Taileater
In 2023 I minored in Graphic Novel at AKV St. Joost where I spent time developing, writing and illustrating my comic Taileater.
The story is about a group of people trying to capture an angel. They can’t comprehend what it is they’re trying to contain and are forced to face the consequences. It is also about an angel trying desperately to return to heaven, but being unable to. Stuck on earth in an endless cycle of violence and dehumanization.
Taileater is a deeply personal story based on a part of my lived experience as a trans person. The cyclical feeling of isolation and estrangement and how violent that can feel, how unfair. While working on this I stumbled on the symbol of the ouroboros; things that happened in the past still are still happening now, in the same way, while the same mistakes are being made. The eternal cycle of renewal. No ending, no beginning. That’s why I chose the title Taileater.
The story illustrates a pessimistic outlook on the trans experience. One that isn’t all encompassing but I do experience sometimes.
Vernalis
Vernalis is the story of Henry Sanchez, a cowboy herding sheep for the summer, and Kallias, a centaur living in the mountains, and the atypical shape their love takes. In spring Henry leaves with the ewes to the valley where Kallias lingers, spending their summer together. When fall comes, he has to leave the valley again, where Kallias will wait for him till next spring.
The stories I write are normally a lot sadder. I like tragedy and the extremes of the human condition, but this time I wanted to try my hand at something more hopeful.
To me the story of Henry and Kallias is about the unconventional places queer people find happiness. Even when it’s not always understood or doesn’t fit societal norms.
