Review: Voices That Count Anthology

Authors: Julia Otero, Lola Garcia, Diana Lopez Varela, Estefania Molina, Eva Amaral, Leticia Dolera, Sandra Sabates, Almudena Grandes, Patricia Campos
Artists: Ada Diez, Agustina Guerrero, Akira Pantsu, Ana Orcina, Maria Hesse, Raquel Riba Rossy, Sandra Cardona, Sara Herranz, Sara Soler
Translator: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Released: June 14, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Voices That Count is a graphic novel anthology full of stories that take a closer look at our world as it stands. More accurately, it portrays tales of different women all over the world. It was initially written in Spanish but was recently (ish) translated, letting a more comprehensive range of readers give it a try. I was really excited when I heard that, as Voices That Count had been on my radar for a while now.

This anthology has nine stories, including some that hit close to home! I’m sure that was the intention; how could it not be? I highly recommend that readers try this one, as some crucial messages are woven into the stories.

Julio by Julia Otero and Ada Diez

Julio is very much an homage from daughter to father, and it is very sweet. It certainly rang a bell for this reader. On a different note, I really enjoyed the art style.

24 Hours by Lola Garcia and Agustina Guerrero

Ouch, 24 Hours hits hard. It imagines what the world would be like if gender norms were swapped. The simple black and white color palette enhance this image, making it feel like a classic TV show.

The Bug by Diana Lopez Varela and Akira Pantsu

The Bug is going to be a hard one for certain readers to get through. If you have or are currently struggling with an eating disorder, you might want to pass on this one. That being said, it did a great job portraying what was happening inside somebody’s head during this time.

Empowered by Estefania Molina and Ana Orcina

Empowered takes a closer look at why women do and don’t speak up, especially in a professional setting. It’s a great conversation starter (no pun intended) on this subject.

Loneliness by Eva Amaral and Maria Hesse

Loneliness is a powerful poem with creative imagery to help support the message. I really enjoyed this one!

Sexier by Leticia Dolera and Raquel Riba Rossy

Sexier is an excerpt from Biting the Apple. It looks at how women’s bodies are policed, especially in certain careers. They’re expected to meet these insane standards or risk losing out. I will have to make a point of reading the rest of Biting the Apple.

Turtle Steps by Sandra Sabates and Sandra Cardona

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That certainly feels to be the case in Turtle Steps. The story is compelling, but the artwork really brings it home! This is probably my favorite from the collection.

Over a Banana Skirt by Almudena Grandes and Sara Herranz

Over a Banana Skirt is a surprisingly introspective piece, delving into history, societal expectations, and pretty much a hundred other things. It’s a great read, especially if you’re looking for something that’ll make you stop and think.

Mzungu by Patricia Campos and Sara Soler

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how sports can help societies as a whole – it can encourage education and equality, among many other important concerns. Mzungu seems to encapsulate all of that reading I’ve been doing, putting it into something both deeply personal and approachable.

Thanks to IDW Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.