Why I Hate Saturn

"Why I Hate Saturn" is an odd but fun graphic novel written and drawn by Kyle Baker back in 1990. It has as its protagonist Anne Merkel, a twentysomething writer and columnist for Daddy-O, a magazine for overly hip New Yorkers. She's snarky, bitter, and contemptuous of pretty much everyone around her. But somehow she's still likable--there's something about her patheticness that makes it hard for me to hate her, despite everything. Her snarkiness is oddly charming.

The plot really starts kicking when Anne's younger sister Laura appears on her doorstep with a gunshot wound, needing a place to stay. Laura is significantly more functional than Anne--neat, a good worker, and able to get a man--except for her insistence that she is the Queen of the Leather Astro-Girls of Saturn. The irritating perfection of her sister, despite her insanity drives Anne crazy, until a fight with her causes Laura to leave in a huff.Anne is OK with letting her go, but when a very mysterious and powerful man named Murphy comes to her door looking for Laura and not taking "no" for an answer, she discovers she can't just ignore the problem of her sister....

The best thing about "Why I Hate Saturn" is the tone. It's snarky and breezy, floating from one plot point to another. I'm not sure I'd like to live in the world portrayed in "Why I Hate Saturn," a world cruel and cynical full of horrible people, but it is remarkably funny. All of the characters are almost unbelievably snarky, always with a quick witticism. and I liked how the final plot twist takes the story into the realm of insanity with no warning at all.

It's a fun ride, if not a particularly hopeful one. I would definitely read this story over and over again. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a slice of life story with fun characters and an unpredictable plot that goes places you might not be expecting. All in all, it's great.