The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse by The Mollusc Dimension

First edition.
 
For as long as he can remember, Squid has drawn comics to process anxiety and confusion. Since his teens, Horse's friends and family have been puzzled by his depressive rages. After cataclysmic events, Squid and Horse go on a fragmented adventure with dream-like twists, encountering weird memories, past and present selves and magical discoveries.
 
You're invited to dip or dive into this quirky debut autobiographical collection of 37 self-contained yet interwoven short comic stories. Based on the unique (yet relatable) lived experiences of The Mollusc Dimension, a British-born Chinese, trans artist, this book is about surviving multiple hidden challenges and daring to tell one’s story in a world that refuses to believe you even exist.

Dialling in from the swamp of the model-minority myth, this adorable huddle of fragments features interactions with Chinese parents, awkward 90s goth teen times, romance, aliens and cats. Muddling through mental health journeys, playful, subversive moments and finding friends in unexpected places.
 
Recommended for ages 14+
 
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"If I had a copy of WWSSH growing up, navigating the world as a creative and East Asian would have felt less lonely. Reading this comic had a cathartic effect on me... An essential read."  - Amy Phung - Artist and Besea.n Co-founder
 
"The Mollusc Dimension’s work has always been boldly alternative to the mainstream,giving a voice to people like me, who don’t fit neatly into boxes. His vulnerability in sharing personal stories is truly inspiring. Transforming personal experiences into art takes courage - “The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries” of Squid Horse is a testament to that." - Fox Fisher.
 
"A truly brilliant and surreal explosion of creativity... By turn hilarious and shocking, The Mollusc Dimension opens up a new world for us, where we can dare to imagine ourselves and our worlds otherwise. Beautifully drawn and written, this work captures the spirit of our times with grace and humour, inviting us “to find safety in the jaws of magic." - Dr. Diana Yeh, ESEA Hub and City, University of London