Strange Bedfellows

Growing up in the terraformed alien planet Meridian, Oberon struggles with the usual parental pressures: go to college, get a job, make good friends – and, ideally, develop superhuman powers. Like many children of those who made the journey from Earth, Oberon’s siblings were all born with magical abilities. When Oberon wakes up with the ability to conjure his dreams, his world turns upside-down.  

After a public mental breakdown that led to the end of his college education and relationship with his boyfriend, Oberon spends his time hiding from his family and concerned friend group. The sudden existence of his powers is not the pleasant surprise his family might think – particularly when it creates a vision of his long-lost high school crush, Kon, whose infuriating manifestation won’t leave Oberon alone. Kon becomes determined to help Oberon gain control of his new powers and get his life back on track. This proves to be a difficult task, especially when memories, feelings, and a few secrets of Kon’s own start to get in the way.  

Oberon and Kon instantly become a lovable duo, full of banter and attraction. Kon equally enjoys supporting Oberon’s magical journey and pushing his buttons, while Oberon masks his growing feelings for Kon with annoyance and frustration. Stuck in a rut at such an important transitional moment in his life, Oberon often struggles to connect with his loved ones due to shame and stress. Despite this, he is constantly offered support from his large, blended family and boisterous group of friends.  

Strange Bedfellows is a whimsical, futuristic fantasy with art that exceeds all expectations of magic. Ries employs an abstract, watercolor-esque style to indicate when we are in the world of Oberon’s dreams, creating beautiful imagery that offers readers a glimpse into Oberon’s creative mind. The real world is illustrated just as beautifully and colorfully, though with slightly sharper borders that help ground the reader in reality. Colors also do an excellent job of conveying the character’s emotions: pink often indicates romance or blushing, and deep purples indicate sorrow or intense focus. While the dream sequences don’t feature much text, the reality-based panels contain one to five sentences. Characters’ lines feature an enjoyable mix of flirting, panic, and thoughtful reflection.  

Because this story takes place in such a magically developed world, it may be difficult to jump in. However, readers will find the effort to understand the exposition will be well worth it. The plot is unique, engaging, and well written, and the world is full of delightful magic that keeps even the more solemn scenes full of fun. Strange Bedfellows is a gorgeous story both in art and storytelling, featuring diverse characters and a great life lesson about perseverance and different kinds of strength. By the end of the book, readers are sure to feel as though they’ve just experienced a wonderful dream.  

Sexual Content  

• Oberon and Kon are dancing in Oberon’s bedroom when they suddenly pull each other into a passionate kiss. Two panels show Kon’s hands reaching into Oberon’s hair and pulling his waist closer to himself.  

Violence  

• As Oberon’s powers grow beyond his control, he has night terrors that manifest in giant monsters which he and Kon must fight off. In these fight scenes, Oberon conjures other creatures or objects from his dreams, which help eliminate the monsters. When they are defeated, the monsters simply disappear with a flash of light. The most intense of these scenes shows Oberon wielding a metal rail as a weapon, while Kon swings an air conditioning unit into the monsters. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• In a flashback scene, Kon is seen around a bonfire with his old friends. Some of them are drinking, and one says, “Remind me again who failed to steal weed from their sibling?”  

Language  

• Frequent profanity is used. Profanity includes damn, ass, and fuck.  

Supernatural  

• There are frequent references to and depictions of supernatural abilities held by many of the characters. These powers range from manifesting one’s dreams to telepathy or emotional manipulation. For example, Oberon’s sister Warren can tell when he is lying to her about how he’s feeling, and Kon can make an embarrassed girl burst into joyous laughter.  
• There are frequent references to the “ghost dust,” which humans picked up on their space travels and is credited as the source of the younger generations’ superpowers.  

Spiritual Content  

• None