IT’S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an intimate metanarrative that looks into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival. It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an autobiographical graphic novel published by Image Comics and created by Zoe Thorogood. From conventions and being a newcomer to the industry to relationship car crashes, this autobiography has it all. It is fascinating to talk about the character within It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth as it is also the creator.

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth Review - But Why Tho? It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth Review - But Why Tho?

But there are pages where the comic turns into the script, or a video game parody, or verging on horror, or simply whatever the creator chooses her comic to be for a minute. As it jumps between scenes, the narrative could be considered disjointed but that is entirely a creative decision. I adore the way the art or writing doesn’t adhere to rules, and actively mocks the rules it is meant to follow. The colours are another fantastic display of the creator’s individuality and lack of want to stick to a rule.The book follows six months of the creator’s life, a chaotic and dramatic six months, whilst also exploring her upbringing. There are those that are hilarious and a burst of fun, then those that are haunting and devastating. A poignant and original depiction of a young woman's struggle with mental health—through the ups and downs of anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome—as she forges a promising career in sequential art and finds herself along the way.

Its Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth TP | Image Comics Its Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth TP | Image Comics

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an intimate and metanarrative look into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival. The intensity comes in waves but the plot is brilliant at both the quiet moments and at its noisiest. There are many moments when Thorogood paints herself as a bad person, or at least not saying the right things when needed. Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)"Thorogood taps into sensation and the way that it is experienced in a way that is unlike anything I’ve seen before. The fact that the art style changes so frequently and the writing can be both hilarious and heartbreaking demonstrates Thorogood’s jaw-dropping talent.Whilst it is bleak at times, the frank nature of this storytelling is something that should not be shamed at all. It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is the personality of the creator bottled up and poured into a book.