THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL SURVIVERIES OF SQUID HORSE - COMIC BOOK
Pre-order “The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse” from Juniper by the Sea (the UK’s first ESEA bookshop)
ABOUT THE BOOK
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 exist.
Deep in the pandemic, a frustrated performer / musician / visual artist finds a new way to unlock crucial memories from his troubled past. WWSSH explores mental health, grief and growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s through an intersectional lens, colourful drawings and absurd humour. It’s strange, shocking, sad, funny, honest and may well inspire you to draw a comic. #CosyTrauma
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!
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 friends in unexpected places.
The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse by The Mollusc Dimension
Edited by Shaven Raven Designs
Forewords written by Kim Chin and Dominique Duong
Praise for The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse
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 - Artist, Author and Film-maker
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
WWSSH Book Editor Shaven Raven Designs - Black, queer artist (she/they) says:
As a lifelong comic and graphic novels fan, I can tell you that NOTHING like this book exists. It’s a project that will absolutely have deep and wide cultural value. The stories of '3rd culture kids' (in this instance, a British-born child of immigrants from the ESEA community) are often forgotten when speaking about the British experience. Not to mention navigating queer identities within that already complex cultural framework. We should all be excited that we will get to witness something truly groundbreaking.
Recommended for ages 14+
Content notes: This book explores various traumas affecting mental health including discrimination, racism and sexual violence.
Potential discussion topics which appear in my book: anxiety, autobiography, British Asian / British Chinese culture, community (what it means and how to find it), cosy trauma, creativity for mental health, depression, ESEA culture, East Asian heritage, family, food, gender, grief, growing up in the 80s/90s, humour (finding it during difficult times), LGBTIQA+ identities, mental health, queerness, music, nature, neurodivergence, non binary identity, piano, relationships as marginalised person, transness, traumatic bereavement - and more!
#BritishChineseComics #CosyTrauma #ESEAbooks #MentalHealthComics #QueerESEAComics #TransBooks
Are you a bookseller who’d like to enquire about stocking my book or would do you have a cool idea for distribution? Would you like to interview me or review my book? Please drop me a line with an enquiry
Would you like to be the first to find out about the book launch, pre-orders, events and generally support me feeling NOT being beholden to social media? Please sign up to my email list. (Feel free to leave any time!)
Maybe you’d like to see my quirky comic posts (ranging from WWSSH images to random happenings in my life, jokes and musings)… If so, find me on social media @SquidHorseComics on Instagram and/or Facebook (I know… I know… I do use it though!)
Why is the sea pink?… Find out about the meanings of the artwork in the cover design for my comic book.
I am grateful to everyone who has been a part of this project so far including: The Shaven Raven (Book Editor), Kim Chin, Dominique Duong, Rachael House, Boe Studios, Dr. Puck Fletcher, Eris Young, Lydia Stockbridge, Christy Ku and Suyin Haynes, Amy Phung, Eris Young, Dr. Jamie Pei, Len Lukowski, Lishan Chan, Maisie Chan, MG Zimeta, Peter Collins and many more!
Thank you to EVERYONE who supported me by reading, buying, borrowing, sharing about this book and/or my zines and supporting me on social media. Your efforts mean so much!
Thank you to London Writers' Salon, where I wrote my funding apps and developed and edited the book for many hours.
Many thanks to Arts Council England for funding The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse using National Lottery Funding.
