Review: I Let Love Destroy Me and All I Got Was This Stupid Comic
How about a journey of self discovery born through the wake of a difficult breakup, utilizing a self defined "Slut Era" navigating online dating and the trappings of casual relationships, in art of beautifully charming minimalist presentation? I Let Love Destroy Me and All I Got Was This Stupid Comic by Hel Mel is the ride you want for all this and more.
Hel Mel is a Ireland based animation artist, illustrator and comic person. Their work is tender, queer and witty, exploring themes of community, relationships and nature. Their previous works include The Sisterhood and The Ring and The Duel Of Baron Gogglepox along with a smorgasbord of zines, prints and paintings and have worked on projects for the likes of Netflix, Apple TV and Nickelodeon.
This is the second of three books to come out of Quindrie Press and the Quindrie Press 2025 collection, alongside "Estrela d'Oeste" and "Ways To Kill My Mother's Lover (With Limited Pocket Money and Minimal Mess)". Quindrie Press is the multi-award-nominated Scottish micropublisher based in Edinburgh and helmed by the incredibly talented Eve Greenwood who does great work providing creators the opportunity to publish passion project comics. They also do wonderful charity work donating a portion of all PDF sales to different charities and organisations that support marginalised communities in Scotland. Amazing talents introduced. What's the deal here?
So, let's start with the art. Hel Mel has created joyous art for this one with strong simple lines in a minimalist presentation. The cartoony style showcases really great emotional work with characters. Amongst the art is peppered with moments of artistic flair like the "monkey experiment" page or the "Shakespear or someone quote" page. The juxtaposition between these refined depictions adds a more diary-like personal note to the simpler moments.
There is something about this art style that does feel very inviting and confessional, almost voyeuristic with its delivery. The grey and white colour palette also adds to this, creating an air of visual memories to bolster the personal nature of this art. There's a charming sweetness to the style as well, which creates an accessible atmosphere over the comic that is very inviting. Awesome art detailed, what's the story?
I Let Love Destroy Me is a resolutely honest look into a period of Hels love life. It's the story of rebound from heartbreak, of rediscovering oneself and the trappings of validation through casual relationships. There's a fierce view of online dating apps and the pitfalls therein. There are sprinkles of tongue-in-cheek self-help tips and some brutal self-examination towards emotional attachment and appraisal of one's dating profile and habits.
The honesty on offer is really beautiful with a no holds barred approach to intimate moments without portraying explicit content. At least not any further than PG-13ish. Although the language can be a bit coarser. It's really touching to see this level of honesty as it offers the chance for self reflection through solidarity. Hel also makes a well balanced delivery of humour, personal tragedy and universal love observations, resulting in an engaging, encapsulating read that offers comfort and caution. By the end, you'll be enamoured with Hel and maybe a little heartbroken for them.
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For fans of love, relationships, dating, dating apps, no holds barred delving into defined slut era dynamics with a misguided belief that kissing three people is the key to ending heartbreak, dodgy app algorithms, broken toys for broken people, coarse language and cartoony grey and white art with beautiful minimalist lines it's a perfect match for I Let Love Destroy Me and All I Got Was This Stupid Comic.
For more Hel, check out their Bluesky, Insta or website. To get your copy, you want the Kickstarter campaign here. It's your chance to get your hands on three stories about relationships and love from three creators with ties to Ireland. There's a host of awesome rewards, so I hope you've already gone.
Review:5/5
