For the month of May, SWKart is running a kickstarter for a graphic novel entitled Halfsoul, which deals with mental illness within a fantasy context. The story is set in a world where it’s possible to trade half of one’s soul for the power to grant one’s wish. Those who do become “halfsouls” and are often hunted for elimination. Follow the journey of four halfsoul hunters, with their own personal and questionable histories with halfsouls. What appears to be black and white becomes a story of vulnerability, mental illness, and recovery.
SWKart is run by Kelly Chen, who recently graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. When asked about her motivations for creating Halfsoul, she replied: “One of the things I’ve noticed is mental illness/ trauma stories tend to focus on the tragedy without much focus on the recovery. I don’t want Halfsoul to follow that path. It’s never a clear-cut journey to recovery, but I am trying to write the story with a focus towards recovery.”
To learn more about this compelling local graphic novel, visit the Halfsoul Kickstarter page.