The Comet

I made this comic in the wake of late winter and Spring 2024, when my father was gravely ill following a massive surgery in Baltimore, MD. I spent about a month all said and done traveling back and forth to be in the hospital or to provide care for my dad. My 5 siblings took up the slack for me when I had to be in NYC and for each other over the course of nearly three months. It was a traumatic time for us all, and during that time, I started thinking about this story, likely as a way to make order where there was none and to process the trauma of it. I find it generally helps. 

In a coda that's not in the comic: After two and a half months in and out of the hospital, Dad has been finally making a great recovery. His tenacity, guts, and bravery saved his life. 

This story weaves together many seemingly disparate parts of my life, which, in hindsight, all feel like they fit together perfectly. Dad, this one is for you.

"The Comet," Jessica Boehman. Fountain pen ink, watercolor, and digital drawing. Summer 2024. ​