Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero, the second book in the series, is illustrated by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim) with flashbacks by Andi Watson (Breakfast After Noon), Christine Norrie (Hopeless Savages book 1), and Chynna Clugston (Blue Monday). Cover and chapter break art is by Terry Dodson.

Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero
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It focuses on Zero, the youngest child of the punk family, as she’s beginning to think about dating. It’s a touching, very real portrait of the problems of being a teen, complicated by a video crew taping her family (Mom and Dad are rock stars) and Zero’s band preparing to perform at a school event.

Zero has to deal with expectations she doesn’t even know exist about roles and relationships. Romances are tough to do without sap or cliché, but this one feels very real, inspiring, and touching. I wish I’d known more boys like Ginger when I was her age!

The art, primarily by Bryan Lee O’Malley, reminds me of living Lego figures. The characters often have blocky heads with sharp chins and squat pug noses. The overall feel is one of youth and attitude, which suits the content well. The flashbacks, done by the artists from the previous volumes, shed additional light on Zero’s family situation.

Preview pages are available at the Oni Press website, and Bryan Lee O’Malley has a website.

O’Malley also wrote and drew Lost at Sea, an exploration of teenage disaffection and identity over a long car trip.