Bald

Čechová’s lighthearted yet insightful debut graphic memoir considers identity, vanity, and artmaking through the lens of her alopecia. Growing up as a thick-haired, unfussy tomboy, Čechová doesn’t give much thought to her hair—until she begins to lose it as an adult. With no clear underlying health condition causing this autoimmune reaction, she is forced to make do. She navigates wig shops and the varying reactions of friends and family to her diagnosis (“All your hair will fall out? That’s terrific.... Everyone will take you for a radical lesbian, and I’ll be your trophy wife!” exclaims one acquaintance). Meanwhile, strangers often mistake her for a cancer patient. At a storytelling workshop in Scotland, she is finally able to see her experience as a hero’s journey and boldly go bald—while grappling with her tendency to suppress any physical signs of stress. In addition to her personal story, Čechová offers cultural context around wigs in the Black and Jewish communities, and various hair factoids (skin with more hair follicles also supposedly heals faster from injury; armpit hair functions to fluff up mate-attracting pheromones). Jislová renders Čechová and the rest of the cast in pink and grayscale with prominent ears, triangular noses, and ample charm. The result is an adept portrayal of how looks are never just about looks. (Oct.)