During last's Comics Apéro, we discussed how health has been depicted in comic books over the years and we touched upon both mental and physical illnesses.
Because of the nature of the topic, comics about health are usually autobiographical. They are either written from the perspective of the author being ill him or herself or witnessing a loved one becoming so.
The landmark of the genre is L'Ascension du Haut Mal by David B. Based upon his brother's struggles with epilepsy, in this six volume story, David B shows the absurdities of the medical sector in the 1970s. Besides, for the family, it takes a while before they can accept what is going on and we follow their adventures as they are desperately trying to find a "cure".
David B, with the first volume of L'Ascension du Haut Mal (published in 1996) and the creation of L'Association (publishing company) introduced France to the possibility of autobiography in bande dessinée. He definitely opened a door and from the mid 2000's a plethora of artists also started telling their own personal, emotional stories, and not hesitating to resort to humour and auto-derision when necessary.
L'Ascension du Haut Mal (Epilepsy)
L'Ascension du Haut Mal by David B, 1996 - 2003, L'Association
Epileptic by David B, Fantagraphics
Petit polio
Petit polio by Farid Boudjellal, 2000, Soleil Productions
Pilules Bleues (AIDS)
Pilules Blues by Frederik Peeters, 2001, Atrabile
Blues Pills by Frederic Peeters, Jonathan Cape
Allergies
Allergies (tome 7 from the Agrippine series) by Claire Brétécher, 2008, Dargaud
Blast (Bipolarity)
Blast by Manu Larcenet, 2009, Dargaud
Trois ombres
Trois ombres by Cyril Pedrosa, 2007, Delcourt
La guerre des tétons (Breast cancer)
La guerre des tétons by Lili Sohn, 2015, Michel Lafon
La boule à zero (Cancer)
La boule à zéro by Zidrou and Ernst, 2018, Bamboo Eds
Les deux vies de Baudoin (Cancer)
Les deux vies de Baudoin by Fabien Toulmé, 2017, Delcourt
La différence invisible (Asperger syndrome)
La différence invisible by Julie Dachez, 2016, Delcourt
Invisible Differences by Julie Dachez, Oni Press
Carnet de santé foireuse (Crohne disease)
Carnet de santé foireuse by Polza, 2015, Delcourt
Temps mort (Depression)
Temps mort by Gilles Rochier, 2008, 6 Pieds sous Terre
C'est comme ça que je disparais (Depression)
C'est comme ça que je disparais by Mirion Malle, 2020, Ville Brule Eds La
Tu mourras moins bête (medicine and doctors in general)
Tu mourras moins bête - tome 2 by Marion Montaigne, 2012, Ankama
HP (life in a psychiatric hospital)
HP by Lisa Mandel, 2009, L'Association
Arrugas (Alzheimer)
Wrinkles by Paco Roca, 2007, Fangraphics
Ambulance 13 (nursing during WWI)
Ambulance 13 by Patrice Ordas and Patrick Cothias, 2010
L'incroyable histoire de la médecine : de la préhistoire à nos jours
L'incroyable histoire de la médecine by Philippe Bercovici and Jean-Noël Fabiani, 2020, Les Arènes
Browse through our catalogue to discover the comics which are available to borrow from La Médiathèque
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