Depresso, Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Being Bonkers

by Brick.

Our world is plagued by madness. With leaders bent on insane policies and too many citizens locked in crippling depression, normality seems elusive and questionable.

Part travelogue, part indictment of mad medicine, 'Depresso' is Tom Freeman's hilarious journey through the vagaries of the system to emerge scathed but content with being 'bonkers'.

The story unfolds over several years, in China and the UK, during which anti-depressants reduce Tom to a zombie and alternative therapies drive him to comic re-examinations of his life, his work and relationships.

Throughout the adventure he is shadowed by the White Lizard, a familiar, a conscience, a pain in the arse who helps and hinders Tom's recovery, and is justly the butt of some wicked humour.

'Depresso' is only semi-fictional.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Psychology

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Greta G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depresso tells the semi-fictional story of Tom Freeman, the alter ego of the author Brick, who's the alter ego of John Stewart Clark, a British political cartoonist.

He suffered from a severe depression and created this tragi-comic graphic novel to release his rage and anger about the terrifying experience of madness and his frustrating attempts to get help from the UK's mental health system.

The story unfolds over several years, as we follow Tom's mental breakdown from his initial symptoms, through his suffering and treatment - medical and alternative - to the first signs of his recovery. Throughout the book, Tom has witty inner dialogues with an imaginary friend, a white giant lizard.

The story examines, with brutal honesty, wit and self-mockery, the toll that depression takes on the sufferer and on the people close to him. Tom's friendships suffer, and his relationship with his partner Judy almost fails. The story also examines the possible causes of his depression.

Depresso is impressively creative and intelligent, substantial and text heavy, with a lot of information to absorb.
It is humane, insightful and moving. At the same time it is wildly funny, angry and cynical.
Words and pictures paint an accessible and vivid portrait of what it means to be trapped in a black hole.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the back cover, this is "semi-fictional." Certainly the protagonist's name in the book is different from the name on the cover. The book is copyright to John Stuart Clark, which I assume is Brick's given name. However fictional or not it may be, the book is definitely enjoyable. Tom Freeman, a cartoonist, is diagnosed with depression, and struggles to cope with it, as well as the British health system, and society's view of mental disorders in general. Brick's style tends toward the text heavy, though not in a bad way. There's a lot of information to get across, after all. Artistically, his style reminds me of Alison Bechdel, maybe with hints of Howard Cruse. There are homages to various other comics, including Peanuts, and Brick varies his style accordingly. The story suffers a bit from the sheer amount of info crammed into it. Brick is juggling a lot of balls here, but just barely manages to pull it off. This is a deep, engrossing read, and I highly recommend it.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was alright, but literally read it when you're in a normal headspace because it's very depressing so:))) there was more nudity than i expected and Sexualness which was disgusting bc it is Drawn, but this so Heavy, also he's only on the road to recovery for like the last page at this point smh anyways i probably could've gotten more out of this if i were smarter but here we are so

what was the point of the liZARD

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was skeptical to pick up a copy of Depresso, I thought that the idea had the potential to be patronizing and self-depricating but Brick has created a really great novel.

I assume that Brick has suffered (or still suffers) with some kind of depression and it's nice to be able to hear about it from someone else's point of view. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the protagonists views and feelings, especially when it comes to the fact that doctors are great for handing out medication but terrible at listening and helping through other means. It's also good to know that I'm not the only one who is disenfranchised with how the NHS treat depressives and the mentally ill.

Wholly entertaining and true to life, altogether a fantastic read.

[Andrés Santiago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt really let down by this. Bought it after reading really positive reviews on Amazon.co.uk but the drawing didn't really appeal to me. Having said that, I'm an avid reader of graphic novels and I know the drawing is not the most important thing... The themes are interesting enough, but I don't like the way it's told, it's repetitive and pretty dull if you ask me... I might give this another chance in the near future, but my first impression is not that positive.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one at all, I couldn't connect to either the line work and the story itself, they just seemed to lack a little substance as if they were written in a vacuum. Granted the subject matter is difficult but I honestly expected something with more feeling and emotion, something that the reader could relate to on some level. Sadly this was not to be, at least not for me in any case.

[Eriq Beoku-Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tone and the drawings in this comic. Though it started strong it did drag on a bit in the middle and towards the end.

I think this is partially because the theme got a bit repetitive as it didn’t really add much that came before it. Also the plot points didn’t feel particularly significant, which made the structure feel disjointed.

Overall a fairly enjoyable read though. I’d recommend for anyone interested in depression. 3.5/5

[Essi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't relate to all but it had its moments.

[Rosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

brutally honest, deep and insightful, i really enjoyed this book and the writers openness right down to the crudest most personal detail. thankyou!

[Swampy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear god this was hard work. Good line work and, in theory, an interesting subject matter but for me the book just doesn't work. I don't have a good enough reason to justify only a two star other than the fact I didn't want to finish the comic. I was more keen to give up and start a new one. But, if you preserver until the end you do get some satisfaction but not enough for me to recommend you read it.

It's a really great subject matter that should challenge and be challenged. The comic platform should offer a great vehicle for expression and discussion. This comic just doesn't deliver anything I had hoped for.

Disappointing!

[Ayreon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, perhaps.

[Twan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure they sell depressos in Starbucks.

[Ginny]

I loved the idea of this but I just couldn't get into it. I didn't hate it but I also didn't want to carry on reading...

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too keen. Relatable but too long, preachy at times, cheesy, not my preferred art style or sense of humour. Still worth a look though for the articulation of aspects of depression.