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Isabelle Melançon is a talented French-Canadian artist who creates enchanting fairy tale-infused comics about crows. This artist has been making cartoons for a solid decade now, and besides Crow Time, the ones we feature in this post, she is also a co-author of Namesake webcomic, which she creates with Megan Lavey-Heaton.

In an interview with Bored Panda, Isabelle said that all of her comics share a very common idea: that “little stories, like fairy tales, matter.” Regarding Crow Time specifically, Isabelle commented: “Much of Crow Time draws inspiration from the comics I loved as a child, like Moomin and The Smurfs by Peyo. Those whimsical stories, full of medieval fantasy and clever wordplay, shaped my imagination and continue to influence my work today.”

She also wrote her thoughts on the first comic: “I think Statue is deeply about grief and how it feels—like love for someone that no longer has a place to go. It’s about those small, quiet moments that linger after you lose someone.”

Without, further ado, let’s hop into the creative universe of Isabelle to explore friendship, perseverance, and a little bit of enchantment.

More info: Instagram | tiktok.com | x.com | webtoons.com | ko-fi.com | patreon.com

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    Statue

    Fairytale-like comic scene with a character placing a statue near crows, engaging in a whimsical conversation in nature.

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    Fairytale-like comic scene with a crow, a rock, a person in a cloak, and a scroll amidst nature.

    Fairytale-like comic with a magical figure and a talking crow reuniting in a whimsical scene.

    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic with a wizard and two crows having a humorous conversation in the forest.

    Image credits: secondlina

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    Furthermore, Isabelle shared what initially drew her to the world of artistry. 

    “I’ve been drawing and reading comics since I was very young, as my parents loved comics (they were also trekkies and loved things like Lord of the Rings). They were always very encouraging that me and my brothers participate in a form of art or a sport. I was drawn to art because it was present and encouraged.”

    Trinket

    Cute and funny fairytale comic of two crows conversing in a colorful forest setting.

    Image credits: secondlina

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    We were wondering about the creative process, to which Isabelle responded: “I don’t really have a specific process to find ideas, mostly, I try to give my brain space to let ideas grow. I make sure to keep a sketchbook where doodles can be ugly around, so I can jot down an idea as soon as I get it, and so I can return to it and build on it. It’s important to give yourself the space to think.”

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    Food Chatter

    Cute and funny comics with crows discussing food proverbs and sayings in a fairytale-like setting.

    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic featuring crows with witty dialogues and playful illustrations.

    Cute and funny crow comic with fairytale themes about taking risks, winning, and getting rewards.

    Image credits: secondlina

    As for the audience’s takeaway, Isabelle wrote: “I get a lot of messages from folks telling me my comics made them happy on a bad day or that reading through the Namesake archive got them through a hard month. I think more than anything else, these messages make me feel like I’m doing something with value. I want people to feel moved and happy.”

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    Birds like shiny things

    Comic illustration with a cute crow exploring trinkets, depicting a fairytale-like story.

    Image credits: secondlina

    Lastly, Isabelle added: “I want to tell people, “Thank you for reading.” Art is communication. The reader is what gives art its final layer of meaning or understanding. A comic being shared with friends or strangers completes it. I am so thankful for the people who take the time to read and support my work.”

    Seasons

    Cute crow going through seasons in a funny fairytale-like comic; ends with panicking about weather change in booties.

    Image credits: secondlina

    Teamwork makes the dream work!

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    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic of crows cleaning a nest in a tree.

    Cute and funny crow comic with crows in a nest using teamwork after a branch breaks.

    Image credits: secondlina

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    Halloween Masks

    Cute and funny comic featuring a crow presenting Halloween masks to a larger, mysterious bird in a graveyard.

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    Cute and funny crow comic in a fairytale-like setting with a crow wearing a pumpkin mask and interacting with other characters.

    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic with birds creating Halloween costumes using trash materials.

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    Hauntings

    Cute and funny comic featuring characters interacting with cartoon ghosts in a fairytale-like setting.

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    Comic with cute and funny fairytale-like ghosts discussing old tales, technology, and hiding in plain sight.

    Comic strip featuring a character with blue hair and a crow in funny, fairytale-like scenarios.

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    Pick your P****n

    Cute comic featuring a crow choosing magical accessories and encountering a whimsical adventure.

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    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic featuring a crow navigating whimsical adventures and challenges.

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    Cute and funny comic featuring a crow interacting with a ghost bed and a floating skull.

    Image credits: secondlina

    Jellybean Juice Found Again

    Cute and funny fairytale-like comic of crows discovering magical traces and colorful aura around their nest.

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    Cute comic featuring a crow finding colorful eggs in a nest, with a humorous and fairytale-like sequence of events.

    Wizard and crow in a fairytale-like comic catch flying eggs, using magic for comedic effect.

    Image credits: secondlina

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    Moon’s Haunted

    Cute and funny comic strip with crows discussing the moon in a fairytale-like setting.

    Image credits: secondlina

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    I sleep by your side. I see you in my dreams. Then I tell you about it

    Cute comic strip with a fox and a crow, snuggling under a blanket, sharing dreams in a fairytale-like setting.

    Image credits: secondlina

    Lantern Part

    Fairytale-like comic strip in blue and pink tones, featuring a character holding a lantern and encountering a magical creature.

    Comic strip showing a magical spellbag and a character in a fantasy setting, with whimsical and colorful illustrations.

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    Fairytale-like comic strip with magical characters escaping, featuring vibrant colors and mystical themes.

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    It’s that type of storm

    Cute crow characters in a whimsical fairytale comic, facing a storm with vibrant colors and playful text.

    Image credits: secondlina

    Nailed it

    Cute and funny crow comics with fairytale elements and humorous dialogue in vibrant illustrations.

    Image credits: secondlina

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