“I never wanted to be someone just working for attention or praise, I’m just trying to put it all in order. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s serious, but it’s always me.” In a market saturated with graphic memoirs about early adulthood and finding oneself, it’s unusual to find one that feels genuinely original. Rarer still…
REVIEW: Redemption and Revenge Ring True in Darlin’ and Her Other Names
Two guides are hired to lead a hunting party. Black and white artwork marries a short narrative of some privileged yet unfortunate souls, with a surprising supernatural twist at the end that stayed in my brain years later. The first version of this supernatural western comic, titled simply Darlin’, was created by Olivia Stephens back…
REVIEW: Childhood Agency and Literary Freedom Break Free in Occulted
I am always checking for new graphic novels from Iron Circus Comics, one of my favorite publishers in the game who consistently bring strange and amazing comics and more. This recent release offers an eyebrow raising yet intriguing premise: it is a graphic memoir of cult survivor Amy Rose’s childhood in the late 90’s. Occulted…
REVIEW: Yennefer’s Body is an Emotional Blend of Horror and Autobio
I first reviewed Andi Santagata’s work in 2016 – seven years ago, which feels impossible but that is how time works. Those early issues of Trans Man Walking were all autobio, although looking back now I see the tendrils of horror working their way in. It’s honestly not subtle – the first issue’s cover features…
INTERVIEW: Tracy White Illuminates the Saga of Asylum-Seeking Teens in Unaccompanied
In Unaccompanied: Brave Stories of Teenagers Seeking Asylum, cartoonist Tracy White presents stories of migrant teens reaching the United States without parents, and going through the legal process of pleading their asylum cases here. Varied and harrowing, these stories illuminate the terrible situations these kids flee, and the system they need to navigate on arrival….
REVIEW: Sugar & Other Stories is a Brilliant Showcase of Joy San’s Horror Comics
In Sugar & Other Stories, Joy San delivers seven deftly illustrated horror comics that will make readers shiver, gasp, and carry each image into their nightmares. Whether it’s a morning headache that could simply disrupt a young student’s day, a reflection on what it means to be a “good girl,” or a long-desired beautiful smile,…
REVIEW: Polyamory Comics is a Sweet Reflection on Poly Life
If you’re looking for a comic that examines day-to-day relationship realness, Sara Valta’s got you with Polyamory Comics. This sweet and funny collection of short autobio comic strips offers a glimpse into Valta’s life with her boyfriend and his boyfriend, their dreams for their life together, and her adventures in polyamorous dating and self-discovery.
REVIEW: Jade Street Protection Services & The Commodification of Magical Girls
One thing I love about Jade Street Protection Services is how much it emphasizes that all girls are magic. Some have more sparkles than others, and some move about the world differently, but they’re all championed as magical. And while the essence of this story is very rooted in the history of mahō shōjo manga…
INTERVIEW: Alex de Campi on Reversal
Reversal by Alex de Campi (writing and letters), Skylar Patridge (inks) and Kelly Fitzpatrick (colors) launched on Webtoon in March 2022. The urban-fantasy webcomic, following a middle schooler with chronic pain and her family’s struggles to deal with the violent aftereffects of magic suddenly returning to the ordinary world. Writer Alex de Campi answered WWAC’s…
INTERVIEW: Exaheva Talks Interactive Storytelling and Queerness in Still Heroes
Brussels-based artist Exaheva recently released her interactive digital comic Still Heroes, a tender story of self-discovery that experiments with reader agency in visual storytelling. Readers follow main character Emeline’s struggles after her superhero group suddenly disbands and she finds herself lost for direction. Though seemingly a superhero narrative, Still Heroes touches on intimate experiences with…
The Cartoonist Cooperative Want to Disrupt Predatory Publishing Practices
In case you didn’t realize, we really love comics here at WWAC. But often the sequential art that we love is born out of an industry that is flawed at best and exploitative at worst. It’s why we’re always excited to see creators coming together to forge brave new ways to share their work. The…
WWACommendations: I Think Our Son is Gay, Demon Days, Shubeik Lubeik and More
Well hello there! I don’t know about you, but my January felt like it was a thousand years long. Regardless of how your year kicked off, we’ve made it to the end of February, which means WWACommendations is back with new recommendations just for you! This month we’ve got an interesting mix of indie/small press…