Weird to Exist: Simple Comics about Complex Emotions - Hardcover

Zai, Alison

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1984860143 ISBN 13: 9781984860149

Publisher: Ten Speed Press, 2022

Synopsis

A collection of vibrantly colored yet darkly humorous comics for commiserating over the absurdity of existence

"Simultaneously hilarious and insightful, Alison Zai's comics will definitely make you laugh and perhaps send you into an existential crisis--all with irresistible, colorful artwork."--Sarah Andersen, New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Scribbles

We've all felt the pain that comes from realizing a beautiful moment will soon become a distant memory. We're all guilty of avoiding deadlines by researching obscure facts about dirt or binging scary conspiracy videos. Inspired by these universal experiences and existential musings, Alison Zai walks the line between laughing so hard that you burst into tears and crying so hard that you break into laughter.

Weird to Exist is divided into three intrinsic human acts--to exist, to love, to create­--and ultimately touches on how weird it is to do all of that. Also included is Zai's popular long-form comic Bee Real, which follows one little irritable bee's enlightening mission to extinguish the sun. With sharp levity and emotional complexity, this colorful collection finds the fun in life's hard truths.

About this title

About the Author

Alison Zai is a comics artist who has garnered success by sharing her art on Instagram and Tumblr.

From the Back Cover

We've all felt the gut-wrenching pang from accepting that a beautiful moment will soon become a distant memory. We've all fallen into cycles when it feels like the failures and disappointments just keep coming. Weird to Exist is a collection of 100 comics that depict these universal emotions and existential musings with hilarious accuracy and great empathy.

This bright, colorful book is divided into three intrinsic human acts--existing, loving, adn creating--and, ultimately, comments on how weird it is to do all of that. Zai's cheery anthropomorphic characters go through the motions of relationships, loneliness, creativity blocks, mental health concerns, social anxiety, and more. These comics voice the overwhelming dread and unpredictable chaos found in all aspects of being alive. With sharp levity and emotional complexity, Weird to Exist captures the feelings that are not easily communicated but widely felt.

This cherishable collection features thirty never-before-published comics alongside seventy beloved fan favorites from Zai's Instagram account.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRO

One day, I randomly came into existence and started having experiences. The majority of these experiences have been quiet, nameless moments that end up meaning a lot to me for reasons that I'm not equipped to properly analyze here. Condensing these overwhelming moments and feelings down to their essence by making comics is my attempt to understand the magic, sadness, tenderness, and general absurdity of it all.

And maybe, you've felt these things too.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ten Speed Press
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1984860143
• ISBN 13: 9781984860149
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144