There’s a certain expectation for most comics focused on trans narratives. More often than not, they will be very well-intentioned but clunky and clumsy to read as the creative team struggles to balance providing an authentic, thorough telling of the trans experience with the readability and pace of a story. I, of course, still deeply appreciate those stories, as a clumsy spotlight is better than none at all. But even then, it brings me so much pleasure to say that Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms is not just a beautifully crafted and delightful YA romantic tale, it is the best comic I’ve read so far this year.
Written by Crystal Frasier (a transwoman), drawn by Val Wise (a transman) and lettered by Oscar O. Jupiter, Cheer Up tells the story of Bebe, a trans cheerleading captain, and her former friend Annie, a lesbian troublemaker, as they reconnect over their shared sport. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel — Cheer Up fits within your normal teen romance story structures, but excels in its execution so well its familiarity is never an issue. The OGN never feels like it’s going through the motions or marking off plot points on some sort of YA romance checklist; both Frasier and Wise’s work lifts what could have been a very bog-standard affair into a charming, genuine delight.
Romance lives and dies on its leads, and thankfully both Annie and Bebe are wholly wonderful, fully realized characters that I enjoyed every minute of my time with. Annie’s disgruntled, loner attitude doesn’t grate in the way that Dedicated Rebel teens often can, her annoyance with school and her peers being grounded in genuine emotions rather than bland angst. Doubly so when contrasted with her mother, Celeste, who is the apex of Cool Mom and wants nothing but the best for her girl. Bebe, in contrast, is the most popular girl in school. Captain of the cheerleading squad, seemingly beloved and accepted for who she is by teachers and peers, at first glance, it looks like she’s living the dream. Beneath the surface, however, Bebe’s struggles are substantive and real, forming the most incredible aspect of Cheer Up.
Much like how mainstream trans narratives are often expected to be a little clumsy, they are also expected to be sanitized for mass consumption. More often than not, the actual pain and heartache that comes from simply trying to live as a transperson are watered down so cis readers don’t get too uncomfortable. So imagine my surprise when a YA romance book delivered on some of the rawest, most authentic trans experiences I have ever seen in a comic. Frasier’s history telling trans stories, stretching as far back as her 2000s webcomic Venus Envy, is put to incredible use as every scar and challenge Bebe faces hits home in a way I was not prepared for. Not just the somewhat expected moments, such as being intentionally misgendered by an angry adult, but the quiet struggles that often go unseen. The dread of being the focus of any room, the hesitancy to say no or stand up for yourself for fear of being labeled as The Angry One, watching others use your identity and life as a glorified PR move to show off how open-minded they are. It is honest in a way I was not expecting and will now hold every other mainstream trans comic to as a standard, because Frasier and Wise prove these stories can be told, genuinely and authentically, without cutting corners or having the storytelling suffer.
Beyond the masterful execution of trans storytelling, the comic is just incredibly dang sweet. Bebe and Annie’s romance is wholesome, adorable and never ventures into cloying territory. The interweaving of Annie learning how to cheer and the looming presence of homecoming provide a rock-solid framework for their love to blossom and make for a satisfying story. The handful of secondary narratives — Bebe’s parents learning not to be overly protective, Annie making amends with a squadmate she’s fought with in the past — help flesh out the world and never overstay their welcome or pull focus. It’s just a well-made OGN on the most basic, structural level, and it pays off in spades when enjoying the story as a whole.
As incredible as Frasier’s script is, and it’s very incredible, the true backbone of Cheer Up is Wise’s art. His character work is top-notch, and the common same-face/same-body problem that crops up in comics is entirely absent, with each character feeling wholly distinct. The diversity of body types and faces is amplified by just how pitch-perfect the body language and emotionality are in every scene. Every kiss is different, every moment of heartbreak and fear feels achingly human and true. It’s a masterclass in character-focused comics art, and if any halfway-competent publisher is paying attention, Wise should be on everyone’s radar going forward.
The strongest praise I can give Cheer Up is that it made me feel grateful for a chance to see a story I never got to experience myself. I came out long after high school when I was 28, and while it’s probably for the best that the disaster that was High School Zoe didn’t have the struggles of transitioning thrown on top of her, it is still hard to think about all those years I never got to be my truest self, struggling against the parts of my identity that refused to go away. Reading Annie and Bebe’s story was a gift, letting me see the story of two women who had the courage to do what I couldn’t and made me cry, cheer and everything in between over their journey. It is a singularly special comic and something I cannot recommend enough, for any audience. Cheer Up sets a new bar for both trans stories and queer romance in YA comics. Frasier and Wise have crafted something that demands to be read and appreciated in a way I truly was not expecting. The only thing potentially more exciting than Cheer Up itself is seeing whether any other creators decide to step up and meet its standards.
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms is out Aug. 11 from Oni Press.
Zoe Tunnell is a 29-year old trans woman who has read comics for most of her adult life and can't stop now. Follow her on Twitter @Blankzilla.
