Borderline
Comic, Casey Harrison, 10 pgs, darkage.online, $20
Everyone has that person who changes them forever. Someone who helped them evolve into their higher selves. For Casey Harrison, that evolution was characterized in their fantastical zine Borderline. Harrison’s zine explores the wisdom one gains from adolescent experiences through the metaphor of a dragon and its hunger for a lamb. Harrison says, “I wrote it to make sense of the end of a tumultuous relationship… the lamb as a metaphor for the ‘good death’ of a relationship.”
Harrison, a lover of the fantasy genre and mythological creatures, crafts a beautiful story that enchanted the imagination and nostalgic pathos of its reader. The whimsical storytelling transports the reader into a world of pure fantasy that is matched by its gorgeous, ethereal illustrations. The geometric precision and details of the visuals created by Harrison are unmatched, giving the reader a feast for the eyes. You become lost in Harrison’s beautiful graphics that use only three colours that are so perfectly blended it mimics the look of watercolours. Harrison’s writing is steeped in imagery that tickles the senses and captivates your full attention. It truly feels as if one is about to embark on a 300-page Tolkien novel… but thankfully this zine is more economical with its words. Harrison’s story finishes strong with a stab to the heart that will make you stop and reflect about your own journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Borderline was the reminder I needed. The world can be a beautiful place when you decide to forgive yourself.
