Graphic Medicine and Other Media

Dana Walrath’s approach to memoir is unique in that she blends multiple forms—the personal essay, drawings, and collage. This approach offers the equivalent of memory snapshots from different perspectives, emphasizing the value of appreciating each moment rather than adhering to the traditional narrative structure of beginning, middle, and end. Aliceheimer's reflects the fragmented nature of memory that is often part of the experience of Alzheimer’s disease, presenting end-of-life care in a compassionate and ultimately comforting way. -- Mita Mahato, University of Puget Sound

In many ways, Bechdel's memoir about her relationship with her mother serves as a companion to Fun Home. It offers deeper insights into Bechdel's psychotherapy journey, externalizes her process, and extensively reflects on Freudian development theories.

At War with Yourself offers an innovative and accessible approach to educating individuals affected by PTSD, their families, and those who may be at risk, about the experiences and impacts of PTSD. This short, cartoon-format book communicates these important messages in an engaging, unique, and concise manner, and I highly recommend it. -- Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes, Military and Veteran Psychologist and Trauma Specialist

Skillfully told, relentlessly honest, often humorous, and deeply insightful, this is courageous work. It challenges the myth that doctors are—or should be expected to be—above the rest of humanity. This book should be read by every student and practicing professional, as well as by anyone interested in the human side of medicine. Ian Williams is my hero, and I would be fortunate to have him as my doctor. -- David Small, author of Stitches

Bui's powerful graphic novel is both a memoir and a family history. In the 1970s, her parents fled South Vietnam with their children, carrying the profound pain of forced migration that would shape their lives for generations. Bui grapples with this inherited trauma as she navigates motherhood. This book is an essential read for those seeking to understand better the experiences of refugee communities and the rich cultural heritage of Vietnamese Americans.

This deeply moving and unique memoir explores a grief unlike any other: the loss of a child. Going beyond common clichés about mourning, it is profoundly heartbreaking, unsettling, and unexpectedly humorous. The reader will both laugh and cry as Streeten offers profound insights on loss that surpass the conventional wisdom found in standard texts on grief. A brilliantly original book that merits a wide and diverse readership. -- Darian Leader

Peeters' book offers a deeply tender and honest exploration of falling in love and committing to a partner living with HIV. After Frederik falls for Cati, she shares her HIV status with him. Together, they navigate challenging decisions, including the emotional impact of medical visits, the careful management of health risks, and the well-being of Cati's son, who is also living with HIV.

Roz Chast's critically acclaimed memoir reflects on the years spent caring for her aging parents, their physical and mental declines, and ultimately, their deaths. It is candid and empathetic, offering a deeply human perspective without sentimentality. This book provides valuable insight for anyone who has experienced or will experience, the challenges of caring for aging loved ones or facing mortality in our society.

At 43, and a mother to a 4-year-old, Engelberg was diagnosed with breast cancer. She quickly underwent surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, only for the cancer to later spread to her brain. Throughout her journey, she lost her hair, gained weight despite the treatments, lost interest in sex, and struggled with the emotional toll of her diagnosis. She found comfort in joining support groups where she forged new friendships and grappled with questions about what she could have done to prevent or cause her illness. Early on, Engelberg chose to document her experience through comics—simple but focused. Each comic, ranging from one to six pages, highlights a specific aspect of her journey, such as an imaginary 'Cancer Channel' or an infomercial for metastasis. Her quirky sense of humor, never mean-spirited, provides a unique perspective that resonates particularly with fellow cancer patients, offering a form of solidarity and insight. -- Ray Olson

Marisa, a single woman facing a life-changing diagnosis, meets her partner, Silvano, owner of the downtown restaurant Da Silvano. Three weeks before their wedding, she receives her diagnosis. She wonders: How will he react to this news? How will my world change? Will I even survive? And... what about my hair? In vivid color and with a taboo-breaking sense of humor, Marisa Acocella Marchetto tells the story of her eleven-month, ultimately triumphant healing journey with breast cancer -- from diagnosis to recovery and every challenging step in between.

"An awful lot of fun as it makes science into an action manga... Far more entertaining than it ought to be." -Anime News Network

This gem of a graphic novel is a case study of one year in therapy. The reader is privy to the thoughts of both Pat (the psychotherapist) and James (the client). The effect is a crystal-clear snapshot of how therapy works and how therapy is a collaborative process.

