SIDE EFFECTS

It’s Hannah’s first year away at college – the first time she’s been away from home, without a support network. Within the first month, the combination of classes and socializing and adjusting to college life sends her into a full-on breakdown. Fortunately, her roommate finds her, Hannah goes to campus mental health, and they prescribe her therapy and meds — though with every new medication, you’ve got to watch out for unexpected side effects.

Every new medication Hannah tries comes with a new power and side effect. One makes her super-tough, and also makes her gain thirty pounds. Another gives her telepathy, while also completely screwing up her sleep schedule. Yet another gives her super-strength, as well as terrible constipation.

Nothing balances, but the powers are handy; Hannah even manages to save a few of her friends from mortal peril, or at least minor annoyances. And with the growing confidence from her powers and her therapy, Hannah even manages to ask out the cute girl she’s been eyeing!

Hannah doesn’t want to be a hero – she just wants to be well. But what does “well” even look like? What does it mean to be “healthy,” mentally speaking? How do you fix your brain when you’re living inside it? And can you really help other people if you can’t even help yourself?

FAMILIAR TONE: This story is a mix of Giant Days and Ben 10 and is similarly a slice of life dramedy with light magical realism.

MENTAL HEALTH: This story tackles mental health, medication, and therapy in a positive and supportive way and shows how someone's life is improved by the medication they take.

RELATABLE: This story will be relatable to contemporary young adults.

Ted Anderson is a librarian, educator, and comics writer from Minnesota. He has written licensed and creator-owned comics for multiple publishers, including BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, and Aftershock Comics. He lives in Minneapolis with several plants and zero regrets. To the best of his knowledge, he is not an internationally renowned spy.

Tara O'Connor is comic maker and illustrator currently residing in Belfast. She was born in the year of the Highlander. When she's not drawing comics or teaching comics, she's probably working on an illustration of some sort.