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jessmakescomics.bsky.social
@jessmakescomics.bsky.social
270 followers 120 following 46 posts
I make comics and illustrations, often about disability/mental health.
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jessmakescomics.bsky.social
I have stickers for sale in support of Palestine. £1 from each sale going to @medicalaidpal.bsky.social DM me for details. #palestine #stickers
Sticker of an origami boat in the colours of the Palestine flag on a soft grey beige background. Text : from the river to the sea
October 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
This is the 3rd of my collaborative comics and Tom Wrigley has done an absolutely amazing job illustrating it! I drafted this back in May and the situation has changed since then - the benefits bill passed in a reduced state so I won’t lose as much. But others will. So we continue to fight.
A 6 panel comic. This image shows 4 panels. Panel 1: A wrapped bunch of peonies. Text: ‘I’ve been craving abundance’. Panel 2: The same bunch of peonies in a vase, they have opened into full bloom. Text: ‘I bought a bunch of peonies the size of my head’. Panel 3: A large box of fruit labelled Crowdfarming. The fruits are apricots and cherries. Text: I ordered 2.5kg of apricots and cherries for my birthday. Panel 4: A stack of library books, some of them look rather hefty. Text: I borrowed 6 hardback books to last me 2 weeks. The final 2 panels of a 6 panel comic are on this page. Panel 5: The bunch of peonies in a vase is shown from a different angle. There is a bowl of apricots and cherries next to it. Text: It seems to make no sense, with the PIP cuts coming. I’m set up to lose £3000 a year. Panel 6: The bunch of peonies is in the centre of the panel with the bowl of fruit on one side, and the stack of books on the other. Text: But it’s because of the PIP cuts. Abundance makes me feel safer, if only for a while.
September 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
I drew the young fox that’s been poking around my estate for a while. The adorable little shit has figured out how to open my fox-proof food waste bin.
Watercolour and pencil sketch of young fox sniffing the ground. Labelled Resident Fox
September 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
#cartoonistsforg4za @brokenfrontier.bsky.social
An 8 panel comic about Gaza. Panel 1 shows a woman holding her emaciated child. Text: What can I say in the face of these horrors Panel 2 shows a news feed on a mobile phone. It reads ‘Latest: Vatican News: Death Toll in Gaza nears 59000’, Al Jazeera: ‘Israel has killed nearly 19000 children’ Text above the image: Words are inadequate. They fail me. Panel 3 shows a hand drawing a heart on a piece of paper. Text: Instead all I can do is put my heart down on this paper. Panel 4 shows 2 hands folding the piece of paper with the red heart drawing clearly showing. Text: Fold it lovingly and with care The 2nd page of an 8 panel comic. Panel 5 shows a woman bending down to put a small paper origami boat into a stream. The boat has a heart drawn on it. Text: And release it. Panel 6 shows a wide river filled with origami boats with hearts drawn on them. Text: In the hope that if enough of us do the same something will change. Panel 7 shows an origami boats with hearts in the colours of the Palestinian flag. Text: From the river to the sea Panel 8 says in large letters FREE PALESTINE. The letters are in the colours of the Palestinian flag.
August 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
This is my 2nd collaboration comic, this time with the wonderful @claudiamatosa.com
I drafted this comic before the Benefits Bill passed but the message remains depressingly relevant.
‘Skivers vs strivers’ is back in the press and I just want to remind all disabled people, you are valuable.
A 7 panel comic in muted pastels and rich blues and burgundies. Panel 1 shows a dog and cat sleeping in a basket while a mouse sneaks past them. Text: “I love cats and dogs” Panel 2 shows the cat in close-up, opening one eye to look at the mouse. The mouse is sweating nervously. Panel 3 shows the cat and dog back asleep in the basket and smiling. The mouse is sleeping on top of the dog. Text: ‘Regardless of whether or not they catch mice’ Panel 4 shows a newspaper in a paper rack. The headline reads ‘skivers vs strivers’, there are two subheadings reading ‘benefit cheats’ and ‘make Britain great again’. Text: “Yet we are told that disabled people need to work to be of value” Panel 5: A disabled woman in a dress wearing glasses is lying on a sofa looking drained. A walking stick is on the floor. Text: “But many of us are unable to work. No matter what rhetoric the government uses.” Panel 6 has no images. Written in large white letters on a blue background it says “DISABLED PEOPLE ARE VALUABLE” Panel 7 shows the dog, cat and mouse asleep together in the same basket again. They look happier than ever. There is a puddle of drool under the dog’s mouth. Text: “Our value does not depend on our ability to work.” All 7 comics are watermarked @bookcoverdrawing and @claudiamatosa
July 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
Loose sketchy drawing of a pair of headphones with handlettered text underneath saying ‘I keep waiting for things to get better’
July 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
I have collaborated with my friend @hollycasio.bsky.social on this script about how the government’s planned benefit cuts make me feel like I’m going batshit crazy and THAT IS DELIBERATE
Holly has done an absolutely brilliant job bringing my script to life and I wish I had the hair she’s drawn me.
