It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood

Other figures are given animal heads, sometimes uneasy. There are abstract, ludicrous parts to character designs. The art is phenomenal, just as chaotic as the writing but also just as mesmerising. There are many moments when Thorogood paints herself as a bad person, or at least not saying the right things when needed. Off-the-cuff jokes are then switched into really poignant monologues. The sheer variety demonstrates the immense talent of the writer. It is a book that encapsulates the voice of its creator better than perhaps any comic I’ve ever read. It is extremely harsh, and a lot seems taken from memories, but there is a point to it.

The opening shows a lot of self-deprecating humour that is carried throughout. There are these different voices that are various aspects of the writer’s personality, chastising the character through her life and belittling her. What is most notable is the sheer honesty that Thorogood instills into a simply stunning script. It is fascinating to talk about the character within It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth as it is also the creator. The progression in the book is subtle yet powerful, showing a beautiful change in the mindset of the writer. The intensity comes in waves but the plot is brilliant at both the quiet moments and at its noisiest. As it jumps between scenes, the narrative could be considered disjointed but that is entirely a creative decision. Whilst it is bleak at times, the frank nature of this storytelling is something that should not be shamed at all. Thorogood gets very dark in this comic, speaking openly about suicide and self-harm. This comic is incredibly meta, tapping into the creation of itself frequently. It can switch from telling a story to a panicked, anxious comment about telling the story.

From conventions and being a newcomer to the industry to relationship car crashes, this autobiography has it all. The story is as stark and as honest as it comes, embracing the life of one specific comic creator. It is like a collection of thoughts, slightly different from what the rest of the book is like. Both the darkness and the infectious humour of the graphic novel are clear from the start, focusing on the chaotic writing style more than the story to begin with. Thorogood very quickly sets the tone and the premise.

The plot is brilliantly structured as it creates an unstable narrative. The book follows six months of the creator’s life, a chaotic and dramatic six months, whilst also exploring her upbringing. It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an autobiographical graphic novel published by Image Comics and created by Zoe Thorogood.

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood