I released a new zine project

where I try to capture moments of everything

I guess it’s time for a check-in. Hi hello. How are you?

I have graduated and now have my masters degree in clinical mental health counseling. I have a lot of fresh starts in my life. I am finally feeling liberated to ask for what I want as well as finally get back into making art with the intention of sharing.

Recently, I realized I need to revisit my “why” as in, why do I want to make comic zines and table with them. Sales are low, tabling is expensive, etc, etc etc. I enjoy slice of life comics so much while also feeling extremely unsure if anyone cares to read scrappy autobio comic work anymore. Like, am I chasing a high that only my 20-something self could catch? It hits me how I have been tabling since 2014 and I get deeply emotional with the journey. I have created my whole life around comics and have made so many connections and friends and memories.

At the end of a recent tabling at C.A.K.E., I was sitting outside on the steps with Maddie and saw an older cartoonist say goodbye to another similar aged cartoonist. I presume they had just met in person at this fest and were joyously exchanging where they live, how to reach each other, and hopes they see each other again.

I know a part of me has always been searching for a “parent” within comics. Trying to find someone or some people to look up to and say “that’s what it can be like for me as I get older” since I don’t have many older people in my life to look up to. It feels like a weird quest I never set out for myself but innately seek out of the corner of my eye. There are no real takeaways or conclusions from me asking the “why” but…things I am noticing. Maybe I keep doing this simply because I want to be able to grow up and grow old and still have comic art peers to make life worth living.

I also debuted a new comic zine, Rare Feeling #1, at C.A.K.E. as well. As shared in the zine, this name came from a conversation months ago between my partner at the time and myself. It stuck with me and I started jotting down little ideas every time it hit me.

I drew 99% of these comics while in Mexico. I spent a lot of hours drawing them while crying, laying naked in my hotel room in the AC, and in the cafe where I may or may not have taken one of the resort’s puke green plates as a souvenir…

The zine is little slices of life that I purposely kept vague as it feels so vulnerable to speak to how life has really been lately…while also trying to process the intense grief I have carried in my brain for the last few years. Each zine will have an accompanying playlist. Rare Feeling #1 is found here via Apple Music and searchable on Sp*tify but will no longer be available there moving forward.

I am already inspired for Rare Feeling #2 and have planned out 10+ comics for it. A bit more direct and vulnerable than RF #1. My plan is to jump back into sharing my process here.

If you would like a copy of RF #1 you can DM me on instagram.com/liz_sux.

Until next time.