Review by Ibha Gupta
Conundrum Press (Emnata), 2023
116 pages, Paperback, $20.00 CAD, 9781772620870
Young Adult, Ages 14+
Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Horror/Thriller, Mystery
Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life, Bad Medicine will transport readers to terrifying new worlds that only exist at the edges of human imagination.
Bad Medicine is a perfect read for this spooky season, bringing Cree folklore and myths to life.
As a group of Cree teens gather around a fire and begin to tell each other tales of ghosts, shape shifters, mythological creatures and demons, readers will feel the thrill and horror leap off the pages and tickle down their spines. But what is truly horrifying is the truth that lurks underneath – the truth about the dangers and oppression Indigenous youth face today. Each tale is a vignette that speaks deeply to young, vulnerable people and the uncertainty and fear they live with, whether it’s the topic of MMIWG, addiction, intergenerational trauma or ecological decline. The tensions between the contentious reality of the tales being narrated, the fictional reality of the teens narrating the stories and the actual horrors felt in Indigenous communities that exist today are palpable and allowed me to engage with the text on multiple levels. This graphic novel is not only a brilliant addition to the horror genre, but a sincere attempt to capture the complexities of modern Indigenous life. While the “narrative-within-narrative” format allows a wide array of original stories to be shared, readers will still get a chance to enjoy all their beloved horror tropes.
The illustrations are equally beautiful and unnerving, elevating the narrative. The text is a true masterclass in the use of colour, full spreads of wordless illustrations, and panel placements, all of which create a narrative that is beyond the written word, visually powerful and profound. I never realized how a single, black, blank page could create such a cinematic moment within the narrative, until I read Bad Medicine.
While some of the stories will indeed be familiar, especially to regular horror and fantasy readers, I think the very last story in the book is why I would pick Bad Medicine off the shelf. The metaphorical journey it takes the readers on, coupled with some of the best artwork in the book, make it one of the most poignant depictions of the cycle of trauma and addiction. And while I enjoyed the moodiness, the dread and the macabre all the tales invoked, it was the sense of hope at the end of the book and a belief that “the kids will be alright” which stayed with me. The light-hearted moment shared by the friends as they wrap up their fireside hangout reminded me of the joy and potential of youth and the catharsis of a good horror story session.
Ibha has a Masters in English and is now completing her second Masters in Children’s Literature at UBC. Her research interests are issues of representation and diversity in Fantasy Fiction. She misses the sunny beaches of Goa, India which she grew up on but has come to the conclusion that she absolutely loves autumn in Vancouver, her new home. Spicy foods, drinking chai and buying different editions of her favourite books make her the happiest.
YOUNG ADULTING 