this is nothing like heartstopper but it has some similities. The slice of life its the main character here so be ready to find a lot of characters and heavy dialogue

Ein Comic, der sehr realitätsnah ist und (vergangene) Geschichten aus dem Leben erzählt - so würde ich es in Kürze zusammenfassen. An sich beschreibt und zeigt es gut Alltägliches, allerdings sehr aus amerikanischer Sicht. Kann man aber auch gut auf deutsche Situationen adaptieren.
Im Grunde haben wir fünf Jugendliche, die in der Blüte ihres Lebens stehen - aber noch gar nicht richtig wissen, wohin es eigentlich gehen soll oder wie sie werden wollen. So macht ein jeder für sich Erfahrungen und lernt damit umzugehen, mal besser, mal schlechter. Jeder hat mit anderen Dingen zu kämpfen, doch sie zeigen auch immer wieder, dass sie sich um die anderen kümmern und sich gegenseitig unterstützen. Ein typischer Coming-of-Age Titel, bei dem man sich mit dem ein oder anderen Charakter sehr gut identifizieren kann.

Der Plot ist nicht wirklich außergewöhnlich, aber folgt einem roten Faden mit einem angenehmen Pacing. Die Charaktere sind sehr unterschiedlich, sowohl in ihrer Art, als auch ihrem Design. Das Artwork ist recht sketchy, aber hat auch einige Details. Mir hat's ganz gut gefallen und würde auch zum nächsten Band greifen, denn der Schluss macht schon neugierig, wie's denn nun mit den Teenies weitergeht 😊

Growing up is never easy, especially in a small town. In Rigsby, Wisconsin, SE Case captures that difficult transition with striking authenticity, setting it against the backdrop of rural life in the early 2000s. Bethany’s search for stability and belonging, paired with the complicated lives of her new friends, makes for a heartfelt and deeply relatable read. The illustrations are a standout, adding layers of atmosphere and emotion that bring both the characters and setting to life. The world and cast Case is building feel rich with depth and possibility, and I’m already eager to see where the next volume takes them.

This story follows a group of teens from different backgrounds who are all close friends. As they prepare for homecoming, we get a deeper look into the personal struggles each of them faces—set in a time before technology took over daily life. The story has a gritty, real feel to it, and the art complements that tone perfectly. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven story about friendship, identity, and growing up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me read an early copy in exchange for a review.

Sadly this wasn't the graphic novel for me and I cannot figure out why. Having read this a few months ago, my notes aren't enough to catch me up. From what I can gather, this is an online comic turned published graphic novel. And while this had a strong start, the way the chapter ended felt abrupt. Which reminds me of a webtoon format, so I do want to continue reading because the characters had so much going on.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. I am giving it five stars to indicate that it meets the criteria to be added to my library's collection, so we will adding it to our purchasing list for our fall book order. We will continue to keep an eye on this series!

This does not indicate a personal rating of the book, but I will note that I looked into this web comic after reading the ARC here on Netgalley!

This is a very well written coming of age story. It captures the early 2000's perfectly, while also touching on some pretty serious topics.

It's 2002 and in Risby, WI, there isn't much to do. So, as teens have done forever, they hang out in the woods and their cars, smoking and talking, hiding from adults. Beth has moved in with her aunt to escape her oppressive, religious family, who sees her as the problem child. Jeordie is trying to balance having a girlfriend and just wanting to hang out with friends. Everyone has their own problems, and they are just on the edge of being old enough to do something about them.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel

This was a lovely book to read with lovely illustrations, we follow a small group of people finding their way and grow an attachment to some of the characters.

There is a cosy vibe to some of the characters we meet and I can see others enjoying this book

This really threw me for a loop, because I did not realize from the cover or description that this is a reboot of the webcomic Cheap Thrills. Not sure how I missed that, but it was a pleasant surprise! I looked at page one and immediately recognized Jeordie, despite his human form (Cheap Thrills is anthro). In some ways it was easy to fall back in step with these characters I once knew so well, and interesting to see what has been changed. I don't feel as connected to these versions yet, but this is only volume 1 so I am curious to how this plays out down the line. Knowing so much about the futures of these characters definitely impacted my perceptions, but there is new information here too.

