dayndoescomix

[dayndoescomix]

From someone who has lived in both Phoenix and Tucson, I absolutely recommend visiting Montezuma Castle!!! Also, if you're interested in learning more about how the Hohokam people built their ingenious canals and essentially terraformed the area, please visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix! It's also just a fantastic place to learn about all of the indigenous people who have lived in the area for thousands of years, as well as contemporary indigenous art and culture!

the main problem i have with america is that nothings old as hell there. i cant be so far away from a castle it damages my aura

[dayndoescomix]

Was Charlie originally intended to be butch?

sort of? and also not at all. when I created the initial design for my spidersona, I was thinking of myself! then when I had to turn her into an actual character I had to find ways to visually divorce her from the way I draw myself, and through that she just kinda... became butch hahaha

[dayndoescomix]

Needddd you to post ur doodles of Charlie on here

I have no idea where most of them are but I do have this!

[dayndoescomix]

I am now remembering the last time I posted a personal essay on this site and am mildly nervous haha

[dayndoescomix]

Chronic Pain and Body Horror

I think one of the reasons I like reading body horror comics so much is because it appeals to the way I view my body, as someone with chronic pain. Some days it feels like my enemy; a monster I am forced to coincide with for my survival. Some days I feel one with my body and I love myself wholly. Most days I struggle between both.

Years ago, I started journaling/doodling my thoughts on my chronic pain as it's ramped up over time. A lot of the time the doodles did tend towards body horror, not that I knew it at the time. That was the only language I had to describe how I felt. One of the first times it really hit home for me how closely the two were connected was when I read Stitches by David Small. It's a messy, black and white, charcoal-y horror show about what it feels like to be both physically and emotionally silenced as a child. It's about how it feels to be visibly disabled, and how it feels to feel like a monster. I saw myself so clearly in that book, and it hurt, but in a good way. Like when you've just lost a tooth and you probe the sore gum with your tongue. It's a painful pressure, but it's also a relieving pressure. It hurts, and it heals.

For so long I was at odds with myself. I was angry. I was betrayed. The body should be the one thing you can count on, the thing that makes up 'you', that's been there from the jump. Why should my body fail at this? Why should I suffer? What is the point? It took a long time, and some very helpful grief counseling, to find the answer. Part of that is grieving the body you had Before. There is a Before and an After for me. Before I was diagnosed it was all in my head, but I was able-bodied and had the whole world and endless possibilities open to me. After was the fact that my pain is real, that it exists, and that it limits me. An infinite hallway of doors of possibilities swung shut all at once with a sickening thud. I was left alone in a dark, empty place of Nothing. But that hallway was, in fact, built for the body from Before. I had to build my own hallway of possibilities for the body of After. And I have!! I am alive. My life is wonderful. It is filled with highs and lows and it is not defined by my illness or my pain. I am not defined by my illness or my pain. Has it sculpted much of who I am now? Yes, very much so. Has it brought me incredible opportunities I never would have dreamed of? One hundred percent! Has it also felt like a constant betrayal and a visceral nightmare? Yeah.

Right now I'm reading the current Poison Ivy run, written by G. Willow Wilson, and the feeling is so similar. Pamela literally tears herself apart constantly. She fights herself, she falls apart, she heals, and she is visceral. Artist Marcio Takara is what really takes it home for me. His approach to the physicality of a body made to fail, heal, fail again, sprout new life, die... I feel right at home with it. It's a beautiful, technicolor nightmare... it's gross, and it's wonderful.

I leave you with both a list of other fantastic body horror, and a diary sketch from 2017.

I Built a Body

Lonely Receiver

Something is Killing the Children

Beetle Hands

Pretty much anything by Emily Carroll

[dayndoescomix]

I often think about returning to writing in a more prolific way.

Or maybe at all?

I think about writing essays, or journal entries, or newsletters, or comic reviews... and then I am suddenly overwhelmed by the fear that no one will care. Not only that no one will care, but maybe that I'm simply uninteresting.

AND YET

I've been reading this book series by Ann Leckie called The Imperial Radch, which is an expansive amazing space adventure full of gender fuckery and space fuckery and found family. It's one of those books that sucks you in and stays with you for a long time, and I think I'll probably reread it at least 5 more times.

