Reaffirmation: Coming To Terms With An Autism Diagnosis, Reviewed
How about some heart, education, dispelling of myths, a deconstruction of social media culture and even a Rik Mayall quote? You’ll want Reaffirmation by Rees Finlay for all this and so much more.
Here's the thing, a bit of personnel honesty. I attempt to manage a couple of mental health issues mainly G.A.D (generalised anxiety disorder), a Bipolar disorder and Depression on a day to day basis. As such 2020 has been a difficult year, to say the least. I know so many people are struggling like me, with a lot of people dealing with much worse. There's many experiencing these things for the first time. Let alone those waiting for a diagnosis. People had problems before the virus let alone what has come with it. The point of mentioning this is that the following comic highlighted for me the importance of solidarity. In sharing your experience, because sometimes just knowing someone else shares your situation can be a comfort in itself. I think that’s important, it’s what this comic provides among many other things. I’d highly encourage anyone that might read this to try the same. Whether through this comic, or any way you can find to put what you're feeling anywhere other than in your head. Be honest with yourself about how you feel and understand the only weakness in sharing emotion is not having the strength to share it.
Reaffirmation: Coming To Terms With An Autism Diagnosis is a comic, novella, confessional, open-hearted experience. A powerful story offering a beautifully honest and informative window into the world of Autism from a newly diagnosed adults point of view.
So, let’s start with the art. Rees Finlay has a very interesting style. It’s got these heavy sketch lines that add a real edge that I really enjoyed. There’s a rawness to each panel that holds a certain charm. At times it feels like you can see a lack of belief in Rees' own abilities, and that's not a criticism, it’s more like Rees leaves his heart on each panel. Honest art for me. There’s edges, missed lines, and some small details that look like mistakes if you wanted to break down a classical technique view of this art, but I don’t think that would be fair as the art is so enjoyable. I felt that what some see as mistakes to rather be a reflection of the honesty on display throughout this comic. It’s very accomplished art. The depictions are clear and the emotional studies are really fantastic. This is not highly polished art, but it really shouldn’t be. This is an honest personnel story and the art reflects that. Other than the cover there is no colour involved, again this isn’t something that's missing as the subtle shading works perfectly to highlight those sketch qualities with its bold overlaid lines. More than pleasing enough.
Well, how about this story? It’s extraordinary. On face value, it could seem like a guide book or some sort of self-help textbook. However, the opening comic strip offers the first insight and shows with great honesty, Rees's life-altering moment. A diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder served as the catalyst for an existential crisis. His could easily have been the introduction to a self-aggrandising story of tackling this diagnosis, but very quickly Rees explains that this certainly isn’t that type of book. This instead is a very honest, personal story of Rees’s attempts to explore his identity and self-worth following a major diagnosis.
What follows is a very special look into Rees life with his new lens of Autism. Rees does something magical in breaking down all the facets of this disability, from its own history to the distinct areas of Rees life and how they are affected by it. Work, relationships, social media, free speech, hobbies and interests. Rees really leaves no stone unturned in his dissection of his own life, psyche and the role that Autism plays in it all. The introspection and honesty on display is truly beautiful. I have no formal knowledge of Autism but found recognition in aspects of anxiety and depression that offered a kinship of sorts, moreover, the knowledge offered on Autism itself was absolutely fascinating.
This comic serves to give a feeling that we are not all alone, as often the troubled mind would have you think. That’s really important, to read someone's experiences, that you can connect with is a powerful life preserver in these weirdest of times for anybody managing a disability or just trying to manage. There's even more on offer here though, using raw honesty, hope, despair, humour and insight with dissections of media, the occasional rant, mental health, politics, even my favourite Rik Mayall quote. Rees plants a flag of understanding with a call against prejudice. This experience educates, validates, questions, confronts and comforts. Brutally honest in a beautiful way and is completely compelling. Reaffirmation is a very special and important comic novella. I think this book would mean most to those managing this condition along with the families and friends that support them. At the same time, I think it’s important for anyone struggling in their life with something that they are not sure how to process, or anyone just honestly ignorant to Autism, as this provides an excellent entry point to such a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. It’s not a guide it’s just a gentle encouragement for self-exploration or at the very least to be more understanding of each other. Whatever you take from this just remember Autistic people can in fact see round corners no matter what the government tells you.
Reaffirmation: Coming To Terms With An Autism Diagnosis is wonderful. To learn more about Rees and to get your hands on a copy check out his website (https://reesfinlay.wixsite.com/website/reaffirmation) If you're after something a bit special from your edition I cannot recommend enough Rees Etsy shop Sketch cards and comics from illustrator Rees Finlay by ReesFinlay (etsy.com). Finally, follow him on Twitter @reesytime to keep right up to date with this wonderful creator.
Review: 5/5
