Those who scrutinised the results of the 2023 Broken Frontier Awards will remember that Caroline Cash’s PeePee-PooPoo won in the category of Best Periodical Series. And deservedly so. I have described PeePee-PooPoo at BF as blending the “sensibilities of alt, autobio, experimental, underground and genuinely indie comics” while still retaining its own distinctive voice. In a relatively short period of time it, and of course Cash’s practice specifically, have built up a significant growing profile, with each new instalment feeling noticeably more confident in style and storytelling.
In the most recent issue, the ever idiosyncratically numbered PeePee-PooPoo #80085, Cash collects another selection of autobiographical shorts that range from the fleeting and the ephemeral to the pensive and the profound. There’s added opportunity for colour this time round and Cash uses this intuitively in creating atmosphere, sometimes applying it liberally and on other occasions in a more limited and subdued way to reflect the individual mood of a strip.
Ironically in this case, the subtle sophistication of Cash’s use of the page throughout her work to guide the reader’s eye is immediately apparent in the opening one-pager ‘Boobs’ (above), wherein an ever narrowing panel focus bring her admiration of all things mammary to the very forefront of our attention. This is also notable in ‘Victoria’s Secret’ (below) where she revisits life as “a gay virgin” in 2010 and her unease at walking past the lingerie store for fear she would be seen staring at its displays and considered “a pervert”. Look at the way Cash centres herself in the sample page below, exuding paranoia and sweaty terror, while all around are totally oblivious to her plight.
The highlight this time around is ‘Danny’s’ (below) which, again, has that universality of appeal that is often so evident in Cash’s work. We all have fond memories of that favourite but now gone social space; be it one from our formative years or one that is associated with a particularly important period of our lives. Here Cash commemorates a much loved bar using a limited colour palette and inspired lettering and sound effects choices to create a bustling feeling of place and time. Anecdotal yet instantly recognisable this fragmented yet overarching compilation of memories and experiences is some of Cash’s finest work to date.
From thoughts on the life of a cartoonist to a throwaway but instantly endearing gag about canine nomenclature, through to the tactile delight of a sticker sheet, this issue highlights a series that deserves all the attention it continues to garner. Reading PeePee-PooPoo at this stage feels like being there at the start of something very special; a title that is undoubtedly going to be up there in the pantheon of autobio/underground greats in years to come.
Caroline Cash (W/A) • Silver Sprocket, $9.99
Review by Andy Oliver