Signature Wound: Rocking TBI completes a trilogy of Doonesbury books that examines the impact of combat on American soldiers in Iraq. A twist of fate brings B. D. to the bedside of SFC Leo Deluca (a.k.a. Toggle), a young HUMV driver and music enthusiast whose love of loud battle music had distracted him enough to get his vehicle blown up. Missing an eye and suffering from aphasia, Toggle fights to recover from traumatic brain injury (TBI), a journey of healing that brings out the best in B. D., his former commander. Toggle's tattooed, music-loving mom initially has reservations about his unexpected Facebook romance with an MIT tech enthusiast, Alex, but love blossoms. As this engaging story unfolds, Toggle finds himself drawn toward a career in the recording industry, undaunted by the challenges of his "New Normal" that now defines his life. [Multiple copies available for book discussions!]

On a road outside Fallujah, an RPG blows apart a Humvee and upends the life of a former football star. As a medevac chopper swoops down, the wounded Guardsman hears, "Not your time, bro. Not today," and his remarkable healing journey begins... Deprived not only of a leg but also his signature helmet, B.D. survives initial triage in Baghdad, evacuation to Landstuhl's surgeon-rich environment, and visits by numerous morale-boosting figures from various backgrounds. He's awed in turn by morphine, no-nonsense nurses, his fellow patients, and his family, including the daughter who offers support, one aspirin at a time.

As this powerful sequel shows, the "war within" can be a long and lonely struggle, hardly the life of a "heroic amputee" imagined by his daughter's classmate. With his coaching job at Walden re-secured and the marathon PT sessions paying off, B.D.'s return to normalcy seems to be progressing well. But those who care about him see troubling signs. First, there's the altercation with a military police officer. Then, there's the daily breakfast of beer, a topic not open for discussion even with a well-meaning friend like Mike Doonesbury. And "the screaming at night isn't very festive," Boopsie notes. As B.D. admits to his doctor, "I'd rather sleep with my weapon than with my spouse! How messed up is that?"

From the same team that created Oh Joy Sex Toy, this is a distilled collection of essential sex education concepts, updated for adults. It covers important topics (consent, sex positivity), safe sex, the mechanics of different sexual activities, and self-pleasure.

Cece, the main character, transitions from a specialized school for students with hearing loss to a public school, where she feels self-conscious about her Phonic Ear -- a heartwarming and humorous story about navigating new experiences and embracing one's unique strengths.

David B... spent an idyllic early childhood playing with the neighborhood kids and his older brother, Jean-Christophe, teaming up to tease his younger sister, Florence. But their lives changed abruptly when Jean-Christophe developed epilepsy at age eleven. In search of a cure, their parents took the family to acupuncturists, magnetic therapists, mediums, and macrobiotic communes. But every new treatment ended in disappointment as Jean-Christophe, after brief periods of remission, would only get worse. Angry at his brother for distancing himself and at all the practitioners who offered them false hope, Pierre-François learned to cope by drawing fantastically elaborate battle scenes, creating images that provide a fascinating window into his inner world. An honest and challenging portrait of the disease and the pain and fear it caused the family, Epileptic is also a moving depiction of one family's complex history.

On October 9, 2017, artist Brian Fries and his wife had just minutes’ notice that California’s Calistoga Fire was approaching their home. They packed their pets, important documents, and their grown daughters’ favorite stuffed animals. They survived, but their two-story home was reduced to two feet of ash. This is an insightful read for anyone interested in trauma care or those looking to understand what helps—and what doesn’t—in the aftermath of disaster.

In this widely lauded memoir, Alison Bechdel begins with the end, recounting her father’s death by suicide. In thoughtful detail, Bechdel reflects on how her father’s hidden life impacted their entire family, even before she knew his truth. Along the way, she grapples with her own sexual identity and the legacy of English Literature.

A unique blend of medical education and graphic illustration, Graphic Guide to Infectious Diseases uses memorable artwork and engaging text to provide an effective way to enhance your understanding of complex medical conditions and diseases. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Brian Kloss and illustrator Travis Bruce use pop culture references, nostalgia, and humor to bridge the gap between challenging microbiology concepts and clinical knowledge of infectious diseases.

Graphic Medicine Manifesto draws its strength from the way individual voices come together to highlight not only the ability of comics to explore medical culture and the educational potential of graphic medicine, but also the transformative and community-building power of graphic pathographies. In short, Graphic Medicine Manifesto is an essential read for scholars in comics studies, cultural studies, medical humanities, bicultural studies, visual studies, and for any reader who values the intersection of literature and medicine. -- Sathyaraj Venkatesan, Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics

Using both textual and visual methods, Graphic Reproduction not only documents reproduction in innovative ways but also introduces new conceptualizations of the broad range of activities, behaviors, and experiences within the concept of ‘reproduction.’ This is a valuable contribution to the humanities, health and medicine, and reproductive studies. -- Erin Heidt-Forsythe, Penn State University

The story both highlights the importance of therapy and shows a child developing effective coping strategies for anxiety in a way that will reassure and inspire readers.

Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the widely popular Jedi Academy and Lunch Lady series, was a national book award finalist for this graphic memoir. Krosoczka was a young child when his mother, who struggled with substance use, gave up custody to her parents. The book follows his life as a child and young adult, illustrating how addiction affects entire families and how that legacy impacts its survivors over time.

This concise book, by Matthew Inman, the creator of the webcomic The Oatmeal, directly addresses how we talk about happiness. It asserts that seeking meaning in life is just as valid as pursuing more conventional ideas of happiness.

If you've been online, you've likely seen an illustration by the widely recognized Allie Brosh. With vibrant and humorous MS Paint illustrations, Brosh covers various topics, from her pets (simple dog and helper dog) to her experiences with anxiety and depression.

Ink in Water is the candid and powerful story of how young punk feminist Lacy Davis reclaimed her life from the grip of an eating disorder. Artist Jim Kettner brings each page to life with rich gray tones, beautiful compositions, and vivid characters. I recommend this to anyone who has a body. It is a brave, beautiful, and important book. --Nicole J. Georges, author of the graphic novels Calling Dr. Laura and Fetch

Set in a Welsh genitourinary practice, this addition to the Graphic Medicine series follows Dr. Lois Pritchard. Dr. Pritchard, a smoker, encourages her patients to quit, while her patients suggest she try psychedelic mushrooms. Meanwhile, her estranged mother is asking for a piece of her liver. A compelling and complex narrative.

Dennis Ouyang’s path, as envisioned by his late father, a Chinese immigrant, is to become a gastroenterologist... This is an excellent book about the challenges of becoming a doctor, the pressures families can place on students, and the difficulty of staying on course while maintaining a sense of self. [Multiple copies available for book discussions!]

From the outside, eating disorders can seem confusing, frustrating, and misunderstood. However, they are the most lethal of psychiatric disorders, with a mortality rate four times higher than that of major depressive disorder. Katie Green writes and illustrates her personal story in a way that resonates with readers, even those without firsthand experience.

Follow along in The Manga Guide to Biochemistry as Kumi explores the mysteries of her body's inner workings. With the help of RoboCat, the professor's friendly endoscopic robot, you'll discover the incredible chemical machinery that sustains life and get an up-close look at biopolymers like DNA and proteins, the metabolic processes that convert food into energy, and the enzymes that drive our bodies' chemical reactions.

Doctors treating Bipolar Type I may see their patients for an hour every month if they’re fortunate. This is a book about what happens during the rest of the time. Forney also addresses the dilemmas that many patients face at some point: Am I still myself on mood stabilizers? Are my medications affecting my personality? My creativity? Why does it take years to find a treatment plan that works?

A collection of 260 witty and humorous cartoons depicting the lighter aspects of medicine.

Most of us carry some form of mental load—related to our work, household responsibilities, financial obligations, and personal life. However, how this burden is distributed within households and understood in workplaces is not always balanced or fair. In her strips, Emma addresses themes ranging from maternity leave (it is not a vacation!), domestic violence, body autonomy, the impact of the medical system on women during childbirth, and other related issues, doing so in a straightforward way that is both humorous and deeply serious.

Fies began sketching shortly after his mother's diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer, which had already spread to her brain. A thoughtful narrative follows about doctor-patient relationships, the painful uncertainty of treatment, and family dynamics. The clarity of Fies' ilFies'ations mirrors his understanding of what is happening to him, his mother, and his family.

This remarkable collaboration between Dr. Hana Roš (and few things are more fascinating to me than a neuroscientist) and neuroscience PhD-turned-illustrator Dr. Matteo Farinella, with support from the Wellcome Trust, explains the inner workings of the brain through delightful and illuminating black-and-white illustrations, covering everything from perception and hallucinations to memory and emotional recall to consciousness and the difference between the mind and the brain. --Brain Pickings

[Starred Review] The sketchy, loose illustrations lack realism but are full of emotion, which helps soften the serious topic. The abundant text, personal and reflective, offers explanations. Hayes also provides quiet spreads that invite moments for reflection. ... As the subtitle suggests, that 'handbook' could be a helpful companion for individuals in similar situations, full of reminders to keep breathing, stay calm, reach out to a friend, and what to expect. ... For readers who are open, curious, or seeking guidancit'st’s deeply empathetic, uniquely unflinching, and unlike any other book on the subject, especially with its gentle presentation. --Annie Bostrom, Booklist

If you've ever wished for accessible and informative sex education for adults, Oh Joy Sex Toy is for you. The wife and husband team, Erika and Matthew, create medically accurate, sex-positive, body-positive comics covering various topics. Whether you're wondering how to explain a concept, how to approach sensitive subjects appropriately, or looking for unbiased reviews of books and products, this series has you covered.