I gave up about 4 pages in -- there was already racism, drug use, and jokes about sexual assault. I'm all for talking about real issues but each time when one of these topics was brought up the author completely missed an opportunity to engage the audience and make them think about the topic whatsoever. This was an immediate no from me but perhaps other readers will want to stick with it; I just won't be one of them.

Absolutely captures the feel of high school in a rural Wisconsin town as you're just starting to figure yourself out and look to the outside world. Great art, too.

A great slice-of-life comic about growing up in a small rural community. The characters feel real, and Case’s art is dynamic.

SE Case’s Rigsby, WI is a coming-of-age new adult graphic novel set in 2002, where a group of misfit teens in a small town are all grappling with their own personal struggles. The tension between finding solace and navigating the uncertainties of youth is palpable. The friendship dynamic between Bethany, Jeordie, Erik, and Anna is the heart of the story, showing how they lean on each other as they try to figure out life. Bethany’s search for stability resonates deeply, especially as she forms connections with friends who are each carrying their own emotional weight. There’s a great conversation about CDs and making mixtapes that brought back some nostalgic memories for me. The art style is fantastic, and I loved the bonus comics at the end. They give a deeper backstory to the characters. As the first volume in a series, this is just the beginning of a story I’m eager to continue. I’ll definitely be picking up volume 2.

This was a really interesting character study. I liked the characters and the ways they interacted with each other. I also liked the time period of the early 2000s. It was interesting to read about. I think it would be a good addition to school libraries.

Foothold: Rigsby WI seems reminiscent of early aughts TV shows like 6teen. SE Case achieved her want of describing everyday people going through life in their own unique way. I liked the writing, enjoyed most of the characters, and felt like I would feel at home in this friend group.
I was not a fan of how the characters were introduced. There were so many names thrown at you without identifying who the characters were, that it made the story confusing. I also think the scene with the mother was a little too heavy-handed.
I look forward to volume 2.

*reviewed from uncorrected eARC via netgalley*

graphic fiction, series (vol. 1 from the Rigsby WI webcomic) - teens coming of age in 2002 rural Rigsby, Wisconsin; in this volume, Beth (who is homeschooled by her aunt, thankfully away from her intolerable, hypercritical mother) and her friends get ready for the homecoming dance, with the usual disappointments -- plus some bonus comics that provide interesting backstory. Jeordie is the one brown/Iranian person in school, Jenna is Jeordie's girlfriend of 3 months, Anna (still kind of a mystery) seems like a good friend, and Erik (who, like Beth, is considered "overweight") is crushing on a girl who doesn't like him that way. (CW/TW: fat-shaming, distrustful parent; cigarette and pot-smoking; potential medication abuse; making out and potentially going "all the way")

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but by the end I was wrapped up in these characters and their messy lives. Looking forward to reading more, thanks!

Rigsby, Wisconsin is a pretty typical small, midwestern town in 2002, populated by angsty teens. This is a slice-of-life volume, centering on troubled, 17 year-old Beth, who's trying to find her new normal living with her aunt in a new town. By her side are dorky, Iranian-American Jeordi, his intense, rich, goth girlfriend Jenna, their friend Anna, and jock Erik. The main plot line of this one is preparing for homecoming. It felt like an introduction to the world and the characters and I hope there's more. The art style is charming and the characters are a little derpy (meant affectionately).

This book captures youth angst and the feeling of being stuck in a small town in the Midwest well. Fans of Sophie Campbell’s Wet Moon series would feel at home here, though I’m not seeing any undercurrent of violence as with hers. The art is fantastic, the characters believable and likable. I want to read vol2, as this one mostly seemed to introduce me to the large cast.

A coming of age story set in the early 2000s post 9/11. The story is pretty solid and the setting really pulls you back in time. The language is pretty problematic (given the time setting) and the character interactions are pretty genuine. It touches on topics of mental health, racism, and sexism. I can see myself finishing this series.
The art is good but can be inconsistent at some points, leaving the reader wondering if that was the same character as before. Overall, a decent read with a story that has potential.