Black Rainbow Comics

Hi there! Just a quick note here. Black Rainbow is going on a short hiatus as I re organize some areas and trim the fat in others. After some serious soul searching I felt I wasn’t reaching the honesty and voice that I was hoping to achieve. I have scrapped a previous script and began working on a new one that goes in a different direction but targets mental illness, more specifically schizophrenia, in what I hope to be a more truthful manner. I just felt I was skimming the surface so far and creating caricatures. The last thing I want Black Rainbow to be associated with is mockery. I hope to be posting again in just over a month.

Stay tuned and keep checking back! A big thank you readers who have dropped notes of encouraging words so far. I really appreciate them.

Here are the lyrics for Lithium by Nirvana:

I’m so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They’re in my head. I’m so ugly. But that’s ok.
‘Cause so are you. We’ve broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I’m not scared. Light my candles. In a daze cause I’ve found god.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah…..

I’m so lonely. And that’s ok. (alt: ’cause today )
I shaved my head. And I’m not sad, and just maybe
I’m to blame for all I’ve heard. And I’m not sure.
I’m so excited. I can’t wait to meet you there.
And I don’t care. I’m so horny. But that’s ok. My will is good.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah…..

(Chorus)
I like it. I’m not gonna crack.
I miss you. I’m not gonna crack.
I love you.I’m not gonna crack.
I killed you. I’m not gonna crack. (x2)

I’m so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They’re in my head. I’m so ugly. But that’s ok.
‘Cause so are you. We’ve broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I’m not scared. Light my candles.
In a daze cause I’ve found god.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah…..
(Chorus)..

Movie Poster for "Precious" starring Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Mo nique, and Lenny Kravitz

Just finished the novel Push by Sapphire which I greatly enjoyed. It’s recently been made into a movie starring Mo’nique, Mariah Carey, and Paula Patton as the title character Precious Jones. Precious is an illiterate 16 year old girl who has fallen through the cracks of New York’s social and educational system. Mentally, physically, and sexually abused by both parents, Precious had a Down Syndrome baby courtesy of her father while being impregnated with his second for much of the story. Throughout the book, Precious’ “ignerance” seems to be what keeps her afloat within her brutal circumstances. She alludes to hopelessness and wanting to die without any clear idea or plan on how to do so.

It isn’t until Chapter 4 that the reader gets a glimpse of how Precious copes with the father raping her. She often regresses to an idealized fantasy world like the Wizard of Oz while the act occurs and brings herself back to reality afterward with a variety of self harm gestures.

Afterward I go to bafroom. I smear shit on my face…I bite my fingernails till they look like disease, pull strips of my skin away. Get Daddy’s razor out cabinet. Cut cut cut arm wrist, not trying to die, trying to plug myself back in. (Sapphire, pp.111-12, Vintage Contemporaries, 2009)

That passage alone really brought a realness to an already truthful and raw piece of literary work for me. Like so many of the real world individuals I care for who have undergone horrific mental, sexual, and physical abuse, these maladaptive coping mechanisms are all too often present within their patient histories. The smearing of feces on the face is a new one though. I have dealt with the likes of cutting, scratching, and burning but I really hope i never run into that. Knives, lighters, and razors I can confiscate. There is no way for me to stop a patient from abusing themselves with their bowel movements in the privacy of their washroom. You win, Precious!

PUSH by Sappire book cover:

The novel Push by Sapphire is available on Amazon.ca

Watch the trailer for the movie version renamed Precious

Official web site:
www.weareallprecious.com

After just over a year of experimenting with the cartooning medium, I am ready to start work on my first continuous storyline. The past year has been a learning and development period for myself as an new cartoonist. In the midst of all the experimentation, I have been working on a script that brings together the characters I designed to engage in more meaningful interactions.  I have portions of it written and planned but will also be flying by the seat of my pants. It’s been challenging juggling all the different variables that come with maintaining an online cartoon, most of all, keeping it fun and spontaneous. So with balls to the wall, I am starting on this new venture for Black Rainbow where I can really explicitly tackle and explore mental health and psychiatric related ideas and issues.

Eastenders character Stacey Slater suffers from Bipolar Disorder.

It’s a great look when an iconic television series such as the EastEnders from the United Kingdom addresses serious mental health issues with it’s young adult characters. Specifically, character Stacey Slater suffers from bipolar disorder. Hopefully, the show will generate interest and awareness amongst it’s audience to learn more and perhaps even seek help.

Eastenders Bipolar Story helps young seek advice by Brandice Alexander Newsbeat reporter

EastEnders character Stacey Slater highlighted the problems of bipolar sufferers.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds seeking help for bipolar disorder has doubled in the past six months, according to doctors.

The number of young people calling helplines went from around 400 a day to an average of more than 800. MDF, The BiPolar Organisation, believe it’s down to the storyline in BBC One soap EastEnders featuring the character Stacey Slater. Bipolar is a mental disorder which affects more than half a million people in the UK. It makes people’s mood go from very low, making you feel depressed, to extreme highs known as mania and is often diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 24.

‘Happy chemicals’

Twenty-two-year-old Gary from Lincoln is bipolar but was wrongly diagnosed with depression at first.

“When I was diagnosed with depression I was glad that the doctors thought they knew what was wrong with me,” he said.

“I was given antidepressants. I would’ve preferred speech therapy though. The antidepressants made me really high. I had too much energy.

For the rest of the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_10000000/newsid_10004400/10004491.stm