Books & Audiobooks
In Graphic Medicine Manifesto, Dr. Ian Williams (who first coined the term in 2007) defines graphic medicine as simply “the intersection between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare.”
This purposefully broad term includes:
- Graphic memoirs of illness
- Educational comics for students, practitioners, and patients
- Graphic reporting
- Therapeutic comic-making workshops
- and more.
A lot of comics and graphic novels can be viewed as Graphic Medicine. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness are all explored through diverse stories and experiences captured through the medium of comics. I was surprised to find out that many of my favourite graphic novels—especially graphic memoirs—can be viewed as graphic medicine. There are so many vivid narratives and experiences to discover.
Here are some examples of graphic medicine worth checking out. Visit graphicmedicine.org for more resources, reviews, and the latest news about this exciting comics discipline with something for everyone.
The Jellyfish
by Boum, Translated by Robin Lang & Helge Dascher
Winner of the 2025 Graphic Medicine International Collective Award, The Jellyfish follows Odette, a twenty-something navigating life and love while haunted by a jellyfish floating in their eye and blocking their vision. What begins as a minor annoyance takes a turn as the jellyfish begins to multiply. Over the course of the story, Odette’s vision—and eventually the pages of the book—becomes increasingly obscured. It is a powerful example of graphic storytelling that explores barriers and communication challenges that exist between patients, medical professionals, and their communities. This is a great example of fictional work that draws upon elements of the cartoonist’s own experience to convey the complexities of navigating an invisible disability.
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Transitions: A Mother’s Journey
by by Élodie Durand, Translated by Evan McGorray
When Anne’s 19-year-old comes out as a transgender man, she struggles to understand and accept her son’s new identity, commencing a personal journey that is at times messy, painful, and confusing. Transitions serves as a graphic diary that blurs fiction and reality, based on a real family’s experiences. Parents of trans children—and other adults in their lives—may find support and reassurance in Anne’s struggles and journey towards acceptance, even if their personal experiences looks different.
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Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Following the author through his childhood, this middle grade comic illuminates the unspoken struggles of growing up. Jarrett’s family is complicated: his mom is an addict who is in and out of his life, his father is a complete mystery, and he is being raised by his loving, but very opinionated grandparents. As he comes to terms with the realities of his life, he discovers a love of art that helps him survive the grief that follows him. This is a great example of how graphic memoirs can act as both a window into the complexities of someone’s life and a mirror that can reflect the reader’s own experiences and help them feel less alone.
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Dying for Attention: A Graphic Memoir of Nursing Home Care
by Susan MacLeod
Embarking on a nine-year journey, Susan accompanies her 90-year-old mother as she navigates the confusing and frustrating reality of the long-term care system. Her story traces the challenges of balancing her mother’s need for love and companionship, tensions that can boil over between siblings as their parents age, and the realities of her upbringing and family history. For those with aging family or loved ones, the book provides a humourous look at aging and death, including tips for communicating with nursing homes, background research with expert insights, and context surrounding a system that is not often discussed.
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