7 Stories Up's Comic Book Club: An Evening with Mattie Lubchansky

Cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky sits down with NYPL Librarian Rachel Crook and 7 Stories Up's Comic Book Club to discuss her book Boys Weekend in preparation for her latest title, Simplicity.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 1st Floor, Corner Space.

Newly-out trans artist’s assistant Sammie is invited to an old friend’s bachelor weekend in El Campo, a hedonistic wonderland of a city floating in the Atlantic Ocean’s international waters—think Las Vegas with even fewer rules. Though they have not identified as a man for over a year, Sammie’s college buddies haven’t quite gotten the message—as evidenced by their formerly closest friend Adam asking them to be his “best man.”

Arriving at the swanky hotel, Sammie immediately questions their decision to come. Bad enough that they have to suffer through a torrent of passive-aggressive comments from the groom’s pals—all met with zero pushback from supposed “nice guy” Adam. But also, they seem to be the only one who’s noticed the mysterious cult that’s also staying at the hotel, and is ritually dismembering guests and demanding fealty to their bloodthirsty god.

Part satire, part horror, Boys Weekend explores what it’s like to exist as a transfemme person in a man’s world, the difficulty of maintaining friendships through transition, and the more cult-like effects of masculinity, “hustle” culture, and capitalism—all through the vibrant lens of a surreal, scary, and immensely imaginative romp.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mattie Lubchansky is a cartoonist and illustrator based in New York. She is the former Associate Editor of Ignatz and Eisner award-winning magazine and website The Nib. Her work has appeared in The Nib, VICE’s science fiction vertical Motherboard, Eater, Mad Magazine, Gothamist, The Toast, The Hairpin, Brooklyn Magazine, New York Magazine, Food and Wine, Current Affairs, and her long-running webcomic Please Listen to Me.

Mattie is the author of Simplicity (Pantheon, 2025), Boys Weekend (Pantheon, 2023), The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook (Silver Sprocket, 2021), the co-author of Dad Magazine (Quirk, 2016), author of Skeleton Party (self-published, 2016), , co-editor and contributor to The Nib’s anthology Be Gay Do Comics (IDW, 2020) , contributor to the Lambda Literary Award-winning anthology 2 Trans 2 Furious: An Extremely Serious Journal of Transgender Street Racing Studies (Girl Dad Press, 2023), and co-editor and contributor to the Eisner-nominated anthology Flash Forward: An Illustrated Guide to Possible (and Not So Possible) Tomorrows (Abrams, 2021). She was the Herblock Prize finalist in 2020.

GET THE BOOK

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• Place a hold on her newest book: NYPL Catalog


• This event will also include signing and sales of the book by our Library Shop.

Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Connor Goodwin at least 48 hours before the event: email connorgoodwin@nypl.org.

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY

The New York Public Library's free services and resources are made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Join this group of Library lovers and take advantage of special membership benefits, like invitations to members-only virtual events, discounts at the Library Shop, and more. Join now.

All programs are subject to change or cancellation. All programs are subject to recording and photography.

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).