‘The world is plagued by madness. With leaders bent on insane policies and too many citizens locked in crippling depression, normality seems elusive and questionable. Part travelogue, part indictment of mad medicine, Depresso is Tom Freeman’s hilarious journey through the vagaries of the system to emerged scathed but content with being ‘bonkers’. The story unfolds over several years, in China and the UK, during which anti-depressants reduce Tom to a zombie and alternative therapies drive him to comic re-examinations of his life, his work and relationships.’ Ian’s review ‘Brick’ is the nom de plume of John Stuart Clark, who has… Read More
Sonia’s Feeling Sad (Books Beyond Words)
awaiting GM review Amazon blurb: ‘In the Books Beyond Words series the stories are told through pictures only. They are for adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities, but are useful for anyone with communication difficulties. Sonia is a young woman with learning disabilities. She is very sad and avoids her friends and family. At home, she unhappily retires to bed. Sonia’s GP (family doctor) says that she is depressed and suggests that she see a therapist. Regular visits to the therapist help Sonia to feel better, and we see that she starts to enjoy life again. There is text at the… Read More
Ron’s Feeling Blue (Books Beyond Words) [Paperback]
Awaiting GM review Amazon blurb: ‘In the Books Beyond Words series the stories are told through pictures only. They are for adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities, but are useful for anyone with communication difficulties. Ron, a young man with learning disabilities, has lost interest in the things he usually enjoys – even eating and watching television. He doesn’t want to see his friends or take part in any activities. He stays in bed and gets angry when his friends try to talk to him and bring him food. His GP (family doctor) visits and diagnoses Ron with depression. Ron sees… Read More
Hyperbole and A Half
Artist Allie Brasch created her site hyperbole and a half to host her webcomics. On this site you will find the following insightful and often hilarious medically-themed comics: A Better Pain Scale Adventures in Depression
Too Blue
Awaiting review. Want to write a review for us? Neil Phillips is a psychiatrist and cartoonist. He publishes illustrated, cartoon books on mental health. He started off illustrating childrens books, then illustrated one for a fellow psychiatrist on the subject of OCD, and from these beginnings Shrink Rap press grew and has now put out 6 books.
Prozacville
Prozacville is a cartoon about existential discomfort starring a cast of walking-talking Prozac pills. Dark acidic and unorthodox, it raises awkward questions about culture, mental health and society.
Years of the Elephant
Willy Linthout’s only son, Sam, commited suicide in 2004. This remarkable, poignant work follows Linthout’s thinly disguised avatar, Charles Germonprez, through the awful months and years of grief following that tragic event. The lines between reality and fiction, perception and fantasy are blurred as Charles struggles to carry on living without his son, Jack. His wife is present in the strory only as an ‘off screen’ voice, emphasizing the developing gulf between the two bereaved parents, who are trying to cope in their own different ways, their marriage heading towards breakdown. Jack becomes a real presence as the silent, yet… Read More
The Alcoholic
I am constantly astounded, and somewhat delighted by, certain authors urge, or need, to expose the most embarrassing and intimate details of their chaotic lives to the scrutiny of their peers and public. Saturated with self loathing, Ames chronicles his bowel problems, sexual ineptitude, ambivalent preferences and progressive hair loss in this superb graphic yarn. Young ‘Jonathan A’ is in love with the idea of being a writer and dreams of living the archetypal life of his literary heroes: hard drinking, drug snorting and sexually promiscuous, but soul is also peppered with a generous dose of anxiety. A classic formula… Read More
Mother, Come Home
This is a beautiful book. The whole work is understated and subdued, from the cover to the promotional artwork at the end. An atmosphere of Ware-eque melancholy pervades it, the graphics are all somber colours and clear line style. A father and son struggle to come to terms with the death of the mother, an event that has plunged the father into a deep depression. As only children or oldest siblings are want to do, Thomas, the seven year old son feels great responsibility for much of what goes on, assigning himself a commanding and caring role. He has appointed… Read More
It’s a Bird…
Steve is a comic book writer who doesn’t like comics. He’s a bit of a grump and his life is not going well. His father has disappeared and his relationship with his partner Lisa is strained. He’s just been offered one of the most sought after jobs in the industry- the chance to write Superman but he’s thinking of turning it down. Steve’s family have a secret. His maternal grandmother died of Huntingdons Disease, a genetic movement disorder that comes on in middle age and is fatal after years of slow deterioration. There is no cure for it and it… Read More