Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since Inked’s release last month. I do plan to share more about what went on, however I did first promise that this newsletter would be about Creature Clinic!
I was lucky enough to get an early look at the second release from Figment, Gavin Aung Than’s Creature Clinic. So this week I am answering the question;
“What is Creature Clinic about?”
Creature Clinic is a middle grade graphic novel about a hospital for mythical creatures. Humans are not allowed! Kara Orc is a first year resident doctor who wants the best for her patients but is constantly coming up against another young resident, Tucker Wolf as well as head of the hospital, and her own mother, Doctor Orc.
When an injured human appears in the clinic, Kara is torn between her oath to care for all creatures and her mother’s rules. What unfolds is a funny yet heartwarming exploration of acceptance and standing up for your beliefs.
It’s also a wonderful example of graphic medicine. The preview copy arrived when my youngest child was in hospital recovering from their 3rd open-heart surgery. While I wasn’t able to give it my attention at this time, I read it in the weeks following and it really spoke to me personally.
Navigating the medical system and advocating for my child over the past 11 years has been quite a tumultuous experience for me. I wasn’t surprised when I read Gavin’s author’s note which describes how his experiences in hospital when their second child was born prematurely, helped to shape this story.
That’s not to say that you need to have gone though an experience like this to be able to immerse yourself in Creature Clinic! It looks at universal themes of difference and exclusion, empathy and ultimately acceptance. It’s also hilariously funny with quirky creatures, thin disguises and a vain unicorn with a fractured horn thrown in for good measure.
You won’t be disappointed, I promise you! - while I did receive an advance reading copy of Creature Clinic from Figment, these are my own words and this is not a paid for or publisher endorsed review.
Link: ALIA or The Australian Library and Information Association. They have a brilliant volunteer run branch called ALIA Graphic. Jake and I spoke with the wonderful Iurgi Urrutia at ALIA Graphic about Inked, you can find the interview here. There is also a fabulous back catalogue of interviews with so many amazing graphic novel creators, be sure to have a listen!
“ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics is intended to be a resource and network for library and information professionals who are responsible for and/or interested in comics and graphic novels. The group aims to support library staff interested in all aspects of collection development, advocacy and programming related to graphic novels and comics.” - ALIA GRAPHIC
Read: Creature Clinic!
I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been so supportive since Inked’s release. You’re absolutely Ink-credible!
Next time I’ll share about the release of Inked, as well as more fabulous (free) graphic novel resources and as always, blooming brilliant graphic novels.
Until then, grab a graphic novel!
Karen
Have a question about graphic novels? Have a graphic novel you love and would like to share? Drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
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Buy Inked, a middle grade graphic novel by Karen Wasson and Jake A Minton