Vol. 2 includes more product reviews, informative health content, and exploring why Fifty Shades of Grey is problematic. (Hint: It’s due to the portrayal of unhealthy relationships.)

Vol. 3 includes information on UTIs, HPV, hook-up apps, and the neurology of orgasm.

Vol. 4 includes pelvic exams, kink etiquette, and how to have difficult conversations with your partner.

Cunningham's excellent book was inspired by the years he worked on a hospital psychiatric ward. His drawing style is extremely versatile, moving easily between cartoon like depictions and detailed line drawings of patients. One particularly affecting chapter is on a man with anti-social personality disorder, including Cunningham's depiction of the patient's remote and shifting eyes.

This book succeeds in making its complex subject matter accessible to nonacademic audiences while challenging assumptions and preconceptions about sexuality, race, class, and the concept of "normal." Former undergraduates may wish they had such resources when navigating this challenging material. — Library Journal

This is a unique and excellent book aimed not at families or providers, but the people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Forney, after all, has been living with it for years. Her book is frank, accurate, and reflects best psychiatric practices and the real day-to-day reality of living with a profound brain disorder.

“Tom Hart's black-and-white "RL,"... recounts the loss of his 2-year-old daughter Rosalie by building a hill of fragile, elegantly drawn memories around it. It's a bleak and devastating work that shows comics' ability to convey emotion as effectively as any short fiction or literature.” ―Denver Post
"Anyone coping with such loss―meaning a vast readership―will find Hart’s expression of pain and heartache to be entirely understandable and entirely appropriate. A bracing, deeply saddening journey into death and loss whose wryly resolution, 'joy breaking through the storm clouds,' is nothing but hard won." ―Kirkus Reviews

After being diagnosed early with Bipolar Type I at age nineteen, Rachel Lindsay adjusted her whole life around one principle: Staying Sane. In this memoir, she tries to communicate her experience and consuming frustration with a system that only sees her as her diagnosis, even when she's an absolutely compliant patient. Hospitalized during a manic episode, she rages against the feeling of being isolated, without allies. "It's easier to be angry than sad. That first morning, I awoke into a nightmare that had less to do with my surroundings than the complete failure of the system I had been led to believe would protect me from this fate."

"...incredibly informative and obviously expertly presented. Its two young creators --- she earned her Ph.D. in 2007, he obtained his in 2013 --- lend expertise and authenticity to the project, which was no doubt a labor of love for them both. The comics format allows them to have a great deal of fun with the material, which is enjoyable for the reader as such heady topics as "Is my mind something else than the brain? Or is the mind just a product of my brain?" are covered. If you’re at all interested in the question of what makes you truly you, this is the comic to help you better understand both the answer and the question."
—Graphic Novel Reporter

A diverse cast of cartoon kids—in terms of appearance, ability, and perspective—explore the multiple meanings of the word sex with their teacher, friends, and family members. There is a heavy emphasis on the importance of thinking for oneself and developing one's own opinions. The language is conversational and accessible, as well as direct, fastidiously accurate, and entirely neutral. Each section ends with conversation-provoking questions, reinforcing the suggestion that the book be read and shared in conversation with a trusted adult. What makes this volume exceptional is its introduction of the subjects of identity, intersex conditions, and masturbation. The high-quality text is enhanced and brought to life by comics drawn with bold lines on bright, full-bleed pages. Smyth's illustrations are interactive, fun, and educational, presenting a range of body types. Despite the title, the topic of sexual intercourse is not covered, but Silverberg prepares readers for this information by introducing concepts such as respect, trust, and joy. This book is exciting, enlightening, and innovative, addressing timeless questions about sex for a new generation of kids who are increasingly aware of the broad spectrum of sexual identities.

When Raina Telgemeier was in sixth grade, she was horsing around after girl scouts when she tripped, fell, and broke her two front teeth. What followed was an orthodontic journey involving painful procedures, bridges, multiple sets of braces, and of course headgear. For anyone who might have been, might have, or might work with tweens and teens.

"Who would like this book? People have asked me this question several times. The people who most would enjoy and benefit from reading Sobriety: A Graphic Novel are parents and friends of alcoholics and addicts, and also people seeking to understand the principles of Twelve Step recovery. In addition, counselors and staff will find that the comic format of this work allows readers to grasp concepts in the books simple-without being-simplistic format." -Daniel R. Maurer

Solutions and Other Problems includes humorous stories from Allie Brosh's childhood; the adventures of her very bad animals; merciless dissection of her own character flaws; incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness; as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life.

