I Created 28 Relatable Comics About A Teenager Struggling To Accept Herself The Way She Is

A lifelong struggle with weight, body image, and eating issues inspired me to create the character of Franci. Just like Franci, I have been obsessed with changing my appearance, largely because my emotional eating was affecting it and I was trying to compensate for that. I was always busy dieting, overexercising, or experimenting with the craziest weight-loss strategies. It was exhausting! My sense of self-worth was tied to my success or failure in these endeavors. Eventually, I noticed that when I could laugh about my behavior, the pressure to change the way I looked was somewhat lifted. Humor, even about my darkest thoughts, was the best way to make progress for me. The first version of my character Franci took the form of a short film script. Having worked in the film business for many years, I knew how difficult it was to put a crew together and the money to shoot a film. Being able to just draw comics on my own seemed much more attainable and also a way to make it an ongoing, long-term project.

I try to show Franci’s conflict in a way that can be understandable and relatable even to those who don’t share her burden. She has a deep desire to fit the mold of the “thin and popular girl”. It’s an impossible battle, because she can’t give up getting comfort out of food, but she never stops trying. Obsession, in some form or other, is something most people can relate to. Sometimes Francis is able to reach through her denial and give her comfort. That’s when we see Franci’s heart. Francis is the friend I wish I had in my earlier years struggling with an eating disorder. But the truth is, he represents more of a parental figure. He’s really a very wise and understanding adult, disguised as a peer, a buddy.

I draw a lot from personal experience and brainstorm with my husband T.J., who understands the theme very well and is the funniest person I know. The way Francis reacts to Franci provides many of the punch lines. When I start drawing, I focus on pushing the emotion to its limits. I keep the dialogue as short as possible and rely on facial expressions and good timing to make my point.

I am self-taught, so naturally, I’ve had to spend a lot of time developing at least the basic skills necessary to start a comic series. I struggled with wanting to take more time to improve my drawings, but not having that luxury, if I was going to produce at least one comic a week. Over time, however, I learned when to stop and take a step back to improve a panel, and when to take shortcuts for the sake of keeping the momentum going. Another struggle has been with the tone of my comics. I often wonder if I should dive into darker aspects of my theme and expose a deeper level of Franci’s problem. It’s tough to do that and still be funny! I plan to explore that challenge by putting my characters in new settings in the future.

Eating disorders and the struggle with how our body looks are very private and they isolate us from others. I hope that the people who relate can feel like they are in good company with Franci and that it helps to be open about those feelings - enter Francis… Often we are focused on solving issues as if they were separate entities from ourselves when really they make up who we are and our unique humanity, and just sharing them with someone we trust is enough to live a better life. I hope all readers will pick up on the nuances of this theme: body issues, self-loathing, and eating disorders are not simple. Often they stem from trauma or have roots in a person’s earliest experiences. Laughter breaks the spell and opens the door to looking at things more honestly.

This comic is for you if…

1. You were ever a thirteen-year-old girl.

2. You take your weight and body size very seriously.

3. You take eating even more seriously.

4. You love food, eating, and baked goods.

5. You periodically decide you’re going to get in shape.

6. You periodically decide you’ll never diet again.

7. You hear cautionary tales about eating disorder behaviors and you immediately go home and try them out.

8. You have "a friend" who fits the bill.

9. You always wanted a pet pig who was also your best friend, could talk and help you with your math homework.

This comic is not for you if…

1. You’ve never had a moment of self-loathing in your life.