Quarantine Comix (Paperback)
A Memoir of Life in Lockdown
Rachael Smith
‘Funny and sad and relatable and wise – Rachael Smith’s Quarantine Comix are like the hug from a friend you didn’t know you needed.' Chris Addison
‘In a period where every day seemed the same, Rachael found a way to make every day different. A tiny, comforting light of understanding, humour and hope in a dark time.’ Kieron Gillen, author and creator of The Wicked + The Divine
An award-winning graphic memoir of lockdown life, Quarantine Comix is a funny, tender, heartfelt and insightful look at isolation.
Written and drawn every day during the 2020 lockdown and shared online with #QuarantineComix, 2020 Comedy Women in Print-shortlisted Rachael Smith’s delightful comics helped people who were isolated all over the world to feel connected.
At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others bitter-sweet, philosophical or downright silly, this collection of 200 drawings tells the story of one woman overcoming loneliness and self-doubt with exquisite, wry humour and raw honesty.
During a time when many feel anxious and apart from loved ones, Quarantine Comix offers relief in shared experiences.
Praise for Stand in Your Power, shortlisted for the 2020 Comedy Women in Print prize:
‘Funny, fierce, poignant and reaches the lonely inside us all’ Helen Lederer
'Rachael uses humour to address her mental health and she does that successfully.' Jen Brister, author of The Other Mother
'The tone is self-deprecating – she takes a sad situation and creates an invitation to laugh at it.' Hannah Berry, UK Comics Laureate 2019-21
'The execution is one to admire' Janet Ellis
‘An important subject turned into pages of visual pathos’ Nicola Streeton, LDComic
Rachael Smith is a comic artist and writer. She’s created many critically acclaimed graphic novels including Wired Up Wrong, Stand in Your Power, Artificial Flowers and The Rabbit, which was nominated for Best Book in the 2015 British Comic Awards, following her nomination for Emerging Talent. Rachael’s worked on Titan's Doctor Who comic series and is currently working on Isabella & Blodwen as well as continuing making her #QuarantineComix series inspired by the lockdown. Quarantine Comix is the winner of Comicon.com’s Best Digital/Webcomic of 2020 and Pipedream Comics’ Winner of Best Indie/Small Press Comic of 2020, among other awards.
Rachael Smith's trademark bittersweet, funny and very personal comics make for the perfect chronicle of the weird times we've been living through. They are funny and sad and relatable and wise.Chris Addison
In a period where every day seemed the same, Rachael found a way to make every day different. A tiny, comforting light of understanding, humour and hope in a dark time.Kieron Gillen, author and creator of The Wicked + The Divine
At a time of unthinkable separation … what Rachael was feeling and what she was thinking was never held at arm's length, but given generously, as her work always is.Kate Beaton, author of Hark! A Vagrant and King Baby
Achingly honest thoughts, feelings, and anecdotes to remind us that we are not alone.The Beat
These comics were a lifeline to so many of us. A ridiculous, humane insightful, pointed lifeline.Paul Cornell, author of London Falling and the Witches of Lynchford series
One of the best things to come out of lockdown.Lew Stringer, comic artist
Harrowing! Heartfelt! Hilarious! Cartoonist Rachael Smith's Quarantine Comix are a brutally honest assessment of our internal strife, with more vim and vigour than a Yorkie bar and wine chaser.Shelly Bond, creator/editor of Black Crown
Quarantine Comix has that rare opportunity for a comic series to resonate with the majority of the population … Relatable, amusing and heart wrenching.Comic Scene
