Mismatched
Writer: Anne Camlin
Artist: Isadora Zeferino
Colorist: Jess Lome
Letterer: Rob Steen
Editor: Andrea Colvin
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
It’s been two centuries since Jane Austen’s Emma was first published, but its comedic sensibilities make it a still-beloved classic. Now among its many adaptations is Mismatcheda modern, queer, graphic retelling of the tale about teenage social media star Evan Horowitz and his terrible matchmaking skills.
Although thousands of followers love Evan for his iconic #LOTD (Look of the Day) posts and he’s president of his high school Gender and Sexualities Alliance, his popularity isn’t necessarily indicative of his personality. He’s often selfish and flat-out mean, and the only person who will call him out is his best friend and next-door neighbor, Davi. Still, Evan believes he has a sacred duty to play Cupid for his sister and his friends—until all of his carefully laid matchmaking plans go awry and force him to rethink his entire approach to romance.
Mismatched is a delightful rom-com that reads like a movie, with fast, quippy dialogue by writer Anne Camlin and character-focused panels with simple backgrounds from artist Isadora Zeferino. Facial expressions and body language confess the true meanings behind the characters’ words, and the tension builds as it becomes increasingly apparent that Evan has no idea what he’s doing or who he’s hurting in the process.
This story has many romantic mysteries, each with its own set of clues. Solving each one is incredibly satisfying, as seemingly everyone is hiding something. The stakes range in intensity, but communication is widely lacking until things are brought to a head. Failure-to-communicate plots can easily fail if the creators drag things on for too long, which doesn’t happen here. Effusive praise from Camlin and Zeferino in their acknowledgments for editor Andrea Colvin suggests she had a hand to play in the story’s smooth execution of an oft-annoying trope, and for that, I’m grateful.
Honestly, the entire Mismatched creative team positively shines. Colorist Jess Lome brings everything to life with its iconic, bright palette, and letterer Rob Steen excellently balances the text so it never feels overwhelming. I appreciate how highlights and shadows emphasize characters’ emotions and how even app-based text feels natural on the page. I enjoy seeing social media and digital communication used effectively in graphic novels, and it’s done so beautifully here.
Truly, my only complaint with Mismatched is the same complaint I have with Emma… For the sake of keeping this review spoiler-free, all I’ll say is that I appreciate the payoff of a slow-burn romance and wish this one had just a bit more room to breathe. Evan’s realization of his true feelings is lovely. I wanted to sit with him through that realization for just a few more panels.
Final Verdict: Buy
