About November 2022

Dec09
by on December 9, 2022 at 1:04 pm

A series of journal comics: ON THREE YEARS A four panel comic. In the first panel, Emily and Em are in the kitchen, laughing. The stove-top has pots and pans on it and Emily holds a cocktail shaker, clearly preparing dinner and drinks. The narration begins: "This is home." In the second panel, the scene shifts: we're now at a bar top, and Emily is chatting animatedly with a friend. "Three years ago," the narration continues, "I wasn't sure I'd ever say that." In the third panel, the scene has moved once more: we're looking out over Lake Michigan, Emily and Kelly with their backs to the camera. People walk by, boats and buoys are on the lake, there's even people swimming. Emily and Kelly quietly chat. The narration continues: "But I've grown--from a visitor, a stranger, to someone who can say with my whole chest--" In the fourth panel, the camera spins so that we see Emily head-on, her arms outstretched, smiling and crying as she says, "This is home. I'm home." ON COMMUNITY An eight panel comic. In the first panel, we see a hand holding a phone, the thumb shaking as it moves toward a notification badge visible on the screen. The narration begins as a part of the screen itself: "Even if I knew down to the second--I can't quantify the amount of time I've spent wondering if I would ever find the larger sense of community I've been seeking." In the second panel, a message is open on the screen: a Dropbox link, indicating an MP3 labeled "For Emily." A thank you message underneath is obscured by a prompt to open the link, which a finger taps. The narration continues: "And so--" In the third panel, we zoom out, and see Emily standing among small trees with corporate buildings behind her. She's holding the phone and clicks play while muttering, "I swear to God if this makes me cry--" as the narration continues: "It is a wondrous thing--" In the fourth panel, Emily walks while the audio message plays in her earbuds. In the fifth panel, we zoom in on Emily listening to the audio message. She smiles softly, with tears welling up in her eyes as she lets out a tiny "heh." In the sixth panel, the audio finishes. Emily's expression changes to one of shock and pause. In the seventh panel, we zoom back in on Emily's hands holding her phone. The audio message is up, though ended. Emily's tiny "oh." floats in from off panel. The narration picks back up: "To have someone say, so simply--" In the eigth panel, Emily clutches the phone to her chest, eyes closed, crying, smiling. Another "oh" escapes from her as the narration concludes, "That you've been a part of one all along." ON AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMIC ARTIST A four panel comic. In the first panel, Emily stands, glasses off, her hand pressing into her cheek, just below her eye. The narration begins: “Perhaps I’ve become so protective of my identity because before, I gave it away so easily.” In the second panel, we zoom in on her fingers pressing into her skin, seemingly pushing it around. The narration continues: “Molded myself like clay into the most agreeable, most helpful shapes.” In the third panel, Emily now stands against a black background, her hand now over her chest. Streams of light pour from between her fingers, breaking up the void. She continues: “But now I’m my shape, wholly, loudly. And it’s terrifying.” In the last panel, small stars sit in the center of a black void, the same streams of light emitting from them. “And yet—“ the narration concludes, “it is more joyous than anything I knew before.” ON BLOOD CAPSULES A four panel comic. In the first panel, a skull is attached to a neck, with zigzag lines emitting from the jaw. The narration begins: "I've been holding onto so much more anger lately. I feel it in my body." In the second panel, in silhouette, a figure pushes a large boulder up a hill, deep underground. The narration continues: "The Sisyphus metaphor is played, but I wonder if he resented it all--and yet still pushed, time and time again." In the third panel, we zoom in on hands, so small, holding up the boulder, which cannot even be contained by the panel. "Maybe that's all you can do in the face of circumstances to large to change on your own," the narration continues. In the fourth panel, Emily stands in profile, her hand raised and softly resting on her jaw, her expression one of discomfort. "But the anger still has to go somewhere," the narration concludes.

Thanks as always for reading.

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