CANCER VIXEN - Serio Comics 25
CANCER VIXEN written and drawn by Marisa Acocella Marchetto, published by Pantheon, Knopf, and Random House
As I age, I’ve had a number of friends and acquaintances go through cancer.
So while I was researching the imprint Pantheon’s vast library of graphic novels, 2006’s graphic memoir, CANCER VIXEN, by Marisa Acocella Marchetto stood out.
As a way to pay tribute to them as well as provide any other readers with an enthusiasm for a graphic novel they might be interested in for their experience as well.
Perfect Serio Comic Premise
A comic about cancer is a perfect example of the power of seriocomedy in this medium.
Things that are normally difficult to process:
Get to be both full of helpful substance of the grinding reality of going through this.
The emotional toll it can take on relationships.
But also the resiliency of our heroine and her community.
And lots of heartfelt humor.
And sweet romance.
Pre-Obamacare Era!
What also stood out to me was how specific her depiction of the early 2000s was and what that meant for her experience of cancer, i.e. her lack of health insurance…
Marisa depicts the difficulties of cancer without insurance during that era.
But also acknowledges the help she received from her parents, friends, and position.
And from her partner.
Enjoyed The Old New York Era As Well!
I also really enjoyed Marisa’s hyper-specific portrayal of a New York City era that has already been lost to time, particularly her work for The New Yorker.
The trouble she had as one of the only female cartoonists at the time.
And how the old white male boys’ club was also already being phased out.
Loved The Motif About Spirituality Too!
Getting sick and facing death are times where spirituality and religion can come into people’s lives and Marisa does a beautiful job weaving these elements throughout.
Whether it’s the influence of Marisa’s mother’s Catholicism.
And the influence of Marisa’s friends’ practice of Jewish Mystical Kabbalah.
Or just Marisa’s deepening into her own idiosyncractic version of faith.
But The Highlight Of CANCER VIXEN Remains The Serio omic Depiction Of Facing Death
Something we all have to face. So we might as well prepare by laughing about it ;)
CANCER VIXEN written and drawn by Marisa Acocella Marchetto is available from Goodreads, indie retailers at Bookshop.org, the publisher Pantheon, at Skylight here in LA, and Amazon.
Looking for other Substacks about comics check out a list put together by E.R. Flynn, which now includes Serio Comics!
David and Dave- Thanks for sharing these. These comics definitely brighten up the day. I hope you guys are well.