Graphic Memoirs Exploring Physical and Mental Health Struggles

Graphic Memoirs Exploring Physical and Mental Health Struggles

This article relates to Something, Not Nothing

In her graphic memoir Something, Not Nothing, cartoonist Sarah Leavitt chronicles her partner's declining health, her eventual death, and the immense grief that followed. The medium of graphic memoir—in which the author documents their experiences using a combination of text and artwork—can be particularly powerful when used to explore health struggles, be they physical or mental. Accessible and immersive, the form inherently explores the possibility of art as a means to process and represent pain.

Below are a few other examples of graphic memoirs with a focus on health.

The Hospital Suite by John Porcellino
After surgery to remove a tumor from his small intestine, Porcellino suffered a number of health complications, which in turn exacerbated his underlying anxiety and OCD. In this collection, he reflects on his struggles and experiences with the medical system.

Marbles by Ellen Forney
On the cusp of turning thirty, Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Marbles explores the "crazy artist" archetype, and Forney's years-long fight to balance her manic episodes with her creativity.

Numb to This by Kindra Neely
A survivor of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in 2015, Neely reflects on the reality of life with PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Feelings by Manjit Thapp
In this contemplative work, Thapp considers the ebbs and flows of her mood and anxiety as the seasons change throughout the year.

Coma by Zara Slattery
Coma documents the fifteen days Slattery spent in an induced coma—and the hallucinogenic nightmares she experienced throughout—after she contracted a life-threatening bacterial infection.

Filed under Books and Authors

This article relates to Something, Not Nothing. It first ran in the October 16, 2024 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.