章節 167: Spotlight#175: Bingo Love
Have you ever wanted to leap for love? If so, then on this grand Single's Awareness Day or (Valentine's Day for all the rubes out there), I would like to cover Bingo Love by Tee Franklin and Jenn St-Onge.
Summary
February 10th, 1963, may have been a random day to most people, but for Hazel Johnson, it was the day her life changed forever. Because it was the day she saw Mari McCray, her true love, enter the classroom. From then on, the two became inseparable, sharing stories, meals, and even their first kiss, much to the dismay of their grandmothers, who split them apart before marrying them off to distant husbands.
Flash forward 50 years, and Hazel is a devoted wife and grandmother to her large family, all while still thinking of what could've been. So when fate decides to fall upon her lap again and reunite her with her lost love, Hazel jumps at her second chance, no matter what obstacles get her way.
Characters
Hazel Johnson: Our main character, Hazel, is often a nervous yet sweet girl who always puts people first. Whether it be through her love for Mari or the future family she creates. However, Hazel reawakens when she finally sees Mari again with a new fire underneath her.
Mari McCray: Compared to Hazel, Mari's always had an idea of what she wanted, cultivating a very headstrong and determined woman. Still, even her resolve is limited, as her oppressive and overly religious family lets her miss out on time she wishes she could get back.
Overview
I wanted this cluster to have something for Black History Month and Valentine's Day while highlighting more Western comics outside of Marvel and DC. Bingo Love not only gave me all three prerequisites but also gave me the chance to shout out Tee Franklin. If the name sounds unfamiliar, you've seen her work.
Tee Franklin is a black, autistic, queer, disabled comic book writer and public speaker who is from New Jersey. While her work on Bingo Love put her on the map in the comic scene, Tee Franklin afterward would go on to write Harley Quinn: Eat, Kill Bang Tour based on the Harley Quinn show and also created Charlotte Weber A.K.A. Sun Spider has a cameo in ASTV (Do you think Spider-People often use comedy as a crutch.)
Jenn st-onge also has a strong record, most famous for her work on the Jem and the Holograms Misfits miniseries. Both manage to combine to create a compelling short story. Bingo Love is a story that very much tackles patriarchal gender norms, repressed homophobia, and religion.
Despite the book having a very approachable tone, it doesn't change. There is a sense of melancholy behind the beautiful art and colors of Joy San. Hazel and Mari's separation is tragic not just because of their separation but also because they were separated from ever truly exploring their feelings and who they are—making their sudden but heartwarming reunion so sweet.
If there is one real message behind Bingo Love, it's the idea that in our short lifespans where nothing is certain, we must try to instill spaces where we can continue to explore ourselves or fight like hell to make that space for ourselves. That doesn't mean that everything is sunshine and literal rainbows, though.
Bingo Love takes its time to show the problematic transitions that change in identity can have, but it also shows the great rewards despite my praises though I do have a couple of critiques. Despite being a long book, I wish we had more elaboration. I know that Bingo Love has a couple of digital releases, but because we are viewing things from Hazel's perspective, other characters' lives, like her husband James and wife Mari, are shown rather than told.
Could this limited view be used to keep Hazel and, by extension, those who relate to her in focus? Most likely, but these different perspectives would've been very much needed. Either way, having this book separated in parts or possibly having multiple "issues," I think, could've allowed for more of these different perspectives to be shown. Either way, any nitpick, which basically is me saying I want more, should be looked at positively.
Epilogue
All in all, I'm glad that I reread and recovered Bingo Love. After these years, it still deserves the praise and awards it's received. I hope to use Bingo Love to show more diverse stories on my blog further. If only because I wish to be part of the change I see in the world. 2024 is going to be a new era for the spotlight. I hope you're all here to see it.
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