Highwater Press
Spoiler Alert
Sonya Ballantyne is just like many other nerds, and just because she’s from a First Nation should not make a difference at all. When she helped pen and direct The Death Tour, a movie I reviewed two years ago, I knew there’d be some work of hers I’d eventually follow up on, and to read The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne is an eye-opening revelation about what she loved when growing up. Not only does she love her Star Wars, but she’s a DC Comics enthusiast too!
And she must watch wrestling, hence that movie! To call her unbeatable is an understatement, and reading her life story in this self-titled graphic novel really highlights where she came from, what obstacles she had to face while growing up, and how she managed to carve a niche that’s truly punk. It’s less about fighting against the establishment and more about knowing where the curve balls come from. Whether that’s dealing with bullies at school who can’t see past her skin colour or navigating grandma’s overprotectiveness, what’s reflected upon here doesn’t dwell on the negativity.
The visual elements only offer reflections on what she recalls without bitterness. The follow-up panels don’t suggest any resentment as this autobiography takes a look at her growing up at the Rez, near Grand Rapids, and dealing with life as it comes. Although I can’t relate to everything she went through, the fact that both she and I felt a calling to express ideas through words while young says it all. And I’m willing to admit that we kinda look alike in real life (through our respective gendered forms).
It seems we both discovered the world of comic books and pop culture through a similar game of life. When she paraphrased Stephen King’s survival tip for becoming a novelist, “Read a lot, write a lot,” I knew both she and I are in good company! Throughout this tale, she wants to stay upbeat. And when she discovered a slam book at school one day, her reaction was justified. It would shape what she’d become, and although not every detail is recounted to show her changing world view, what’s presented is still telling.
Some readers can relate to what’s going on because they’ve gone through that moment too in high school, and for others who cannot, we see a teenager going through the motions. It seems the bullying has always been there from age six on up. While it’s taken on different forms in different grades, she does her best to either ignore it or fight back.
But eventually, all of the back talk will take its toll. Some people choose to run away, others succumb to peer pressure, and the result can be terrible. Not everyone can request to change schools, but where she’s from, neither choices are possible. To deal with this kind of mental health challenge requires help. She even quotes Carrie Fisher on her struggles with depression. Although those details seem rushed, I’m sure there’s more to be said had this work been given more pages to dwell on it. In the end, just how her personality mirrors this actress’s behaviour through Rhael McGregor‘s illustrations is more revealing than not. Those visuals show she’s had that never-give-up, never-surrender attitude.
And soon afterwards, she discovered the music of U2! They not only helped inspire her to be an activist but also offered words of healing. While not every detail is revealed, especially with what went on in grade twelve, what’s presented in the remaining pages is a faster summary than a detailed account. That year isn’t supposed to play out like a crazy dream, like in the movie and title song “Grease,” because that’s not the word to summarise her final year. If there’s a song I’d choose, it would be Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” because this story is about looking back.
She’s been through a lot, and she even admits she doesn’t know what the future will hold. When this tale is the second chapter of an ongoing series written by Ballantyne and illustrated by McGregor, what comes next will require waiting. Although I didn’t get a chance to read part one, Little by Little: You Can Change the World (Amazon link), jumping in with the second book didn’t make me feel like I was missing something. I’m sure her university years are just as telling, and I’ll have to wait for that to be released to get a full picture of this creator. As for what’s next, I recommend visiting her website at sonyaballantyne.com for updates on her upcoming projects. I certainly want to know more!
4 Stars out of 5
The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne on YouTube
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