Rigsby, WI
Welcome to Rigsby, WI, where you will find a bit of early 2000s nostalgia and a whole lotta flannel.
It’s an interesting slice of life from the days before technology was everywhere, and teens still spent their days hanging out in their friends’ backyards. These characters here are just so lovably relatable, readers will definitely be seeking out the webcomic where they originated in order to hang out with them more.
While Beth’s mom is the absolute worst, her aunt and all her friends make up for it – we join them mid-basketball game in the backyard, where they are trash-talking each other. It’s a typical small town, where the kids hang out in the mushroom-laden forest to get high or spend time just driving around, stopping for pancakes or thrift store shopping. Much of the drama of this first installment centers around a Homecoming dance. Jeordie and his goth girlfriend, Jenna, are going together, and he’s bummed he has to wear a suit; Beth decides to go with her friend, Anna, just for fun – but then can’t find a dress that fits; and Erik has asked his friend and crush, Pam to go with him but she has only said “maybe.”
It sounds quite mundane, but S.E. Case has created characters who feel multidimensional and talk like real teenagers. Besides the lighter issues surrounding the upcoming dance, this group of friends is also tackling more troubling and darker issues, like racism, mental health, and abuse. The pacing is quick, and their story is engrossing, mostly because they will remind adult readers of their own youth – smoking, feeling disappointed in adults, and trying not to care what other people think of them (even though they obviously do). Rigsby, WI’s color palette has a vibrant autumnal aesthetic – accentuating the oranges, browns, and reds – while incorporating a lot of that grungy-era grit to the characters’ clothing and overall look. Case expertly conveys a range of emotions through character facial expressions, too. The general tone is quiet and earnest, but there’s also a good bit of humor to balance it out. Since this is the first in a series, many parts of the story hint at issues that may be developed in future issues
Most reminiscent of friendship and coming-of-age stories like Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle, Rigsby, WI, is distinguished by a wide and varied cast of characters. Mature themes in the story make it best suited for older teen readers, but I think adults (especially those whose adolescence fell within the early post 9/11 years) are going to enjoy this one, too.
Rigsby, WI Vol. 1: Foothold
By S. E. Case
Iron Circus, 2025
ISBN: 9781638991410
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
