In Kelly Sue DeConnick’s, “Bitch Planet”, the reader is able to see, read, and identify many techniques that the author uses to convey her message. There are many different styles of cartoons and comics that authors and illustrators can use to portray their work the way that they want to. These various styles and techniques can provide a clear point and meaning to the piece as a whole. Through repetition, specific examples, and clear evidence, DeConnick communicates the theme that no matter what the outside world thinks about you, the only opinion that truly matters is your own. 

In the beginning of the comic, DeConnick brings up the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” (DeConnick, pg. 179). This phrase is used for the first time when the main character, Penelope, is shown baking some sort of food in the kitchen with a woman who seems to be her mom. Her mother says these words when Penelope is trying to cook. When her mom offers to help her, she says that she can do it on her own. This shows the reader that this quote by her mother has a large connecting factor to the confidence that her daughter finds throughout the comic. The phrase is used again in the middle, and finally at the very end of the story to further show its relevance and importance to the piece. The second time that the quote is seen is when Penelope is getting her hair done by a new character, Mother Siebertling. She does not understand why she needs to be “altered” or “changed”. The visuals during this scene show Penelope’s sad, yet annoyed expression toward what is happening to her. Lastly, at the end of the text, the quote is seen again to express Penelope’s anger and show that she feels powerful and confident. Whenever this quote is used, it is connected with an event that has to do with being or not being accepted by others. The repetition of this proves its importance in relation to the entirety of “Bitch Planet”. 

Another aspect of the theme that gets brought up are the various examples of people not accepting Penelope for who she is. DeConnick includes a few flashbacks in the comic that show specific examples of this. During the scene that Penelope is baking in the kitchen with her mother, she gets taken away from her because of the fact that their society does not view her as an adequate mother. When Penelope is taken away, she is put into a new school and system of other kids. Another flashback occurs in this environment where she is beating up a boy that goes to her school. Even though she was just standing up for herself, she gets in trouble due to the fact that her emotions are making her more and more violent. Lastly, a flashback is shown of her while she was working and serving food at a restaurant. Many of the customers are shown giving her a hard time on the job, complaining about slow service, and making fun of the way she looks. This further shows the way that others view her, and how she lets it affect her. However, despite becoming self-conscious and upset, Penelope becomes agitated and violent toward the characters who are seen judging her. DeConnick uses all three of these flashbacks throughout the comic to allow the reader to understand how Penelope became the person she is at the end of the story. 

At the end of the text, there is a scene of Penelope standing in front of a mirror surrounded by many men who seem to be observers of some sort. They attach Penelope to this mirror to see how she really sees and thinks of herself. These observers seem to think that since she has a different appearance than other people in the society, and accepts herself for that, she must think she looks different than she actually does. However, when she sees herself in the mirror, exactly how she is, the observers are shocked. This is also the scene where the final appearance of the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, occurs. This creates a full circle ending for the text. This scene consists of many close up shots of Penelope’s face, in which you can see the confident smirk that she is wearing. There is another visual which shows both Penelope laughing as well as the word “ha” repeatedly written on the surface of the mirror. It is clear that at this point in the text, the author is able to communicate Penelope’s confidence and the power that she feels inside of her. 

DeConnick uses an illustrative technique which shows detail in the character’s faces as well as in the background. In "Bitch Planet", the visuals are about midway between reality and language on the pyramid plane, and could range anywhere between 90 and 94. This tells you that the author wants to emphasize the characters and who they are. DeConnick cares strongly about communicating the emotions and personality of the characters through the images in the comic. However, the author also chooses to use repetition in the dialogue to express the specific thoughts and ideas going through the characters’ minds, and also to express their actions seen in the visuals. All of this makes the reader focus more on the specific people characterized and how they affect the piece, rather than the basic concept of the comic. Instead of illustrating the characters with less detail in order to cause the reader to relate the story to himself or herself, the author includes more detail to make the comic more focused on the characters that he has created. All of these techniques give “Bitch Planet” a deeper, more interesting meaning. 

Overall, throughout the entirety of the text, the various techniques used allow the author to communicate the story in the style that she wants to. Throughout the piece, many up close visuals of Penelope’s face are shown. These are usually pictures of her face while she is angry at another character or specific event that takes place, and her reaction to it. The reader is able to follow along with the story, even when there are constant flashbacks and new information being added to it. After reading the text and looking at all of the visuals, it is much easier to understand the concept. By the end of the story, it is clear that Penelope puts herself above the negative opinions of her society, and that she possesses the confidence and the power that her mother has always wanted her to have.
