Kabi Nagata

This was a LibraryThing recommendation alongside The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures by ND Stevenson. And while "The Fire Never Goes Out" is (in my personal opinion) is a book of messy feelings felt in the moment and looked at in hindsight, "My Wandering Warrior Existence" feels messy, but organized. It's the organization that helps the feelings come across in the way that's really effective and really makes the raw and confused feelings on display relatable - especially if you yourself have had difficulty with romance, sex and other relationship issues in the past. Even as an American, I feel the same pain and can relate to the mangaka's style. Speaking of which: this book makes references to her previous work, but doesn't require that you read them to fully understand what's going on. It references the other books, but it also summarizes whatever you need to know right then and there, which is really convenient and helps you get more invested in the other books in this series of manga/graphic novel memoirs.… (more)

I remember reading Fun Home and the diaries of Ariel Schrag as a baby gay and feeling seen, probably for the first time.

Reading Nagata Kabi’s works feels the same way. We need graphic, well told stories of the queer experience out there. The fact that these diaries also are so much about the feelings of isolation so prevalent to the human experience make them practically essential texts.

I don’t know, I just feel like she’s a major talent and it makes me feel so good when I’m at my lowest points not to feel alone. Her work definitely makes me want to create, and that’s no small thing for someone who hates so much of what he does as much as I do.

Anxiety about family, friends, work, sex, and overall enjoyment of life explored in painstaking detail, with humor and humanity. I’m obsessed.… (more)

A lot of reviews are talking about how “rough” and “difficult to read” this series gets. But the fact is that the experiences described in this volume are in fact how many people live their lives - with instability, and fear, without understanding that support is always there whether they know it or not.

I want to buy copies of Nagata Kabi’s books and give them to people in my life. She frankly displays her experiences with hospitalization. We see self-hatred, spiraling thought processes, and grace with economy and emotion. She’s a master of the form and I can’t wait to see what comes next.… (more)