PIHM Book Review: Adapt. Evolve. Become: The Genderqueer Fandom of NBC’s Hannibal
Note: In this book, editor Max Turner uses “genderqueer” as an umbrella term for the trans/non-binary/genderqueer communities. For consistency, in this review I will do the same.
Adapt. Evolve. Become: The Genderqueer Fandom of NBC’s Hannibal is an anthology consisting of essays, art, and fanfiction studying NBC’s Hannibal through a genderqueer lens.
It will never cease to impress me how genderqueer (and queer people generally) are consistently drawn to the same art and media, and how well we make it our own. Especially when the original is so gloriously, gorgeously gruesome.
While I am a fan of NBC’s Hannibal, I have not participated in the fandom. It still doesn’t surprise me that it has found many genderqueer fans, as the show oozes queerness.
It did initially surprise me however, that so many interpret that character of Will as trans masculine. Beyond Words by mrsundance, Transgender Cowboy Will by Theo, and “This is My Becoming”: The Queer Resonance of Will Graham by Max Turner, are just a few of the pieces in this volume that explore this connection.
I should note that there is a heavy trans masculine lean to this anthology, although a couple of works dip into the more feminine side of the genderqueer spectrum (Florence by Q, for example, explores a genderfluid Hannibal). I don’t say this as a negative point, but to set an expectation for readers. Actually, I have long been frustrated with the lack of trans masculine representation and visibility in writing spaces, so this anthology was a very welcome surprise.
My personal favourite work in this was Petals by Jamie Sourweather, which wasn’t directly related to Hannibal but instead is fanfiction inspired by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy’s characters in Charlie Countryman (2013) and Adam (2009) respectively. It’s a lovely story about past love and reconnection after transition.
Overall, Adapt. Evolve. Become is a thoughtfully compiled and wonderfully realised anthology showcasing beautiful art, fiction, and personal stories from genderqueer people. It is by and for genderqueer Hannibal fans, but I recommend it to anyone looking to understand how and why we connect so strongly with not only this show, but with horror in general.
Review by Dai Baddley