At first glance, Lawrence Lindell’s new graphic novel We All Got Something is about mental health, trauma and feeling perpetually misunderstood.
By the end of the book’s 170 pages, however, you realize this is ultimately a story about grace. The importance of offering grace to those around us, even when they don’t always deserve it. Giving grace to ourselves when we’re in the process of healing. And the deep and lasting difference grace can make when we’re on the receiving end of it.
We All Got Something walks us through Lindell’s recovery process after a series of terrible events befell him: a painful breakup, a random act of violence, a failed attempt to relocate overseas. The story begins with his struggle to get back in step with his old life in Compton — with his art, his music, his family and his own mind.
At times, Lindell’s sense of isolation is so palpable, the pages with zero dialogue feel louder and more claustrophobic than those with words.
In this, Lindell’s second graphic novel for Canadian comic company Drawn & Quarterly, the now–San Francisco-based cartoonist has crafted a story that consistently succeeds in stirring big emotions. Heartbreak, giddiness, despair and hope all leap off the page, despite the book’s black-and-white format and casual illustration style. In Lindell’s hands, even the simplest of illustrated text exchanges can convey a gut punch. That’s a testament to how effectively he imbues his work with vulnerability and honesty — even when doing so doesn’t present himself in the most flattering light.
