My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf is a haunting and deeply personal graphic novel that takes readers into the early years of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer. Unlike many accounts that focus on Dahmer’s gruesome murders, Backderf’s graphic memoir gives readers a unique perspective by chronicling Dahmer’s troubled adolescence from the point of view of someone who knew him as a teenager. This depiction sheds light on the life of Dahmer before he became a monster, drawing attention to his psychological unraveling and the many warning signs that were missed along the way.
Backderf’s work is not just about Dahmer the killer but also about Dahmer the boy who struggled to fit in, suffered from neglect, and hid deep personal struggles behind a mask of awkward humor. The novel forces readers to consider the role that society, family, and peers may have played in Dahmer’s descent into the macabre. It paints a picture of a deeply lonely and disturbed young man whose gruesome future could have potentially been avoided.
Summary of My Friend Dahmer
My Friend Dahmer primarily takes place during Dahmer’s teenage years in the 1970s, focusing on his time at Revere High School in Bath, Ohio. Derf Backderf, a classmate of Dahmer, recounts the various interactions and observations he had with the future serial killer during their school days.
At the core of this graphic novel is a portrayal of Dahmer as a social outcast, someone who never quite fit in with the other students. From an early age, Dahmer exhibited strange behaviors that set him apart from his peers. Backderf depicts Dahmer as a boy who was already showing signs of deep psychological distress. His family life was dysfunctional, with his parents frequently arguing and eventually divorcing. The emotional neglect he suffered at home contributed to his growing sense of alienation.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the novel is Dahmer’s fascination with dead animals, which becomes a recurring theme throughout the story. As a teenager, Dahmer would collect roadkill and dissect the carcasses in a makeshift lab in the woods near his home. This morbid hobby foreshadowed the horrifying acts he would commit later in life. Despite these alarming behaviors, no one intervened to help him.
Backderf also explores Dahmer’s struggles with his burgeoning sexuality. At a time when homosexuality was less accepted and more stigmatized, Dahmer felt confused and ashamed of his sexual desires. His inability to express or understand his feelings further contributed to his growing isolation. The novel suggests that Dahmer’s repression and confusion over his sexuality, combined with his social awkwardness and home life, created a perfect storm of emotional turmoil.
In school, Dahmer was known for his bizarre antics, which earned him a reputation as a class clown of sorts. Backderf and his group of friends formed the “Dahmer Fan Club,” which, though it sounds playful, was rooted in the mockery of Dahmer’s strange behaviors. The novel portrays the group as somewhat complicit in encouraging Dahmer’s odd performances, not realizing the gravity of his inner struggles.
Dahmer’s growing alcoholism is another key theme of the novel. By the time he was in high school, Dahmer was drinking heavily and often came to school intoxicated. His drinking was another symptom of his escalating mental health issues, yet it was largely ignored by adults around him.
One of the most chilling moments in the novel comes toward the end when Backderf recounts an encounter between Dahmer and a hitchhiker named Steven Hicks. Unbeknownst to his classmates, Dahmer had already crossed the line from morbid fascination to murder. Hicks became Dahmer’s first victim shortly after they graduated from high school. Dahmer lured Hicks to his home, killed him, and dismembered his body. The novel leaves readers with the unsettling knowledge that, while everyone around Dahmer saw him as strange and troubled, no one realized the full extent of the darkness within him until it was too late.
Backderf’s portrayal of these early warning signs is both tragic and haunting. The novel makes it clear that Dahmer was deeply troubled long before he committed his first murder, and yet no one stepped in to offer him the help he desperately needed. Backderf himself reflects on this with a sense of guilt and regret, as he wonders whether things might have turned out differently if someone had intervened earlier in Dahmer’s life.
Themes in My Friend Dahmer
One of the most prominent themes in My Friend Dahmer is the question of nature versus nurture. Backderf doesn’t offer a definitive answer as to whether Dahmer was born a monster or made into one by his circumstances, but the novel clearly suggests that a combination of both factors played a role. Dahmer’s fascination with death and violence is portrayed as an innate part of his personality, but his alienation, neglect, and lack of support undoubtedly exacerbated his mental illness.
Another key theme is the failure of adults to recognize and address the warning signs in Dahmer’s behavior. Both his parents and teachers failed to see the red flags, and in some cases, they willfully ignored them. This failure is especially heartbreaking given how obvious some of these signs were in hindsight.
The novel also explores the cruelty and thoughtlessness of teenagers. Backderf acknowledges that he and his friends didn’t see Dahmer as a real person, but rather as an oddball to be ridiculed for their amusement. This dehumanization of Dahmer, while not directly responsible for his later actions, certainly contributed to his feelings of isolation and despair.
Lastly, the novel raises important questions about mental health and the lack of resources available to those who need them. Dahmer’s behavior should have raised alarms, but instead, it was dismissed as typical teenage angst or strangeness. The novel suggests that if Dahmer had received help earlier, his story—and the lives of his victims—might have been very different.
Graphic Art and Narrative Style
One of the most striking elements of My Friend Dahmer is Backderf’s distinctive art style. The graphic novel format allows Backderf to visually depict the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of Dahmer’s world. His drawings, while cartoonish, are detailed and expressive, capturing the emotional weight of the story. The art style, with its heavy lines and exaggerated facial expressions, enhances the dark tone of the narrative. Backderf also makes effective use of shadow and contrast, visually symbolizing Dahmer’s descent into darkness.
The narrative is straightforward and largely chronological, but Backderf occasionally interjects with his own reflections, adding depth to the story. His use of captions to provide context and insight into Dahmer’s behavior helps readers understand the complexity of Dahmer’s inner world, even as the graphic format makes the story accessible and engaging.
Backderf’s decision to tell the story from his own perspective adds a personal touch to the narrative. This isn’t just a story about Dahmer, but also a story about a group of teenagers who didn’t know how to deal with someone so profoundly different. Backderf’s feelings of guilt and regret permeate the text, making it clear that this is not just a recounting of past events, but a deeply personal reflection on the consequences of inaction.
Review of My Friend Dahmer
My Friend Dahmer is a harrowing and thought-provoking graphic novel that offers a unique perspective on the making of a serial killer. Derf Backderf’s intimate portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer’s teenage years is both disturbing and heartbreaking. The novel is not an attempt to excuse or justify Dahmer’s actions, but rather an exploration of the many factors that contributed to his descent into madness.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to evoke empathy for Dahmer without absolving him of responsibility. Backderf presents Dahmer as a deeply troubled individual who was failed by those around him. The graphic format allows for a visceral depiction of Dahmer’s isolation and mental unraveling, while Backderf’s reflective narrative voice adds emotional depth.
Critics have praised My Friend Dahmer for its nuanced portrayal of Dahmer’s early life and its refusal to sensationalize or exploit the tragedy. The novel is both a personal memoir and a social commentary, offering insight into the factors that can contribute to the creation of a killer. While the subject matter is undoubtedly dark, the novel is ultimately a call to action—to pay attention to the warning signs and to offer help to those who need it before it’s too late.
Read the Full Novel Here
My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel by Derf Backderf | Goodreads
About the Author
Derf Backderf is an American cartoonist and graphic novelist best known for My Friend Dahmer. Born in Ohio, Backderf attended high school with Jeffrey Dahmer, which provided the inspiration for his graphic memoir. He began his career as a political cartoonist and is known for his distinctive, darkly humorous art style. Backderf has received widespread acclaim for his work, particularly for his ability to tackle difficult and controversial subjects with sensitivity and insight. In addition to My Friend Dahmer, he has published other graphic novels, including Trashed, which focuses on the grim realities of working as a garbage collector.
