Graphic Public Health: A Comics Anthology and Road Map

Li-Vollmer pulls together an effective and colorful collection of public service announcements in comics format, originally drawn for the Seattle public health office. The roster of artists includes indie heavy hitters from the Pacific Northwest, such as Ellen Forney, Roberta Gregory, Megan Kelso, and David Lasky, as well as lesser-known creators. Topics include staying safe in a heat wave, testing for lead, surviving floods and hurricanes, and stopping the spread of Covid-19. Most of the entries are aimed at adults, though a “Disaster Buddies” comic and coloring book is geared toward young readers. The longest and most engrossing section, “Comics for Advocacy and Activism,” features interviews with workers and patients at Seattle’s pop-up free clinic program. “It shouldn’t sound utopian to envision a free healthcare clinic that is open more than once a year,” a patient says, and some of the cartoonists point out that as freelancers they have trouble getting health insurance themselves. The volume is designed as a reference for health officials and educators, with text sections explaining how to produce educational comics and use them to communicate. But lay readers can enjoy the dynamic artwork and compassionate perspectives on healthcare, and maybe learn a little in the process. (Jun.)