I can’t explain how excited I was to get my review copy of Single Mothering in the post. A semi-autographical comic debut from Anna Härmälä, and a new addition to Nobrow Press’ graphic novel publications; what could be more exciting! As well as a physical copy of the book, Nobrow included a print, magnet, and bookmark as extra goodies to get the reader animated, and it certainly worked! With humorous snapshots lifted from the pages of the graphic novel, coupled with the beautiful pastel artwork, more than ever the swag made me want to dive right in (and the effort of putting it together by Nobrow was not unappreciated!). With my favourite being the magnet that now sits proudly on my fridge, stating ‘life’s hard, have the microwave macaroni’, I was ready to settle down and get started on this beauty.
The cover in particular made me laugh; depicting a newborn and mum on a medieval-looking horse, with dummies and milk bottles hanging from its appendages, toilet rolls wrapped around its tail and laundry hanging from the lance that the mother is holding. A trail of rubbish, dirty clothes and nappies is left in its wake, something I’m sure all new mothers can identify with! What follows is a series of comic vignettes, following single mother Mia and her newborn child Alma. Mia’s partner has left her, and it is clear that she is struggling; completely worn down by lack of sleep (‘Hey, you do know that sleep deprivation is considered actual torture by the UN, right?’), Mia doesn’t go into the ins and outs of the breakup, though we get more snippets of information as the comic goes on, but it’s clear that it was a very traumatising time for her. Understandably so, the future that she had envisioned for her child’s upbringing has been completely shattered, and wow, do people like to talk about it and dish out their sympathy! If Mia hears one more ‘it must be so hard!’ her head might just explode…
The vignettes flip between amusing modern-day scenarios (like imagining burning your ex’s house down whilst singing nursery rhymes at playgroup), and literary allusions, such as Kafka’s Metamorphosis or the Bible, in which Mia places herself in the role of the Caterpillar or Mary, with the outcome being a hilarious subversion of the original. In the intricately sketched Nativity scene, in which the cherubim and shepherds are drawn in the style of a petroglyph, much like the biblical version, many gather from ‘near and far’ to see the baby; however, in Mia’s version, ‘after the gossip, they all went away’.
This candid insight into single parenting is expertly crafted; with an equal balance of highs and lows, laughter, and sadness to remind the reader that, despite the humorous way in which it is being depicted, being a single mother is undoubtedly really hard! From being swamped in a river of dirty laundry which slowly envelops her to struggling to get the food shop up the many, many stairs to her apartment, Mia showcases the harsh, everyday realities that single parents face; things that would most often be taken for granted or overlooked by those who have a nuclear family, and someone to share the responsibilities with.
The artwork is visually gorgeous, with an emotive, smooth and eye-catching style, coloured in light pastels. The experimental nature of flipping between the modern day, and then using a completely different sketch style for her expressive allusions works incredibly well, and keeps the short comics linked to the narrative, but with a fresh perspective. Innovative, humorous, and self-deprecating, fans of irreverent comedy pieces like Benji Nate’s Girl Juice will adore the warmth and trail-blazing message of Single Mothering.
Anna Härmälä (W/A) • Nobrow Press, £14.99
Review by Lydia Turner
