New from Avery Hill this month is a powerful look at the trappings of mental health and how systems supposed to help are far from perfect in Lucy Sullivan’s Barking. When the depression and grief Alix feels over the death of her friend overwhelm her, she’s institutionalized. But inside a psychiatric ward, things don’t get better for her – now she has nowhere to get away from her rapidly-spiraling thoughts. As Alix navigates disinterested attendants, group therapy, and isolation, she must build herself a new equilibrium and tame the black dog of her depression.
Originally published in 2019, Sullivan’s story hits even harder today as we live in a post pandemic world where several people have been rocked when it comes to their mental health. Based on elements of her own struggles, Barking is a very frank look at the toll mental health issues can take on someone and how inadequate support can make it worse. Alix’s experiences in the mental health care do not paint a pretty picture, with most of the staff approaching her from a cold clinical perspective and the institution she ends up in appearing to be reminiscent to mental asylums of old that you think of in film or TV.
The strength of the work mainly comes from the way Sullivan depicts Alix’s demons. She spends a large portion of the story being followed by a gigantic beastly black dog, a classic metaphor for depression that takes on new life in the comic format. The dog represents her grief and trauma over her deceased friend whilst also vocalising intrusive thoughts and unpleasant truths. It always turns up at the worst possible time and will barge into panels of the comic when least expected. This is further enhanced by the approach Sullivan takes to the layouts and lettering which have a jagged scattershot approach that deepen the feeling of unease that permeate through the story.
You can’t talk about the presentation without mentioning the artwork of course. Sullivan has a perfect style for this type of story. It immediately reminded me of the Bill Sienkiewicz covers to the classic Spider-Man story Mad Dog’s Ward which given the subject matter is the right thing to be reminded of. The art is scratchy yet packed with detail and benefits greatly from the black and white presentation. Sullivan makes liberal use of negative space that adds to the unsettling atmosphere whilst giving plenty of room for the dog and the scattering of thoughts and dialogue.
This is a powerful piece of work that shows the scary level of impact depression and other mental health issues can have on a person. Sullivan is a talent comic fans should definitely keep watching.
Barking is out 27 February from Avery Hill Publishing (9781910395769, h/b, £16.99)
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