‘Firebugs’ Review: Identity, Confusion, and the Need for Change

“Firebugs,” a graphic novel by Nino Bulling, is a poignant look into love, gender identity, and intimacy set on an Earth affected by climate change. The narrative is simultaneously heart-warming and bittersweet, underscored by the main character’s growing self-love and diminishing relationship status.

Nino Bulling is an artist from Berlin whose work often falls under speculative fiction and centers on realistic portrayals of life. Bulling’s art often depicts complicated relationships and the duality that they bring. This idea is a big focus in “Firebugs,” which examines nature and realism to form a compelling story about someone coming into their identity.

At the beginning of the novel, Ingken returns from a long trip and is immediately disturbed by a recent wildfire that has made headlines. Ingken channels the stressors of their unstable relationship into the ongoing crises of the world. However, these moments concerning climate change can be confusing, as the details often seem slightly out of place and insignificant in comparison to the other parts of Ingken’s life.

Another big focus of the novel is the duality between Ingken’s understanding of themselves and of the world around them; as readers will see through Ingken’s story, they are struggling to find their own identity as a trans person. Despite their partner’s inherent support in their transition, they themselves are confused about who they aspire to be. This narrative continues as Ingken struggles with the open nature of their relationship with Lily. Despite that, Lily — as a transgender woman herself — is one of the only people who can understand and accept them in that intimate space. This duality in the storyline creates a bittersweet feeling that entrances the reader.

The differences in the experience of Ingken and their partner lead to a lot of their disagreements but also a lot of their connection. Lily supports Ingken’s transition but struggles with understanding Ingken’s uncertainty and depression in making their decisions. This dissonance leads to scenes where the two argue and disagree on the concepts regarding gender identity, creating a realistic divide in how people view their own identities. The message that not everyone is inherently the same in their transition is one of the most vital parts of the story.

The art within the graphic novel is also another highlight of the piece. In the first scenes, Bulling makes it clear through wavy lines and curved images that Ingken is under the influence of recreational drugs. The images are both strange and slightly scary, but also grounding, in a way. The casual depiction of the characters’ bodies allows for extensive details in the background to shine through the vague storyline. In a scene, while the characters in the background are all wearing eccentric tops with flashy patterns, Ingken is wearing a plain top instead. Ingken is often portrayed as uncomfortable and unsure of themself compared to an onslaught of quirky background characters. This detail creates a clear picture of the characters in a vague plot without much beginning.

Bulling also extends the images of nature and wildlife in the graphic novel’s transition scenes, such as when Ingken returns home from their trip and finds themself in a field of flowers. Another example is the larger-than-life plant in their home that pictorially extends into Ingken’s therapy appointment. The transitions create an effect that represents the juxtaposition of Ingken’s thriving and decay alongside their relation to the nature around them. This dichotomy creates an innate connection between Ingken and the world, expressing Ingken’s growth through the book’s abrupt time changes and providing understanding where it is lacking.

The seasonal theme of the graphic novel is an interesting feature of the story, since the story begins in a warm place and ends in the cold. The story concludes in the wintertime, thus ending on a note that leaves the reader wondering how and where the chilled air will lead. The ambiguity of the ending leaves more to be desired in terms of a conclusion since the plot was often vague and not necessarily set at a certain place.

However, the seasons can be duly noted as indicators of the time passing within the story. Ingken’s changing worldview, which is a beautiful way of examining their growth. It is obvious that time is flowing, but the seasons and changes to nature that follow them allow readers to understand the time flow relative to Ingken themself. As Ingken becomes more aware of the world around them, possibly the result of trying sobriety and dealing with their issues, the changing seasons that surround them help convey the timeline and timestamp Ingken’s growth.

Despite the important themes of instability in relationships, and the complexity of gender identity in “Firebugs,” the vague storyline could benefit from some more clarity. However, “Firebugs” paints a portrait of complex relationships, identity, and a world slowly embarking on a path of destruction.