Review: "Extra Large" by Tyler Page

Extra Large by Tyler Page
Published March 2025 via First Second
★★★

Thoughtful look at body image, internal and external pressure, and the absolute horror that is middle school. Much has been written about the pressures on girls at this age, but I've seen a lot less from the perspective of a tweenage boy.

The premise is pretty simple—Page was a bigger kid, which hadn't bothered him until middle school...at which point everyone's bodies started to change, and kids started being more cruel about calling out differences, and it occured to him that his weight could be one of those differences. Some of the themes here are unfortunately common (e.g., Page's father deciding to lose some weight, and criticizing Page's mother's weight at the same time); other things, while also common, I don't see in graphic novels as much. I really liked the way Page portrays himself trying to deflect criticism by passing it on to others; it's not a good look, of course, but it's also a very real thing. He doesn't belabor the point (I'm guessing it took until well past middle school for Page to process this fully), but it's clearly something that made an impression.

The art isn't really to my taste; it's fine but reminds me of...Foxtrot, I think? As ever, no shade whatsoever to the drawing skills, which surpass mine not so much by a mile as by a marathon; just a matter of personal preference in long-form graphic works.