I love space stories!! Books and comics like On a Sunbeam, Outpost Zero, A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, and Ody-C get to explore the universe in a way that perpetually amazes me. They take concepts like what it means to be human(oid), to be non/gendered, even cultural customs specific to space-based peoples and stretch them to their limits.

I like space stories and science fiction for the same reasons I like comics, I think. It's a place that is so plastic, that is so full of possibilities, that you can play in the space (pun intended) in a million different ways.

All that to say: here's what I'm reading this week.

Translation State

The Power Fantasy #8

Poison Ivy #32 and #33

Something is Killing the Children #41

Black Canary: Best of the Best #6

Batgirl #7

Espada: The Will of the Blade

Tiger, Tiger

[dayndoescomix]

Every day I am grateful for a professor who drilled something into me that I either hated or was very much not good at.

Today I am grateful for the color theory for print class that taught me about CMYK.

[dayndoescomix]

EXTREMELY SICK HELL YEAH

Thank you to @gallerynucleus for accepting my pieces~ The animal gods are available to view at the exhibition and on the Gallery Nucleus online store. (●°u°●)​ 」

[dayndoescomix]

Campaign to make The God of Arepo an award winning work and win a literal brick as a trophy for the authors and for Tumblr community as a whole

As the artist for one of The God of Arepo comics, my version is up for consideration for the Ignatz Awards for Outstanding Online Comic.

For those of you who don't know the Ignatz is one of the highest industry awards that "recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers".

The thing is, winning the award means winning an actual literal brick. Because the mascot is a brick-throwing mouse. So they have to make a bit where the trophy is a brick. Like. Look.

For a long time I thought it was just plain bricks they were handing out, but my friend who won a couple of bricks two years ago had theirs stamped (I saw the bricks in person at their house). So now I am obsessed with the idea of The God of Arepo winning an Ignatz trophy. It will have the honours stamped. On a freaking brick. That's the most Tumblr level meme trophy this comic/story could win (which is also a legit high honour industry award on its own btw don't get me wrong). But wilder than that, the brick allows me to do something. It allows me to smash that break into 5 pieces and ship one of each to the authors plus myself. Writing Prompts, sadoeuphemist, ciiriianan, stu-pot and me will get a piece of clay in recognition for our work with the farmer who built a temple out of stone. The full circle moment.

Imagine the value of this win to the lore of this Tumblr sacred text/folklore. This brick will be smashed and given to the creators, but as a collective folklore, it's also dedicated to all of us on this hellsite too. AWARD WINNING. If The God of Arepo wins I will document the entire process of smashing that brick here.

But we have to make this happen. We need to gather our collective energy and make this campaign work. Please help make The God of Arepo an award-winning story and vote for it in the Outstanding Online Comic category (link). You will need to request a ballot, then submit your vote. I recommend checking out the other nominated comics too. The Ignatz really shortlists good stuff. The voting closes September 8 2023 . LET'S GET THE GOD OF AREPO A BRICK FOR HIS TEMPLE!! LET'S GO!!!! REBLOGS HELP TOO!!

[dayndoescomix]

I made a Twitter thread about this, but I've been reading early issues of Batman lately and something I've noticed is how differently the contrast between Batman and "Bruce Wayne" is depicted

obviously, in many things today, "Bruce" (ESPECIALLY in fandom) is often depicted as a happy-go-lucky himbo in order to draw contrast with a grim and "tortured" batman

so how does this hold up when you look at older depictions? the answer: it doesn't. in fact it was almost the opposite.

way back in the very first issues of the official Batman title, Bruce Wayne, no matter WHAT he's doing, isn't the one who laughs and smiles, Batman is.

and these are comics that were published BEFORE the comics code authority caused a dramatic shift in tone

Bruce Wayne (or least the cardboard cutout refered to as Bruce Wayne) isn't nessecarily described as grim, but he isn't a very happy person either, he's still a rich airhead, but not so much a "himbo" or even a dedicated businessman, he's depicted as a BORED, uninterested, aristocrat:

this Bruce seems to spend of his time smoking a pipe at home or mingling with other upperclass individuals, that in-between we tend to see MUCH more often in modern comics doesn't seem to exist yet (in part because the batcave Is non-existent which I suspect has given him a bit more privacy as a character)