This graphic adaptation of Laurie Hale Anderson's novel Speak is a gut punch of a book about what trauma looks like from the inside out. Before the school year started, Melinda called the cops to a party she was attending. The cops crashed the party, Melinda lost all her friends, and she never once spoke about what happened. In fact, she doesn't really say much at all anymore.

Farmer's portrayal of her parents' end of life care is detailed, unsentimental, and touching. Particularly poignant are her interactions with hospice care, as they prepare her (and the reader) for the quotidian realities of dying.

Stitches is not an easy memoir to read, but it is a powerful one. David Small grew up in a tense, angry household. His mother alternated between silence and rage. His father, a radiologist, treated David's frequent sinus infections with lengthy exposure to x-rays. He developed what the adults in his life referred to as a benign cyst, which no one treated. Eventually, Small was brought to the hospital for an operation to remove it, assured it would be a relatively painless procedure. Small, a doctor's son, trusted and believed his father's friends and colleagues. David woke up with no thyroid, only one vocal cord, and "a crusted black track of stitches, my smooth young throat slashed and laced back up like a bloody boot."

Marc Schultz and the Cannons have fit an astonishing amount of scientific detail into this graphic novel. It includes the history of the science from Mendel to Michurinism, as well as molecular level detail of reproduction. The black and white illustrations are clear and helpful. The authors also include important bioethical principles and modest conjecture about the future of genetic science.

Powell tells the story of two step-siblings, each troubled, who are trying to navigate adolescence with their burdens. He does an excellent job of explaining what it feels like when the adults in your life fail you, like when Perry works up the courage to tell his doctor about the visual and auditory hallucinations he's been having for years. The doctor tells him, and his father, that it's just stress and that "a few problems are always normal. Where would we be without them?"

This near-perfect book covers life in the HIV ward during a particular period of time: after the public acknowledgement of the epidemic, but before the drug advances that stop or even slow the progression of the virus. In real time, the staff of Unit 371 were building a new model of care to make patients who had been treated as pariahs feel like people again. MK Czerwiec is a nurse and an artist who was part of that process.

Inman, creator of the massively popular web comic The Oatmeal, has written a hilarious book about a terrible exercise: long-distance running. Inman is frank about it: he runs because it makes life bearable. Along the way, he talks about motivation, body issues, and why not everything has to be sunshine and rainbows.

Randall Munroe has a gift for breaking big ideas down into accurate and digestible pieces. This book. Standouts in this book include a breakdown of hospitals (Room for Helping People), organs (Bags of Stuff Inside You) and the periodic table (The Pieces Everything is Made Of.) This librarian's favorite is Fear Water, aka adrenaline.

It would seem impossible that the weighty subject of trauma could be explored so thoroughly in a comic book format. Yet this pairing of text and image so perfectly balances academic rigor, whimsical design, and engaging little narratives. At its heart, this book beautifully inspires the reader to see personal trauma as an opportunity for healing and growth.
-- Nkem Ndefo, Certified Nurse Midwife, Founder of TRE Los Angeles, speaker, and trauma educator

Not everyone can be as dedicated a reader of comics and graphic novels as your librarians. Scott McCloud nimbly breaks down the visual shorthand of comics with an incisive examination of symbology, visual processing, and history. In his words: "There's only one power that can break through the wall which separates all artists from their audience--the power of understanding. Understanding comics is serious business."

There are few figures in the history of medicine who loom as large as Margaret Sanger. At a time when it was illegal to explain human reproduction publicly, she wrote pamphlets so accurate that the Postmaster General refused to mail them. Bagge doesn't avoid the more contrary parts of Sanger's life such as her anti-abortion sentiments, marital infidelity, and addiction. She once accepted an invitation to speak about contraception tot he Women's Auxiliary of the Klu Klux Klan because she believed that even racists deserved to know and understand their own bodies. Regardless of what you think you know about her, there is more to that story.

Harmony plays a big part both in Chinese Medicine and cartooning. Not only must the cartoonist produce amusing drawings, but each drawing also needs to clearly communicate its concept, whether serious or funny. Cartoons which are intended as aids to understanding and memory introduce one more vital requirement to the harmony - a deep knowledge and affinity with the concepts being conveyed. Spencer Hill's cartoons harmonise these ingredients beautifully and, coupled with Damo Mitchell's expertly and clearly written text, will enable any reader to balance laughter and learning with the greatest of ease.
-- John Byrne, Cartoon Tutor, The London Art College