Alison Bechdel’s ‘Spent’ Explores the Complexities of Progressive Life in Rural Vermont

The protagonist of 'Spent,' Alison Bechdel, is a fictionalized version distinct from the author herself, though they share some traits. This Alison has also penned a memoir about her secretive father, an embalmer, titled 'Death and Taxidermy'—a title that hints at the graphic novel’s playful tone and introspective nature.

The story centers on Alison and her wife Holly, a cheerful sculptor who closely resembles the author’s real-life spouse, Holly Rae Taylor, who also contributed the book’s coloring. Their life on a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont is intertwined with a group of longtime friends, many living together nearby. Among them is Stuart, a middle-aged man known for his utility kilt and Bernie Sanders T-shirt; his stoic wife Sparrow; their disillusioned child J.R., who leaves Oberlin College; and Lois, a friend who guides others through their sexual complexities. While the novel is comedic and lighthearted, it probes a significant question: is it possible to be a committed progressive while enjoying the comforts of upper-middle-class privilege in a society marked by oppression?

This question is especially pressing for Alison, who after years of creating the modestly successful comic strip 'Lesbian PETA Members to Watch Out For,' has sold the rights to a prestige television adaptation of 'Death and Taxidermy' now streaming on a major platform. She and her circle watch with growing dismay as the showrunner transforms her deeply personal story into provocative and immature content. Although the experience is exploitative, Alison benefits from a substantial financial gain.

Following the group’s escapades in leftist activism, polyamory, and animal care, Bechdel achieves a nuanced portrayal that neither excuses nor mocks these charming yet often frustrating characters. Her genuine fondness, except perhaps for the version of Alison sharing her name, infuses 'Spent' with warmth, making even its sharpest critiques feel good-natured. It captures the challenges faced by a lesbian PETA advocate living in rural New England, where fans of Holly’s YouTube channel might approach her outside Home Depot from a truck sporting a bumper sticker declaring, 'MY OTHER CAR IS A GUN.' Stuart’s effort to nurture his children’s political consciousness is both touching and amusing, marked by a tattoo covering his back with a Kropotkin quote—chosen for its brevity.