Feeling Alone With Social Isolation? Try These Webcomics!
As we enter yet another week of social isolation and distancing (week 4 for us Floridians), I’m willing to bet that many of us are starting to chafe under the lack of interaction. Thankfully, we have access to the internet to assist us in communicating with loved ones during this crisis. The internet is also the source of some stories and new characters to be introduced to. Thus, I have chosen a set fabulous webcomics that are both enjoyable and have great casts to be introduced to.
Love Not Found
In this moment of social distancing where touching is considered taboo, perhaps the most thematically appropriate webcomic is Love Not Found by Gina Biggs (https://lovenotfound.com/). In a future where the human touch is considered deviant and all aspects of physical intimacy is performed through technological surrogates, Abellie desires a relationship filled with touch. She ventures to find her place in this paradigm, make friends and as the title suggests find love.
Yet Abellie is not alone in her quest and that (like the comic itself) is her strength. Love Not Found has a fun and diverse cast which easily find root in your heart. The comic makes sure that each character is given time in the spotlight to shine and grow organically. The cast allows the metropolis that makes the setting feel intimate despite the hustle and bustle.
Cursed Princess Club
Does diving into a fairy tale sound like a great escape from today’s chaos? If so, then the Cursed Princess Club may be a great fit. This ongoing comic, published on the Webtoons network by the alias Lambcat (https://www.webtoons.com/en/comedy/cursed-princess-club/list?title_no=1537), focuses on Gwendolyn (Gwen) the youngest princess of the pastel kingdom. She lives a sheltered and happy life among her conventionally pretty siblings (complete with small animal summoning) and their love is clearly unconditional and supportive. However, Gwen’s appearance often leaves broken mirrors in her wake, she frequently wakes up to find that rodents have nestled in her hair, and she is repeatedly mistaken to be a swamp hag.
One day after running into the nearby woods due to being embarrassed by a prince calling her ugly, she comes across a group of cursed princesses (the titular Cursed Princess Club) and becomes friends with them. Each of the princesses (and one prince) are uniquely cursed and have found support and acceptance within the group. Gwen continues to navigate the intricacies of love, friendship, and even some politics with the help of her family and her club.
Tea Dragon Society
For a relaxing little series, you cannot go wrong with Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neil (https://teadragonsociety.com/). This is a light and sweet story about a little girl named Greta who comes across a small tea dragon being chased by dogs and rescues it. Tea dragons, as the name suggests, are small dragons who grow delicious tea leaves from their bodies. They take great care and patience but can be worth the trouble. Greta decides to learn how to take care of them after she returns the rescued dragon to its caretaker.
Through the process of taking care of the tea dragons, we get to know the caretakers of the dragons (like with cats it does not feel right to use owner with dragons). Hesekiel and Erik are the pair that run the tea house where the dragons live and are also the main caretakers. Minette is a young girl with memory issues but has a close bond with one of the dragons. The dragons themselves are all unique is design and temperament: ranging from the elegant and playful Jasmine, the sleepy and cuddly Chamomile, the conniving and inquisitive Rooibos, and others.
Gourmet Hound
Gourmet Hound by Leehama (https://www.webtoons.com/en/drama/gourmet-hound/list?title_no=1245&page=1) is a recently completed comic published on the Webtoons network. The story follows a young woman with a phenomenal palate for food as she searches for the chef which is responsible for the flavor of her late grandmother’s favorite restaurant. This motivation is the catalyst for a heart warming and hilarious exploration of friendship, grief, and healing. The cast evolves organically like one of the many scintillating recipes on display throughout the series. Which brings us to the other draw of Gourmet Hound, the art.
Like going to the grocery store, you should probably never read Gourmet Hound hungry. From the beautiful images of food to the adorable locations, nearly everything about the art screams delicious. Witnessing all the chefs perform their craft makes your mouth water and you join in their enthusiasm. This comic has actually inspired me to try some new recipes after seeing them on display and while I am not chef material it has been a fun complment to the series. Thus ,if you like food and friendship, I highly recommend Gourmet Hound.
Atomic Robo
Atomic Robo (https://www.atomic-robo.com/) is an ongoing pulp adventure comic by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener about a robot created by Nikola Tesla in the 20's and his many adventures as an action scientist. What is an action scientist you ask? Think about what Indiana Jones did for archaeology but potentially applied to every discipline of scientific research. You could see an action biologist, an action mathematician, an action geologist, or even a guy who is really good at spreadsheets in a crisis.
Robo’s exciting and often hilarious escapades with his fellow action scientists and friends, both fictional and based off of real people (“When you return to your unobservable but empirically determined dimension of origin, tell them Carl Sagan sent you!”), is the focus of this nine plus volume series. Between a cosmic horror that does not live in linear time, a very antagonistic relationship with Stephen Hawking, and a talking dinosaur who uses crystal based weaponry, you will be clicking next in rapid suggestion. Plus when you are done there is also Real Science Adventures (https://www.atomic-robo.com/rsa) which are one shots in the same universe.
Stories are how we escape from our troubles even if only for a brief moment. As we continue to isolate ourselves for the benefit of our fellow humans, we need to find our own ways of feeling less lonely. I hope you find at least one comic to enjoy and meet some new friends in their worlds.
