We All Got Something

Lindell (Blackward) reflects in this poignant graphic memoir on their struggle to maintain emotional equilibrium after a string of setbacks. Framed as a series of conversations between Lindell and a chatty older woman they keep meeting at a bus stop, the narrative unfolds in flashbacks. Lindell explains they’re a campus aide now but “used to be an artist tho,” and skips through fragmented anecdotes about attending church, sharing meals with family, and globe-hopping for music and art gigs. Eventually, Lindell reveals they have been flailing since they broke up with their girlfriend, Rey, and afterward survived a shooting: “I stopped existing after.... Time froze. I stayed there.” The sequence of these events is left vague, as their emotional progression holds more meaning than their chronology. What’s clear is that, for Lindell, they represent formidable mental barriers to moving forward. Eventually, by reconnecting with their artistic side, Lindell relocates their sense of worth. As Lindell’s bench mate puts it: “Sometimes we just need to take a moment and remember who we are.” The frank storytelling and bold, scribbly graphics reflect the creator’s zine background in their disarming directness. Lindell hits just the right combination of introspective and punk rock. Agent: Albert Lee, UTA. (Mar.)