My Mother Bleeds History
Some people are calling this online comic strip "the Maus of cancer." I checked it out and was immediately put off by the inappropriate artwork. Since Maus was mentioned, my expectations were skewed toward a much darker look, something with a sinister edge. (Maybe I expected the cancer patients to look like mice and the doctors to look like cats.) Anyway, I am part way through the strip now, and I am telling you, the writing is brilliant. You get lots of analogies here, sometimes hilarious, sometimes very disturbing, but always inspired. This is a tale of folly, selfishness, incompetence, denial, compassion, heroism, struggle, and love. If you have never had cancer, or you have a lot of distance (temporal and emotional) from your treatment, then I definitely recommend this. Otherwise, you may want to leave it alone. Yes, my dearest darling, I'm talking to you. Update: Read this additional post for a clarification.
Umie the Umlaut says, "ask your doctor about the Fredösphere!"
2 Comments:
Fred,
I'm the cartoonist of "Mom's Cancer." One of your readers pointed me to your blog mention, which I appreciate. I must say at the top that I've never made any "Maus" comparisons myself; I wouldn't dare. Your mention of being put off by my "inappropriate artwork" made my heart skip a beat, but it's a fair critique. I do note the irony that, when Maus first came out, some critics found its cat and mouse metaphor inappropriate as well (Nazis and Jews as Tom and Jerry?!).
In brief explanation (if not defense) of my artwork, the stylistic choice was deliberate. There have been other biographical or autobiographical comic strip treatments of similar subjects. Every single one I can think of was drawn in a dark, anguished, hyper-detailed scritchy-scratchy underground style. I wanted to do something different and more accessible. I wanted grandma and the kiddies to be able to read "Mom's Cancer" without being put off by the art and language. I thought that a more familiar comic-strippy style--like "Family Circus Goes to Hell"--would invite in readers who've never seen a graphic novel.
I'm not saying it worked. I'm just saying I did it on purpose.
Thanks for the rest of your comments. I have no argument with the positive ones (imagine smiley emoticon here). I'm getting many notes from readers who find something to relate to in "Mom's Cancer," some of them thrilled to find another person who shared their feelings or observations. They realized they weren't alone. I wasn't really prepared for the strength of feeling my comic evoked in some people. It's a little frightening but very gratifying.
Thank you again for the mention.
Brian
www.momscancer.com
For Brian: I don't know what he meant by "inappropriate". It's fine by me. My wife's a breast cancer survivor, so I've seen a lot of what you've seen.
You've covered the whole story - mom's view, family's view, what it's like in the "Impressive Hospital" (the "Arrangement in Grey in Black" is awesome. (We didn't have the walking stick.)). You've caught the ups and downs spot on.
In the visual medium, you're able to put in things that would be a lot harder to do than in just words.
I think it's a great resource, especially for caregivers and spouses (usually the same people).
And the "into the sunset" ending is perfect. God bless your mom and everyone else.
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