Vera Bushwak
Created by: Say Burwash
Publisher: Sweepstakes and Quarterly Magazine
Publication date: September 2024
exist Vera Bushwak—— cartoonist Sig Burwash The first graphic novel from earlier this year – our main character Drew is building a new home for himself. They were deep in the forests of Nova Scotia— Fucking bugs! — There are plans for a plot of land and a cabin. They were well prepared to build this cabin, taking the time to learn to build, adopting a new dog, and doing it all with the utmost care. But first, they must learn to safely use a chainsaw to clear trees from the woods where their cabin will one day stand.
This drive to learn dangerous machinery is a compelling narrative throughout the book. There are scenes where characters discuss the very real dangers of cutting down trees with whirring blades, which injects a nice tension into the story. This is a narrative of man and nature at its core. It’s also the story of a major moment in Drew’s life, and as such, it’s not without a bit of danger, like any big move in life.
In between the work of building a new home deep in nature, Burwash also provides readers with many wonderful and rich visual sequences built around the protagonist’s inner world. We watch Drew spin around the pages as the butt-clad young man rides a powerful horse, wielding a chainsaw and cutting down all the trees and branches in his path. This is a great use of comics to give us a sense of how action makes our characters really feel, and it’s excellent comics that also speak directly to the protagonist’s journey and wider issues around gender integration, freedom and selfhood theme.
It also blends seamlessly into the reality of the book. There are times when internal sequences take over and run for several pages, and there are times when they share space with other things going on in the physical world, giving us an insight into not only what Drew is doing, but really how they see themselves yes Their true selves.
This is one of my favorite things about this book. I felt so close to Drew’s character, as if I had a deep understanding of their experience with the world. There are also some profound correlations to wanting to get away from it all, but Vera Bushwak Resist the urge to think of moving to the woods as a magical solution to all your problems. Drew still has to deal with locals who misjudged their gender, a creepy professor who was romantically interested in them in the past, and even a heartbreaking scene where their dog wanders off (don’t worry, the dog comes back… phew ).
world Vera Bushwak Well drawn, complex and realistic. I also feel the same way. Drew has a neighbor who teaches them how to use a chainsaw safely, and he initially acts like a pretty standard nature bro. As the book progresses, we slowly get to know this character better and learn about their own lives, challenges, and traumas. Nor is it a forbidden character, nor one designed to rap our knuckles and remind us that we each have our own story. No, it was just a real person and I thought it was a very well done micro-arc that added a lot to an already excellent book.
in the end, Vera Bushwak This is a stunning debut, a compelling story that raises questions about freedom, selfhood, and fulfillment. Don’t miss it.
Vera Bushwack is available now from Drawn & Quarterly.
Check out more graphic novel reviews from The Beat!
