by Saily Marrero CONTENT ADVISORY Because of the nature of the crimes discussed in this book, this graphic novel should be for mature readers only. Contents include, but are not limited to grave robbing, murder, abuse of all kinds, necrophilia, nudity, and more. The opening page of Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? begins with the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking 1960 film, Psycho, a film inspired by Gein’s horrific crimes. From the start, readers can see the impact of Ed Gein, whose crimes continued on to inspire other films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and The… Read More
Feeding Ghosts – A Graphic Memoir
by Melanie Anspacher Tessa Hulls’ 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Feeding Ghosts, is nothing short of extraordinary. Meticulously researched and created by the author over nearly a decade and filled with beautifully detailed etching-like illustrations that richly cover each page, this work tells not one but many stories that span three generations and as many continents. At the heart of the memoir is Hulls’ grandmother Sun Yi’s severe mental illness and the devastating impact it has on generations of her family. It is told through the emotional and physical journey Hulls takes with her mother, Rose, to piece together and comprehend… Read More
Traces of Madness – A Graphic Memoir
by Karol Kovalovich Weaver Content Advisory: this review and book contains self-harm. The crisis Lifeline number in the U.S. and Canada is 988, in the U.K. it’s 999; and for elsewhere go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines. Traces of Madness: A Graphic Memoir, written by Fernando Balius, illustrated by Mario Pellejer, and translated from Spanish by Richard Beevor and Mailén Sganga, depicts the experiences of the author, who hears voices and undergoes other physical, sensory, psychological, and personal issues associated with psychotic episodes. The author describes how life circumstances and the world in which people live impact voice hearing (understood medically as… Read More
The Parakeet
by Liz Argall Content warning: this book contains attempted and completed suicide, teeth injuries, mental health institutions, physical restriction and electro convulsive therapy. The crisis Lifeline number in the U.S. and Canada is 988, in the U.K. it’s 999; and for elsewhere go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines. The Parakeet is done in a way that contains vivid images and use of color at times, but it is profoundly humanizing and fundamentally tender in its gaze. Summary Espé (pen name pen name of Sébastien Porte if you’re struggling to find him on the internet) published Le Perroquet in 2017 and I applaud… Read More
Whatever Happened to Frankie King
by Kevin Wolf Content Advisory: suicidal concerns; in United States and Canada crisis phone line is 988, UK 999, other countries: website for phone numbers) Becoming known to a wider audience when one would rather remain unknown—except among immediate family and friends—if it happens at all, usually occurs after death … the only true afterlife that I believe in. This resurrection can be beneficial when the rest of us are given the truth without distortion. Though I’m no expert on whether all the hyperbole around Frankie King’s basketball skill is deserving, I do know that those who die young are… Read More
Armed With Madness – The Surreal Leonora Carrington
awaiting review
Viewotron Issue Two
A Powerful Portrait of Psychosis guest review by Eric J. Keller, MD/MA candidate, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Viewotron offers a powerful image of not only a devastating mental illness but the toll that such an illness can have on those who care for them. Sam Sharpie’s graphic novel would be a valuable asset to any family member seeking to better understand his/her relationship with a loved one struggling with a psychotic disorder. Whether as an educational experience or safe place to commiserate though a shared experience, I think this short piece is well worth the read. I would… Read More
New Podcast: Graphic Pathographies
Use the Quicktime player above to view images along with the audio. If you don’t have Quicktime, you can listen to the audio-only version below. This wonderful panel, moderated by Michael Green, presents the creators of three unique and insightful graphic pathographies. Jenny Lin is a visual artist based in Montreal. She has created experimental narrative-based works in the formats of 2-D print, artist books, video and site-specific installation. She recently worked as a medical illustrator at McGill University and she currently teaches at Concordia University in the Print Media program. www.jenny-lin.ca. She writes of her presentation, In my presentation, Skinny… Read More
Family Fun
A couple of months ago I heard a talk given by a comics artist who goes under the name of Una. One of her projects is a comic about dealing with psychosis in a relative, including being with them while they undergo the process of being detained under the mental health act. The series is in development and will be launched as a comic book at an exhibition in Leeds in February http://www.leeds-artexhibitions.co.uk Here is a sneak preview: