Detached by Angela Oddling, is an ongoing comic series which began in 2018, and first published in 2022, in which Oddling explores her mental health journey, and subsequent diagnosis with PTSD.
Detached Vol. 1 begins in a psychedelic dream sequence, in which protagonist Casey, a self-insert of Oddling, reveals that something traumatic has recently occurred. Completely illustrated in greens and blacks, she is found lying naked in the middle of the road, by a mystical being named Camael. After confiding in this strange spirit that she had gone to sleep hoping not to wake up, it soon becomes clear that Casey has attempted to take her own life, symbolised by a large, heart-shaped hole in her chest, with a cacophony of swirling stars inside.
Following Camael into his underground ‘house’, the tone dramatically changes; everything appears beautiful, and there is colour again, as pink flowers blossom beneath their feet. But his ‘friends’, small black monsters named oddlings, make Casey uncomfortable. In the succeeding issues, we learn more about what caused her to get to such a dark place mentally, both through her dreams and her interactions with the strange creatures she meets in Camael’s world, including a large, looming figure with a skull for a face, who has a vested interest in her well-being, and protecting her from harm.
The first thing that caught my eye about the Detached series, was its beautiful colour palette. Similar to Benji Nate’s pastel, cartoonish style, Oddling’s use of colour, lines and wide-eyed expressions is remarkable. By reviewing all four editions in the Oddling series, it was incredible to see Angela grow as an artist, and watch her stylistic choices develop. Visually, the art style is beautiful, with whimsical, cutesy characters. The sketches became more precise, the colouring more effective, and the lettering clearer. Her representation of mental health struggles was incredibly apt; I could immediately identify with how Casey was feeling when she had a panic attack after feeling overwhelmed at a new job. With the lettering becoming overwhelming, and invading her personal space, the panel slowly turns black as the oddlings, a representation of her personal demons, take over.
As well as packing an emotional punch, Detached is also unexpectedly humorous for a comic with such a dark subject matter. From Camael mistaking freshly baked biscuits for breasts, to childish name-calling, Oddling does a fantastic job of keeping what could be a very depressing graphic novel light, breezy and relatable, with a much-needed dose of magic to brighten everyday situations.
As of this year, Oddling has successfully funded and self-published all four volumes of Detached, which are available to buy on her webstore. I hope to see much more of the Detached series, and Oddling’s development, in the future.
Angela Oddling (W/A) • Self-published, $12.00
Review by Lydia Turner
