THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2025! Viraj Joshi’s Eliza – The Ghost in Every Machine: The Complete Collection came us something of a revelation. If you imagine science comics as likely to be dry or a lifeless procession of expository information then be assured that Eliza – The Ghost in the Machine is neither of those things. Rather it is an absorbing compilation of cartoons and comics bringing complex ideas to the audience in an entirely digestible way.
Eliza herself is introduced as a kind of elemental spirit of technology and innovation who came into being as a symbolic entity of human advancement. Joshi uses her as a way to then tackle questions concerned with our connection to technology from a philosophical perspective. The book first sees Eliza born from our interaction with primitive tools and moving through classical eras, the industrial revolution, the moon landing and more through to our own contemporary computer era.
Joshi then takes us through chapters asking questions about a plethora of related questions, including humanity’s relationship with machines; whether artificial intelligence can ever truly be sentient; does technology amplify our capabilities or our complacency; and if we will ever be able to deal with other forms of digital life more intelligent than us? All of this embodied within clever one-page cartoons or short comic strips.
Joshi’s cartooning has a fun, open quality to it as he gives us accessible entry points into these existential talking points through a spotlighted visual approach. There’s deeper social commentary here that sits alongside witty observational humour about recognisable frustrations with tech that will be familiar to us all. Eliza – The Ghost in Every Machine: The Complete Collection is proof positive that comics, as a medium, has a remarkable ability to communicate complex ideas in a way that stimulates thought and consideration. An ingenious and highly recommended collection.
Viraj Joshi • Self-published, £20.00
Review by Andy Oliver
Viraj Joshi will be at Table D18b in the Redshirt Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2025 runs from November 1oth-16th with the convention weekend taking place on the 15th-16th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2025 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster by Ng Yin Shian
