Abstract
Strange Days is a horror/thriller comic telling the story of Jean Oliver (they/he),
a socially inept person in his late 30s, who has something eating him from the inside out. He must figure out how to get whatever is destroying his body out of his system before he hurts those closest to him.
Strange Days is the visual explanation of the crippling loneliness I felt when facing various mental and physical illnesses, and the struggle to live with these ailments every day. “The Void”, or the thing eating away at Jean Oliver is the physical manifestation of the intrusive thoughts and delusions that I’ve pulled from my own experiences. These illnesses disrupted my daily life, and made recovery feel like something I could only hope for. I was unable to contact close friends and family in fear that they’ll be overwhelmed, and doctors weren’t sure exactly what the issue was. I felt completely alone.
This project is my way of coming to terms with the life I was living at the time, and turning these isolating and disturbing thoughts into something I could invite others to engage with.
Artist Statement
SADHA (they/them) is a Japanese and Black comic artist and illustrator born in the middle of a hot July summer in Yokohama, Japan. Now, however, they currently call Alabama their home after bouncing around various south eastern cities.
With graphic line work, and even more graphic themes, SADHA crafts thrilling stories inspired by how they experience the world, and how the world may experience them.
SADHA completed their BFA at Pacific Northwest College of Art in the Fall of 2021, having majored in illustration with a minor in creative writing. Previously, they attended the Watkins College of Art in Nashville from 2017 to 2020. They were an active member of the Nashville arts community, and has curated multiple shows in the area.