Lovely People
Summary
Lovely People by Minna Sundberg is a delightfully drawn graphic novel about bunnies living in a world with a social credit system. The purpose of the story is to highlight the dangers of works-based salvation and how we are completely incapable of saving ourselves from even the smallest of sins.
Assessment
Lovely People is a full-color cautionary graphic novel that describes the uses and functions of a social credit system, wherein people are judged based on their actions as well as who they know and are close to. The system itself is simple: promote, support, and conduct yourself according to the behaviors set forth by the fictional corporation and government duo, Alizongle and the World Council. These two overbearing entities slowly begin to take over and “correct” every aspect of life in the people that live in their city through the system of credit, rewarding behavior they find acceptable and punishing behavior they find problematic.
The story follows three best friends in different walks of life — stay at home wife Marigold, social media influencer Peony, and single mother Peppermint — as they navigate this social credit system. Each character has a distinct and adorable design that helps bring to life their personalities and roles in the story. Their individual character arcs feel complete as they tie up into a neat package at the end of the story.
The much deeper element to the story, however, is the works-based vs. faith-based salvation. Works-based salvation (the social credit system) is both exhausting and useless. It is ultimately a dead end in all the directions that we try to take it. We may feel somewhat better about ourselves, but it only takes a few mistakes to fall from grace. There is absolutely no way that we can do enough good works to make up for the sins we have committed, no matter how small they are. Fortunately, there is a way out, which is to have faith in Jesus Christ.
Light-o-Meter
Artwork: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Writing: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Age-Appropriateness: Appropriate for most children, although most of the content will probably go way over their heads.
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
The artwork for Lovely People is adorable, charming, fluffy, beautiful, and completely belies the dystopic horrors the comic is focused on and the deeper theological message underneath. And this works perfectly. Not only does the reader get the point, but it is delivered in a gentle and pleasant manner. Social credit systems — i.e. works-based salvation — are flawed and useless to save us from our sins.
I appreciated the fact that this story explored social credit systems farther than most true dystopias I’ve read or watched. A lot of times, the systems in these stories become a backdrop or an interesting feature, few explore to this depth what these kids of systems do to families, relationships, and how they shape society as a whole.
I do feel like the metaphor was a little lost in the overall plot of the story. I get where it is going and speaking out against works-based salvation is important! However, the metaphor is a bit difficult to grasp and put into its proper interpretation. It felt as though the emphasis on the evils of the social credit system overpowered the metaphor for works-based salvation. It came across as too much of a treatise on the evils of social credit systems, rather than a look at how impossible trying to put our salvation in our works can be.
However, it is still an absolutely adorable comic with a good message and delightful art style!
Wrap-up
Lovely People is a delightfully drawn little dystopia. Utilizing cute, fluffy bunnies and a beautiful and sometimes awe-inspiring backgrounds, this story digs into the dangers of both a social credit system and works-based salvation. With a lot of heart and no small amount of fluff, this story presents both of its messages in a gentle and kind way.
Where to Enjoy
Brainy Pixel Store: Shop: Lovely People (brainypixel.com)
Hummingfluff: A webcomic about a Social Credit system (hummingfluff.com)
Wise Path Books: Lovely People – Wise Path Books
Disclaimer: I am a freelance writer and social media manager working for Brainy Pixel and reviewing items in the Brainy Pixel store. I am not being paid extra to give Brainy Pixel media a glowing review and our COO is honest enough to let me write what I really think about the story. If a piece of BP media gets a positive review, it’s because — in my opinion — it deserves it!
This review is for this specific product and this product alone. In no way, shape, or form is this review meant to be an endorsement of the private lives, individual choices, lifestyles, or behaviors of those company(ies), publisher(s), creator(s), producer(s), author(s), artist(s), etc. associated with this product. It is God's sole providence alone to judge, and we make no claim to this right. With our reviews, we're simply looking at the value and merits of this specific product alone through the content and perspective of a Christian worldview. We pray you find it helpful and useful.
