THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2025! Sapphira Olson is a novelist and poet (Woman in the Ship, Parables, The Dandelion Tree, Android Author, Anna Newton Destroys the World, Stanley Park), but around these parts we would call Olson a multidisciplinary creator. The very appropriately titled The Gloriously Untrue Adventures of Sapphira is her first foray into comics (although she has published an art book titled Reflections, many of her books contain illustrations, and she has an online portfolio). This is a very rare type of comic we would presume to call a “personality” comic, where the creator stars in an entirely fictionalized story with themselves appearing in an usually fantastic type of story. When done right it can lead to something quite special. Short review: Olson did it right!
The Gloriously Untrue Adventures of Sapphira starts off with the titular Sapphira in a slightly disturbing, disjointed stream-of-consciousness monologue. Repeating panel grids, alternating with full pages, of Sapphira looking out of the panel at the reader make up this framing sequence. Once the reader is both hypnotized and confused enough, the real story begins as a Manga-style astronaut version of Sapphira searches for her (real life) cat, Felicette. Something is amiss as she encounters Captain Samantha on Anderson Base during her search.
The art by Olson is deceptive in many ways, the color framing sequence has some scratchy, rough line work that reminds one of fashion illustration or romance comics. However, we think Sapphira (the creator, not the character) is trying to get at something else with these effects. A manipulation of the perception of reality, by mixing herself as a fictional character filtered through a pop culture lens.
Then when Olson switches to the space story, the art morphs into a super slick, black and white, ligne claire style. The switch is shocking, yet it works wonderfully, contrasting with the framing sequence. The reader is kept off-balance throughout this whole comic, which I see as a strength and something to build upon in future issues.
Sapphira Olson (W/A/C), JJ (Layouts), Richard Starkings (L) • Self-published, £5.00
Review by Gary Usher
Back the Kickstarter here! (ends October 30th), debuting for the general public at Thought Bubble
Sapphira Olson and PSYComics will be at Table B18 in the 2000 AD 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