MEANWHILE Batman, who's investigates murders every other night almost seems to be having the time of his life:

the early comics seem to routinely depict the burgoise as cold, snobbish & bored, in contrast to batman who seems particularly expressive and joyful, for all we know Batman may partially exist as some millionaires weird passtime, but of course Bruce Wayne (the real guy, not the facade) is written as someone who genuinely seems to care due to his own past experiences:

but , with all of that layed out, one can conclude that when ppl say Batman is the "true persona" ect. originally, it wasn't (just) because of his coping or whatever it was because when he wasn't Batman he was forced to live life as a cold, "useless" millionaire:

"what if a rich a guy gave a fuck?" is still very much the base concept here, but what's surprising is how much BITE there is to it

the concept wasn't being proposed because it's like… a plausible thing to happen or attainable on a personal level, but because the rich reliably and consitently do not care

the rich ppl in this book, "Bruce Wayne" included, are not written to be envied as people. they're written to be insufferable. ppl with endless resources who are still somehow unsatisfied with life and choose to do nothing useful or direct with the amount wealth they've accumulated

but ofc it shouldn't be ALL THAT surprising, Batman debuted in Detective Comics in 1939…. ONE year after the great depression, Bob and Bill had more than a good reason to feel a bit bitter

but rolling back to the point of this analysis, whenever I say "let batman be happy" I mean "let Batman enjoy his job" despite the pain, despite the death, despite the murder, despite the hypocritical nature of it all and how problematic it may be because it's a life he also chooses, not just out of compulsion, but because it's hands on, direct & purposeful. it gives him something to do & it gives him a chance to punch a problem in the face (which may be good or bad depending on what that problem is, but still)

that kind of depiction is what set up the groundwork for nearly every deconstruction that's come since but it's so buried in time at this point that lines from characters claiming bruce "loves being batman" seem to ring completely hollow

tbh, I think the old way of depicting Batman can be ( and as been in some media) woven into the way he's depicted today, in the past Batman was an outlet for every emotion Bruce Wayne had to hide elsewhere, a symbol of empathy, fury and passion, for modern Batman, I imagine those three things still hold true, layered on top of an alter ego that allows a modern Bruce Wayne to be weird and damaged and dark.

so uh, ln conclusion, I think batman enjoying what he does to a certain extent is a crucial aspect of his character that's been lost and withered and forgotten about, let him a have a little fun, we can discuss the ramifications of all that when discussion seems necessary

[dayndoescomix]

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions in your writing, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

This is NOT a medical resource!!! And never tell a real person you think they're using a cane wrong!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height can make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(some people elect to use a cane wrong for their personal situation despite this, everyone is different!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane and the bad leg and follow with the good leg!

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

[dayndoescomix]

MY FIRST GRAPHIC NOVEL

HI EVERYONE! today my first EVER graphic novel I wrote and drew is out in stores! It's about mermaids that BITE!

you can buy it on Amazon!

or Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sea-in-you-jessi-sheron/1133637152?ean=9781638991113

this has been my dream since I was a kid, you can also get it on walmart and target's sites! and if you have a book store within 6 hours of driving for maryland I'll be happy to do a signing there

[dayndoescomix]

It seems I need to remind some folks that people can have different opinions on stuff. we all have different experiences moving through the world and therefore we're all gonna have different opinions. my writing an essay about my personal opinions and personal experiences doesn't mean that you have to share them or even like them

I don't need a breakdown of why you think my opinions are wrong, I'm not going to debate you. I'm glad that you enjoy shit differently than I enjoy it, and I hope you continue to enjoy your shit

Just don't get upset with me for having differing opinions and experiences

[dayndoescomix]

My name is Dayn, and I'm a freelance comics editor, essay writer, disability advocate and artist.

I've worked as an editor on projects at Webtoon and edit freelance on several other projects in traditional graphic novel publishing.

I also created the disabled Spider-verse hero Sun-Spider!

Check out my website with more projects, essays, etc:

[dayndoescomix]

loving the irony of it being disability pride month and I'm too exhausted by my disability to do anything big about it

[dayndoescomix]

Happy Disability pride month!!

Good to know this exists :) 🩷💜

[dayndoescomix]

ah yes, I have once again remembered that tumblr exists