Pixiegate Madoka (New Bizarro Author Series)
By Michael Sean LeSueur
Eraserhead Press
Reviewed by Karl Wolff

The New Bizarro Author Series is an imprint of Eraserhead Press. Pixiegate Madoka by Michael Sean LeSueur is part of that series. The novella focuses on the trials and tribulations of Julian Argento, a Reddit-obsessed teen who took the wrong transfer rocket and now is part of the Kitchen Appliance Squad of Magical Girls at Urobochi High School. Now how will he get a chance to meet his dream girl? (His crush also happens to look like Jennifer Lawrence.) Suffice to say, this is a strange book, even by the standards of bizarro lit.

Julian “Julie” Argento adventures with the Kitchen Appliance Squad effectively parodied anime like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and One Piece. A gender-bending, social media-crazed action adventure, LeSueur brings the fun and the craziness. That said, this isn’t for everybody. Bizarro lit is outre and outrageous by nature, although the references to Gamergate and Reddit may leave some readers confused. But this may be the quintessential novella for fans of 8-bit games and LoadingReadyRun.

Out of 10/7.5, but 8.5 for aficionados of bizarro lit.