The Plain Janes

Castellucci, Cecil. The Plain Janes. Ill. by Jim Rugg. New York: DC Comics, 2007.

After being injured in a bomb attack in her native Metro City, Jane and her parents move to suburbia where Jane’s parents feel safer about living. Jane becomes bored and avoids being friends with the “popular” crowd and instead actively seeks out the friendship of three social outcasts, also named Jane. At first, Jane is met with a frosty reception by the other Janes, but eventually wins them over with her idea to develop P.L.A.I.N. or People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. Together, the four girls commit “art attacks” in order to get people to stop and take notice. After a few of the attacks, the student body begins to rally around the idea, while the local authorities are anxious to stop the perpetrators. Jane also deals with her overbearing mother, continues to write to a John Doe (also hurt in the bombing) and manages a new love interest, all while trying to make a statement in the culturally conservative new town.

In Janes, author Castellucci makes an effort to let the reader know that an dramatic event has had a effect on its main character, forever changing her perspective. In doing so, she allows the reader to understand the foundation in which Main Jane stands on, giving the character the ability to keep the momentum from the initial change go on and grow throughout the graphic novel. By making this decision, Main Jane is fully realized character, with the reader understanding her motivation and history. This attention to character development is imperative for this age group, but the in-depth rendering only seems to be extended to the main character, Main Jane. Other characters within the book, specifically the other Janes, read as caricatures or stereotypes. While their characters are given specific qualities and well-defined traits, the definitions serve to pigeon-hole the characters. Jesse Karp comments on this in Booklist: “The book has its share of stereotypes – the science geek…the irrepressible gay teen.” Even so, having such detailed depictions of supporting characters only serve to highlight the attention that went into developing the main character.

Illustrations within the novel lend well to the stark, dark and foreboding nature of the work. The terrorist attack in which Jane was injured lingers over the whole novel; the black and white illustrations are a reminder of the bleak beginning of Jane’s transformation. By making the illustrations an accompanying element of the text, instead of the focus, allows the reader to engage with the text first, then view the pictures fully. The illustrations, devoid of any color, are afforded the ability to be severe, supporting the gravity of the text. Jane’s mother becomes overprotective and worried after the attack, checking in with Jane constantly. Jane says, “Mom doesn’t see the beauty in anything any longer. She only sees the danger. I want her to stop worrying and love the world again, because if she can, then I can.” Words that carry such weight should be supplemented by illustrations that also carry substance and significance, which this novel does effortlessly.

Book jacket found on: http://www.comicbookbin.com/theplainjanes001.html