Publishers Weekly / June 19, 2020

Crashing into an uncertain fall comes a heady mix of genres, including dystopian sci-fi from Roxane Gay and Sophie Yanow’s Eisner-winning work, plus innovatively retold classics­. It’s a season for discoveries.

ComicsVerse / October 26, 2018

Bad Friends is a story that everyone should read. Ancco creates realistic and relatable woman who endure difficult situation. The art matches the story and endgulf us into Pearl and Aeong-Ae`s emotion. 

The London Free Press / October 12, 2018

Bad Friends is a memoir of growing up in South Korea in the 1990s from the cartoonist known as Ancco. It is a powerful account of teen years spent as a punching bag.

PEN America / September 27, 2018

In celebration of National Translation Month, for this week’s Illustrated PEN Guest Editor Meg Lemke presents an excerpt from the forthcoming Bad Friends (Drawn & Quarterly, 2018) by artist Ancco, translated from Korean by Janet Hong. Lemke writes: Ancco’s debut both in Korea and America is a discovery; a work of fiction based on her own life, for many American graphic novel readers, this drawing out of the inner world and tumultuous experiences of a young South Korean teen in the ’90s will be both fresh and achingly familiar. The savage abuse that Pearl, Ancco’s stand-in, receives at home and school is counterpoised by the intense friendships with “Bad” girls (compared to whom, her home-life is idealized, as at least her parents care what she gets up to). Themes of rebellion, dawning sexual power and vulnerability, and coming-of-age are set in haunting black and white cityscapes and seedy backrooms. As we celebrate translation month, don’t miss this unique work.

The Guardian / December 09, 2018

Ancco's English Translation selected Best Books of 2018 (Graphic Novels)

PW / June 15, 2018

A Book Reveiw of Ancco's     Told with arresting honesty and strength, this graphic novel conjures a grim vision of growing up in late-1990s South Korea. Rebelling against her abusive father and teachers who routinely beat her, 16-year-old Pearl smokes, slacks off at school, and runs with the bad-girls crowd. Yet her situation is well-adjusted compared to her fellow delinquents, especially her best friend, Jeong-Ae, who survives in chaotic poverty and is already dabbling in sex work.