Started From The Bottom: a Review of ‘BTTM FDRS’

Words:Ezra Claytan Daniels/Art:Ben Passmore / FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS, INC FROM THE TOP BTTM FDRS is a spot-on critique of the causality of urban gentrification. Packaged as a razor-sharp, pastel flavored fever dream, this book is scary, good, and scary good. Bttm Fdrs is the latest from multimedia dynamo Ezra Claytan Daniels whose last few entries The Changers and Upgrade Soul are already revered as modern classics in the genre. Paired up with Eisner award-winning indie comic creator and illustrator Ben Passmore, whose collection of race-savvy comics “Your Black Friend” are a gem unto themselves. Daniels and Passmore aren’t just writing about the issue at hand, they genuinely know what they’re talking about. Even the synopsis is a stroke of comprehension: “Once a thriving working-class neighborhood on Chicago’s south side, the ‘Bottomyards’ is now the definition of urban blight. When an aspiring fashion designer and her image-obsessed BFF descend upon the hood in search of cheap rent, they discover something far more seductive… and deadly.” The levity of this synopsis alone rivals the pretentious gravitas of several Steven King made for TV series trailers, it’s pitch perfect!

THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD The title is a play on “bottom feeders”, the name given to a particular fictional neighborhood with very real parallels to that part of town. You know, the other side of the tracks. You really can’t put creators this woke (and this humble) on a project and not expect a fantast…