulager, James Karen and Don Calfa....
, The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
, and Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
. Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
marks the "anniversary" of the initial meeting between all six of the main characters. On St. Patrick's Day, practically every guy in the school follows Clover around while singing annoying Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
love ballads. On April Fools Day, Victor reverts to his goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
style for one day, unintentionally charming many of the female students with his angst
Angst
Angst is an English, German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch word for fear or anxiety . It is used in English to describe an intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety or inner turmoil...
and poems copied from Lord Byron (Victor's birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
falls on April Fools' Day as well). Christmas gets covered when Clugston does a story where her characters meet Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
's Jingle Belle
Jingle Belle
Jingle Belle is a cartoon character created by Paul Dini. She's Santa Claus' spoiled teen-age daughter. The stories depict Jingle's usually contentious relationship with her famous father....
.
Although the characters tend to be antagonistic (and, sometimes, downright abusive) towards each other, they are all extremely close friends, and the comic gradually reveals strong romantic attractions underneath their adolescent hi-jinks. (Indeed, the series has been described as "Archie
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
on crack.") Victor and Clover both have feelings for each other, but with few exceptions, are either unable or unwilling to express them. Alan, formerly an indiscriminate "ladies' man," completely changed his act after he first met Bleu, although it's unclear if Bleu returns those feelings on even an unconscious level.
Main characters
- Bleu L. Finnegan - As Blue Monday
' s main character, Bleu is the girl with all the problems. Bleu is a fan of Adam AntAdam AntAdam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
, Buster KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
, Paul Weller, and BlurBlur (band)Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, among many others, and is obsessed with mod culture. She's almost a teenage mirror of her creator. - Clover Connelly - Born in IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Clover moved to the United States in ninth grade with her whole family and made friends with Bleu at a Valentine's Day dance. She's aggressive, dresses in a punkPunk subcultureThe punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
manner, and will not hesitate to beat sense into guys who need it (which at times include every single boy at the high school). When she gets frustrated, she often resorts to speaking in GaelicIrish languageIrish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. - Alan Walsh - A foul-mouthed, perverted character, Alan's most distinguishing trait is his inability to say or hear a phrase without making a sexual innuendo out of it. He has a trademark parka he is almost always seen wearing, with a giant The KinksThe KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
patch on the back. Despite his surly attitude, he has a genuine crush on Bleu - after their first meeting, he even began adopting features of mod culture (including said Kinks patch). However, his only date with her ended in a total disaster, partly after Victor and Erin sabotaged it. - Victor Gomez - Alan's best friend. He pretends he's just as suave with the ladies as Alan sometimes is, but acts extremely indecisive and dopey. He often acts as the group's clown at the expense of expressing his real feelings. He usually dresses in a rude boyRude boyRude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy are common terms used in Jamaica. In the 1960s it was also used for juvenile delinquents and criminals in Jamaica, and has since been used in other contexts...
manner, and invariably has a cigaretteCigaretteA cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
dangling from his lips in an attempt to act sophisticated. He is known to dress like Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
when depressed, and formerly lived a quasi-gothGoth subcultureThe goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
lifestyle. - Erin O'Neill - The third girl in the group, Erin is outright mean sometimes. She occasionally tries setting up different people, but usually for her own benefit. She's thought to be very slutty and scheming. In particular, she's attracted to Alan, but he blows her off on numerous occasions. In response, she constantly tries to get between Alan and Bleu.
- Monkeyboy (Chris) - Younger than all the other characters, Monkeyboy is the group's lackey, and the others have been known to abandon him. He works at a diner and aspires to be a chefChefA chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
. His bangs always cover his eyes; in one story, the guys joke that when they tried to slick his hair back, they found he had no eyes.
Other characters
- Donovan Bishop - Mr. Bishop is a historyHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
teacherTeacherA teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, a permanent substitute for a teacher recovering from surgery. Bleu has a crush on him, as he is her ideal man, from watching Buster KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
silent films to driving a "beauty of a Falcon." Bleu's friends call her LolitaLolitaLolita is a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first written in English and published in 1955 in Paris and 1958 in New York, and later translated by the author into Russian...
for her attraction to him. - Rissa Meade - The daughter of the high school's assistant principal, Rissa is apparently friends with Bleu and Monkeyboy, but is not considered part of the group. She is somewhat overweight, but extremely friendly. Because of her father's job, she often arranges certain events, such as a guy-on-girl soccer game which, due to the evocation of "hooligan rules," ends up with the men's team being beaten up.
- "Mr. Labellephant" - The high school principal, who tends to be extremely clueless about everything. He often ends up punishing Bleu and Clover for things they haven't done.
In some of the stand-alone stories, Clugston also includes characters from her other comic series.
In addition, the comic includes some characters who may or may not be imaginary.
- Seamus - Seamus is a mischievous pookaPúcaThe Púca is a creature of Celtic folklore, notably in Ireland, the West of Scotland, and Wales. It is one of the myriad fairy folk, and, like many fairy folk, is both respected and feared by those who believe in it....
in the form of an otterOtterThe Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
. He is known for drinking beerBeerBeer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
and for having bad flatulenceFlatulenceFlatulence is the expulsion through the rectum of a mixture of gases that are byproducts of the digestion process of mammals and other animals. The medical term for the mixture of gases is flatus, informally known as a fart, or simply gas...
. While only Bleu can see him (Clover apparently pretends she can't see him), everyone is able to smell him. Bleu constantly blames him for doing things she can't imagine herself doing; during her date with Alan, when he thinks she's playing "footsies" with him under the table, she blames it on Seamus. - Floating Jesus Head(s) - A strange apparition that only Bleu can see. During a visit to a local cemetery, Bleu accidentally knocked the carved head of JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
off a tombstone, and from then on, believed she was somehow cursed, as a spectral form of the head stalked her. She and her friends finally returned to the cemetery to fix it, only to find that someone had beat them to it. Nonetheless, they returned the head; the result was a two-headed Jesus. From that point on, at certain times, Bleu is haunted by an image of two Jesus-heads.
Collected editions
- Blue Monday Vol. 1: The Kids Are Alright (ISBN 1-929998-07-4)
- Chapter 1: "There's No Other Way"
- Chapter 2: "Substitute"
- Chapter 3: "Try This for Sighs"
- The Short Stories
- Blue Monday Vol. 2: Absolute Beginners (ISBN 1-929998-17-1)
- Chapter 1: "Something About You"
- Chapter 2: "Favorite Shirts"
- Chapter 3: "To Sir, With Love"
- Chapter 4: "Hands Off, She's Mine"
- Blue Monday Vol. 3: Inbetween Days (ISBN 1-929998-66-X)
- "Dead Man's Party"
- "Blue Belles"
- "Lovecats"
- "Nobody's Fool," "Everything's Gone Green" pt. 1, "Everybody Plays the Fool" pt. 2
- Blue Monday Vol. 4: Painted Moon (ISBN 1-932664-11-4)
- Chapter 1: "How Soon is Now?"
- Chapter 2: "Pictures of Lily"
- Chapter 3: "Blues Before and After"
- Chapter 4: "I Confess"
The chronology of the collected editions is different than the numbering. Timewise, the volumes come in the order: one, two, four, three. As several stories make reference to past events, this order can become confusing. In an add-on comic in volume four, Clugston addresses this issue.