Its lonely at the center of the earth by zoe thorogood

In this autobiographical comic, Thorogood details her life as an illustrator going to comics conventions, trying to break into the industry, her attempts at romantic relationships, and her struggles with her depression. She goes far outside her comfort zone and decides to meet an online friend in person, which requires traveling from England to California. The two become romantic partners, but Zoe is very conflicted because the man is still infatuated with his previous partner, and he has children who don't accept her. During the months this comic takes place, the COVID pandemic begins, so isolation makes projects difficult and cancels some of Thorogood's planned appearances. She struggles with going to conventions and imposter syndrome, feeling like her illustrations are not worthy of the praise she receives from fans who visit her booth. 

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It's always hard to judge autobiographical comics because they are so deeply personal, but for me, this comic was a little too stream-of-consciousness and thus disjointed. It does have some authentic voicing, and its depiction of depression is heartbreaking and accurate. There are definitely readers who will feel seen reading this comic, and it deserves a place on shelves serving an older population. Zoe is a young adult in the comic, and she doesn't hold back from difficult topics such as suicidal ideation, drug use, and sex. 

Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Adult

Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781534323865 (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 6/10, Suitability: Adult, Comicbooks, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Friendship, ​Image Comics