Chicken Heart
Morgan Boecher’s emotive graphic novel Chicken Heart is an exploration of individual gender identity.
Just before working a stand-up comedy set, Jackie reads a letter from the Chicken Heart Love Commune informing him of the death and upcoming funeral of his Aunt Sheila, a trans woman who was ostracized from their family. The news causes Jackie to face a fact he’s been trying to bury: Though everyone knows Jackie as a woman, he identifies as a man.
While visiting Chicken Heart, Jackie begins a romance with Will and witnesses as Estelle, Sheila’s widow, grieves. Though Jackie wants to avoid the struggles Sheila faced before her death by suicide, he decides he must be true to himself.
Jackie’s work as a comedian is reflected in the book’s interesting narrative approaches. For example, an inner monologue is portrayed as a fantasy stage performance, in which Jackie’s inner doubts, fears, and aspirations are acknowledged. It also exists in stark contrast to his actual performances, which tend to end in disaster and emphasize the false life he leads.
The illustrations make use of color changes to smooth the narrative’s transitions: Jackie’s stand-up routines are cast against pink backgrounds, while his fantasized sets are set against blue ones. Elsewhere, scenes in Chicken Heart’s wooded domain are dominated by green. Hand lettering adds to the intimate feel of the book.
About life, death, love, identity, and acceptance, Chicken Heart is a thoughtful graphic novel in which a trans man finds the strength to accept his own identity.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
