Windows: Frontline Comics Project

Graphic Medicine preserves memories of the pandemic

Thanks for reading Windows, a comic created for the Frontline Comics Project. I illustrated a story by Lisa Plotkin, and our collaboration was facilitated by her husband, Michael Green (who also appears in the comic).

Process

Lisa sent me a six-page recounting of her experiences as a therapist during the pandemic. On my first read through, a theme jumped out at me. Her explanation of the Window of Tolerance felt aligned with the memories of being restricted to video calls in which we could only connect through digital windows. I took it one step further and opened the first page with a peek inside all the individual windows of the family home.

I follow the Graphic Medicine International Collective because I’m convinced that comics are a great way to explain complex material while stoking empathy. Have a look through at all the amazing comics that they’ve already published for this project.

Ear candy

I remember loving this podcast series in the thick of the pandemic. Cheryl Strayed, a.k.a. “Sugar,” called well-known writers to get their insights during this challenging time. I just listened to the first episode again with George Saunders, and I think that the Frontline Comics Project is a good response to the question he poses, “Poet, can you write this?” Well, we try.