We Are Become Pals!

Intern Grace’s Team Pick:

"They used the library computers to start a website where people could report UFO sightings in their city. They never got one email."

“We Are Become Pals!” is about Helen and Jane, two friends with cute haircuts who like science and talking about serial killers. They play chess, give class presentations on UFOs and learn how to pick locks together. The writing is blunt and clever, and the illustrations are adorable. Everything about this is so good. You will probably like it.

Written by the charming but twisted Joey Comeau of A Softer World and illustrated endearingly by Jess Fink, “We Are Become Pals!” is a story about two teenaged girls who have a healthy, intense friendship with each other. It’s not The Baby-Sitters Club; it’s a story about two people who aren’t afraid to be eccentric and creative together.

That’s what friendship is really about, I think: finding someone who you can trust and confide in but also relentlessly make fun of and do stupid things with. Helen and Jane remind me a lot of some of my friends, which I think should concern me, but it actually makes me really happy.

This series is beautiful because it’s simple. The girls are complete weirdos, and it’s great. They don’t worry about boys, they don’t worry about fitting in, and they don’t worry about what other people say about them. They just do what makes them happy, and if that means taking an impromptu hot air balloon ride at 5 a.m., then that’s what they do, damn it.

It’s hard to argue with the grandeur of lines like, “Please treat my friend the way you would treat someone with a regular-sized head.” Also, chapter 5 might be in my top five things I’ve ever read. Possibly even my top three.

Read all of “We Are Become Pals!” here.

"This is how Jane and Helen met. It was the Halloween dance. They were both dressed as male FBI agents. "

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Intern Grace

Grace Ellis has been writing and making hack-job graphics for Autostraddle since 2011 and is a co-creator and co-writer of the comic book series Lumberjanes. She is mostly an intern in name only. (Mostly.) She lives in Columbus, Ohio because why anything. Also, she wants to write the Black Widow movie and feels like if she just keeps telling people, eventually she will be allowed to do it. She has a Twitter and a Tumblr, both of which are pretty above average.

Grace has written 89 articles for us.

29 Comments

  1. Awesome. I just read the first chapter, and they had me at “The truth is out there”. The X Files was the first show I got hooked on as a kid (probably explains a lot about me…) and that made me totally nostalgic!

  3. Thank you for linking this! I finished it and immediately had to go back and read it all again.

  6. “The moon landing was faked,” Caitlin said. “Everybody knows that.”

    “Fuck you! You were faked!”

    WIN.

    • I laughed out loud because that’s seriously something I would say.

      You have no idea how many times I have read these.

  12. Joey Comeau is my favoriiiiiiite I own like every single one of his books and want to be like him when I grow up

  14. just read this in its entirety and i loved it! thanks for pointing me in the direction of such a cool thing! I would not have found it if left to my own lackluster devices.

    • I keep meaning to read yu+me, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I am, however, mildly obsessed with her Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space comic. Everyone’s life is immediately improved by lesbian space pirates, it’s a scientific fact.

      • I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space is so good! It is all camp-y 50s awesomeness. I have also read the first half of yu+me and it’s very different from Lesbian Pirates but also really good. I must get around to reading the second half.

    • I’ve never read yu+me before, but I’ve heard good things from multiple people, so I am inclined to think it’s worth reading. Seems like a good recommendation to me, friendo. And Lesbian Space Pirates is brilliant, obviously.

      Also, does anyone read (NSFW) Curvy? I’ve been following it since I learned my parents don’t know how to check internet history, but I can’t entirely decide if I like it. I mean, I like the drawing style and the creativity, but the story is really trippy and sometimes I have trouble remembering the characters. I may be alone in this.

  17. I love Joey Comeau so, so much. Thank you for reccing this – everyone ever should read his stuff.

    (Also Jess Fink is amazing, I feel I should mention. I just don’t have a weird pseudocrush on her like I do on Joey. XD)

    • I agree completely. “One Bloody Thing After Another” is my favorite book to recommend to people because after they read it, they either love you forever or never want to speak to you again. The book is a little strange, but sooo good.

      • I stalk Joey Comeaus work regularly, but somehow hadn’t gotten around to reading this yet. So thanks!

        I think that anyone who likes these comics would like “One Bloody Thing After Another” too. Definitely strange, in a good way. This makes me want to read it again.

  18. This is a fantastic storyline and I am glad that it’s getting some much needed attention and love. The more quirky characters that are relatable to young girls outside of the “baby sitter’s club” box the better! Plus, Joey Comeau is wonderful. :)

  20. “Yeah,” Helen said. “Why can’t I kill people because it’s exciting and new? This is bullshit.”

    I LOVE this!

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