REVIEW: ‘It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth’

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an autobiographical graphic novel published by Image Comics and created by Zoe Thorogood. The book follows six months of the creator’s life, a chaotic and dramatic six months, whilst also exploring her upbringing.

The plot is brilliantly structured as it creates an unstable narrative. Thorogood very quickly sets the tone and the premise. Both the darkness and the infectious humour of the graphic novel are clear from the start, focusing on the chaotic writing style more than the story to begin with. It is like a collection of thoughts, slightly different from what the rest of the book is like. The story is as stark and as honest as it comes, embracing the life of one specific comic creator. From conventions and being a newcomer to the industry to relationship car crashes, this autobiography has it all. It can switch from telling a story to a panicked, anxious comment about telling the story. This comic is incredibly meta, tapping into the creation of itself frequently.

Thorogood gets very dark in this comic, speaking openly about suicide and self-harm. Whilst it is bleak at times, the frank nature of this storytelling is something that should not be shamed at all. As it jumps between scenes, the narrative could be considered disjointed but that is entirely a creative decision. The intensity comes in waves but the plot is brilliant at both the quiet moments and at its noisiest. The progression in the book is subtle yet powerful, showing a beautiful change in the mindset of the writer.

It is fascinating to talk about the character within It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth as it is also the creator. What is most notable is the sheer honesty that Thorogood instills into a simply stunning script. There are so many layers of it. There are these different voices that are various aspects of the writer’s personality, chastising the character through her life and belittling her. The opening shows a lot of self-deprecating humour that is carried throughout. It is extremely harsh, and a lot seems taken from memories, but there is a point to it. It is a book that encapsulates the voice of its creator better than perhaps any comic I’ve ever read. The sheer variety demonstrates the immense talent of the writer. Off-the-cuff jokes are then switched into really poignant monologues. There are many moments when Thorogood paints herself as a bad person, or at least not saying the right things when needed. 

The art is phenomenal, just as chaotic as the writing but also just as mesmerising. There are abstract, ludicrous parts to character designs. Other figures are given animal heads, sometimes uneasy. What shines about the art is the fact it seems so different. There is not a uniform panel layout that is maintained page-by-page. Sometimes the art style changes or still images are thrown in. This is most evident at the start, where some text is etched on like paint. But there are pages where the comic turns into the script, or a video game parody, or verging on horror, or simply whatever the creator chooses her comic to be for a minute.

Then there are the different facets of Thorogood’s depression and personality. These differences are easy to identify but so powerful. At times Thorogood presents herself as an almost featureless being, or as a more detailed caricature of herself. Then the huge shadow that is her depression resembles a brilliant Studio Ghibli tribute, traumatising and disturbing. But there are so many unique pages and designs. There are those that are hilarious and a burst of fun, then those that are haunting and devastating.

The colours are another fantastic display of the creator’s individuality and lack of want to stick to a rule. Some pages have bits of colour and others are completely is black and white. The lettering is just as ever-changing. For different speakers and segments, the font can be altered entirely. 

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is the personality of the creator bottled up and poured into a book. Constantly evolving and shifting, this is an adventure within an autobiography. Thorogood’s honesty at all points is the driving force of the graphic novel, whether it be about wanting to die or sex or being a bad friend. The palpable pain and sadness as memories are brought up made my hands shake. But there are moments of peace, joy and hope. That balance is key. And laying it all on the table with the ferocity she does brings the power to the page. But this isn’t just a delf-deprecating set of jokes. The fact that the art style changes so frequently and the writing can be both hilarious and heartbreaking demonstrates Thorogood’s jaw-dropping talent.

I adore the way the art or writing doesn’t adhere to rules, and actively mocks the rules it is meant to follow. The versatility makes you sob then laugh then feel guilty because you laughed. 

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is available where comics are sold.