'Wild Boars': Comic explores influencer's struggle with overexposure

French artist Lisa Blumen's graphic novel, 'Jabalíes' ('Wild Boars'), delves into the dark side of online fame, presenting a psychological thriller about a beauty influencer ensnared by her own digital persona. Blumen, who won the Pépite Bande Dessinée award at the Montreuil youth book fair, describes the core image that inspired the comic: "a woman groomed, with a bloody, mud-covered beast in her arms." This stark contrast between "beauty and monstrosity" led to the book's title, as Blumen suggests, "We can all behave like wild boars on social media."

The protagonist, Nina, is a professional makeup artist whose daily life revolves around creating content for social media. This constant exposure, however, leads to disillusionment and harassment from some followers. The comic prompts readers to question who the real "wild boar" is – Nina, her stalker, her family, or perhaps society itself. Blumen views the wild boar as a fascinating animal, embodying both prey and a dangerous creature, a duality she applies to the complexities of online identity.

Blumen aimed to create a story filled with tension, even though it depicts everyday life. The suspense, she explains, arises not from literal action but from the protagonist's psyche as she battles an "invisible and omnipresent" enemy. 'Jabalíes' critically examines the figure of the 'influencer,' a role Blumen notes is both controversial and underexplored in fiction.

To research the comic, Blumen immersed herself in makeup tutorials and websites, and interviewed 'cosplay' creators. Crucially, her research also involved delving into the history of feminism to understand issues of sexism and the commodification of women's bodies. She argues that the internet acts as a catalyst for societal dynamics, stating, "Sexism is everywhere. Before social media, there were women's magazines that perpetuated stereotypes and unattainable beauty standards to sell all kinds of products. I don't think social media is that different."

The comic visually represents Nina's curated online image through close-ups of her features, juxtaposed with off-camera moments revealing a disheveled silhouette or unflattering angles, suggesting that "normality demands a dose of ugliness." Blumen clarifies that she doesn't criticize social media in general, but rather "how political and commercial powers manage them to pervert them." She asserts that platforms are "deliberately permissive" in ways that allow for manipulation.