ON LATE A four panel comic rendered in magenta and green. In the first panel, Emily curls up under her bed duvet, plushies surrounding her, and her thumping heart audible. The narration begins: “despite my best efforts, winter seeps in.” In the second panel, Emily retreats further under the covers as her thumping heart grows louder. The narration continues: “asking the quiet of night if I can truly handle this.” In the third panel, we shift to a scene of Emily attempting to keep her head above water against a huge wave. Her thudding heart echoes in the background and the narration continues: “if I can manage the change barreling down on me, an unstoppable force versus an incredible moveable object.” In the fourth panel, Emily jolts up in her bed, gasping, her heart quieter again. The narration concludes: “or what will be left of me in its wake.” -- ON HALF DEAD A four panel comic, rendered in green and pink. In the first panel, Emily sits on a couch, work laptop on her lap as she looks at her phone, beeping with a message: “hey [blank] tested positive for COVID.” Emily reacts out loud “oh fuckin’ Christ.” The narration begins: “how has it been despite the ongoing pandemic.” In the second panel, Emily sits at a table, head in her hands as she looks at her phone, despondent. The narration continues: “despite the continued genocide of Palestinians, and the murder of trans kids, and—“ In the third panel, Emily takes a walk next to the river, looking stressed. She’s dressed lightly, only in a hoodie as a coat. The narration continues: “despite the dread of a 60 degree day in February, despite the wrongness that has sunk deep into your bones, despite, despite, despite—“ In the fourth panel, Emily sits on the couch again, back to the camera, slouched over as she talks on the phone. The narration concludes: “what are you holding on to—despite it all?”

Hey folks! I’m in the midst of prep for CAKE (which I’m tabling at, June 28 and 29 at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, IL) so I’ll be updating the SV site every week with backlogged About comics[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…