Drawing Power: Comics Promote Catharsis and Empathy for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Comics, or the “funnies” as my family calls them, are generally created to make us laugh. However, comic arts are also a form of catharsis, resistance, rebellion and awareness.

In the era of the #metoo movement, “Drawing Power: A Comics Anthology” is a collection of memoirs on themes of sexual violence, the male gaze and harassment, by over 60 female-identified cartoonists from around the world. For many survivors of abuse, sharing their story can be associated with feelings of shame and guilt that make them wonder if they could have done something differently or makes question if they did something to deserve what happened. The goal of the book is to destigmatize sexual abuse, create empathy and promote healing for the cartoonists and readers alike.

While these stories can leave readers feeling uncomfortable, as the introduction by author and sexual assault survivor Roxanne Gay states, “There are no easy stories to be found here. The comics in these pages will make you think, make you feel, make you laugh, make you rage.”

Some of the contributors will appear at a reading in Los Angeles, Oct. 2. 

Below are some excerpts from "Drawing Power:"

"Destroy Every Thing You Touch" by Rachel Ang

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"A Sampler of Misdeeds" by Carol Lay

1/2 "A Sampler of Misdeeds" (page 1) | Carol Lay/Excerpt from “Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival,” edited by Diane Noomin © Abrams ComicArts, 2019

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"'Blackie' From the Deuce" by J. Gonzalez-Blitz

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