If the first issue didn’t prove it, Jonesy #2 just showed how much of a delightful story it is as it goes out of the school and into the town talent show as Jonesy works her dad’s donut shop when all she wants to do is watch the new Stuff video. When the Butt Brothers steal her zines though, she ends up forming an unlikely friendship with Susan to get them back.

This issue spoke to me on a spiritual level. Not only with the normalized queerness of Susan admitting she likes a girl named Nisha in her chemistry class and Jonesy no-selling the reaction to it, but with Jonesy admitting her secret crush is actually on Stuff, a pop star who pretends he’s an alien prince. Don’t feel too bad about that, Jonesy. I currently have a similar type crush on an Irish wrestler who acts like a demon about four or five times a year and I’ve been out of high school for a long time. Artist Caitlin Rose Boyle’s design of him is absolutely darling though, so it’s easy to see why Jonesy is so obsessed with him. Mickey Quinn’s similar coloring between him and Nisha is a nice touch as well. Not to mention the way Susan and Jonesy talk about their crushes is so cute and relatable, it’s kind of surprising to find out writer Sam Humphries wasn’t a teenage girl at one point.

However, it’s not all crushes and games as Jonesy gets her zines stolen and ends up hurting Susan’s feelings and disappointing her dad in the process of getting them back when she makes the Butt Brothers fall in love with Susan’s hat. As with the previous issue, #2 does a great job of showing that while Jonesy is an absolutely lovable protagonist, she’s not always a good person. While she makes great progress in becoming friends with her old enemy in this issue with the formation of the Secret Crush Investigation Squad, she still makes mistakes and thinks selfishly. The best thing about that though? She realizes that when she does, and apologizes accordingly. Even in two issues, we see so much character growth from Jonesy and it does a great job of showing younger readers that you can make up for your choices.

As Jonesy and Susan walk off into the sunset arm and arm, it’s obvious that its the start of a beautiful friendship. Though one that Principal Rosenfield is not happy about as she puts two and two together about the Carnation incident, the Butt Brothers, and Jonesy. Oh no.

Jonesy #2 keeps the pace of the first issue while still showing progress for both the characters of Jonesy and Susan as they turn from enemies to friends over the course of the issue. Along with the series normalizing queerness, it also is refreshing to see a series lead by two young women of color without ever resorting to stereotypes and to see such a realistic and fun take on teenage crushes. The art is still gorgeous and on point, especially with the way Quinn gets to expand the color palette from the first issue in really bright and exciting ways. Humphries, Boyle and Quinn have real magic with the series, and I’m not just saying that because of Jonesy’s powers.

Story: Sam Humphries Art: Caitlin Rose Boyle and Mickey Quinn
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Were you an angry little punk kid in high school who watched too much anime, hated nearly everything, and could make people fall in love with anything?

Okay, if you said yes to the first three things, the new BOOM! Studios’ BOOM! Box imprint limited series Jonesy by Sam Humphries, Caitlin Rose Boyle, and Mickey Quinn is probably right up your alley.

The first issue follows around our titular heroine on the worst day ever. That’s right, Valentine’s Day. Ugh. Even worse is when popular girl Susan makes fun of Jonesy for receiving a white carnation instead of pink one in the school’s Valentine’s Day carnation exchange. After she remembers some helpful advice from her abuelita, Jonesy decides not to get mad, but to get even.

Probably one of the most refreshing things about Jonesy as a series, besides the gorgeous and fun art from Boyle and Quinn that finds itself somewhere between Junko Mizuno and Bryan Lee O’Malley, is just how relatable it is. While Jonesy herself may be a teenager in our more modern era, she’s still a weird kid who struggles with her peers. She has this simultaneous need of wanting to be accepted by them, but to not want to be a part of them either. Anyone who has ever been the outsider in high school will feel that at a deep level.

At the same time, I love seeing just how Jonesy’s flawed teenager logic works. She’s excited when her powers backfire and end up making everyone in school fall in love with Susan, but she regrets it and reverses it when she realizes the flowers were benefitting a ferret rescue. You can argue that this isn’t the right thing to do because it absolutely isn’t, but the book doesn’t try to hide it either. Jonesy is a terrible teenager like we all were, and that’s part of what makes her so enjoyable. Humphries does a great job of striking that balance between “trashy teenager” and “extremely likable character” without making her actions seem acceptable. Funny, yes, but not acceptable.

Of course, even more worrisome is that right after she makes up with Susan, she decides that she’ll be the one to teach her school about love. Oh Jonesy.

Story: Sam Humphries Art: Caitlin Rose Boyle and Mickey Quinn
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review