Page 1 of an 8 panel comic. There are 4 panels on this page and 4 on the next. The comic is beautifully coloured in delicate rainbow shades. Panel 1: text: “When I was in a long-term relationship, my partner and a mutual friend came to me” Image: a man with blonde hair and a woman with blue hair are walking in a park, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes. The man is labelled ‘my partner’. The woman is labelled ‘not me’. The man is saying “We have fallen in love and we want to be together.” Panel 2. The blonde man is smiling slightly sheepishly. He is saying “But we’re not having sex out of respect for you.” Panel 3. I looking upset and scratching my head. I am wearing a yellow jumper and have amazing pink/purple streaked hair. I am thinking “But I don’t feel respected” Panel 4. Text: I was being gaslighted. I am clutching my head in both hands and frowning. Surrounding me are question marks. I am thinking “I feel like I’m going nuts.” Page 2 of an 8 panel comic. There are again 4 panels on this page. Panel 1. Text: “Now the government are talking in a familiar way”. Keir Starmer is shown. He is on television. He has his serious ‘let’s roll our sleeves up’ face on. At the bottom of the screen is a ticker tape that says “Breaking news. Keir Starmer: disabled people have it too easy” Panel 2. Keir Starmer is shown from a bit further away. He is standing at a podium that says Conservatives scribbled out with Labour written above that. He is still looking serious. He is saying “We are cutting your benefits for your own good” Panel 3. I am seen clutching my head again. I am wearing the same clothes as before. I am thinking “But I CAN’T work. So how will this help me?” Panel 4. Text: I am not falling for this shit again. Disabled people’s value doesn’t depend on their ability to work. The panel shows a protest against disability cuts. There are a variety of people sitting in wheelchairs and standing both with and without mobility aids. They are holding banners that say ‘Welfare not Warfare’ ‘Pip Fraud £0, Tax Evasion £5.5billion’ ‘Cuts Kill’, ‘If you want my benefits you can have my disability’ ‘Crips Against Cuts’.
May 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
CW: suicide, premature death, ableism
I drafted this comic the day after the government here in the UK announced drastic cuts to disability benefits.
If you are able to, please take the time to sign the petitions by Sense or Scope, or write to your MP. There are signs that the pressure is working.
A 4 panel comic is shown, mostly in shades of grey. Panel 1 image: a middle-aged woman cleaning her teeth in the mirror. Text: While I was brushing my teeth last night. Panel 2 text: I had a dark thought. Panel 2 image: The same woman is shown in close-up thinking ‘If I lose my benefits I’ll just kill myself’. Panel 3 text: How many millions of disabled people in the UK thought about their premature deaths last night. Panel 3 image: 2 repeating rows of multiple worried-looking men cleaning their teeth. Panel 4 text: This government is going to have blood on its hands. Panel 4 image: a toothbrush is lying flat on a surface spattered and pooled with blood. The blood is red which is the only colour in the whole comic. The comic is dated 19.03.25, the day after the government’s formal announcement of disability benefit cuts.
March 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
Grief Diaries #4 This one is loose and rough but I needed to get something down on the page about the weight of grief and how much harder it is to carry with the stress of the benefits changes the UK govt is proposing. #griefcomics #diarycomics #disabilitycomics #disabilityrage #stopthecuts
A 4 panel comic showing a woman carrying a bundle. Panel 1 text: Your death is a burden I have been happy to carry. Panel 2 text: Although it’s been heavy and lonely, it’s the last thing I can do for you. I want to carry you with me. Panel 2 image: The woman is carrying the bundle strapped to her back. The bundle is golden and slightly glowing. The woman is walking with a shepherd’s crook. Panel 3 text: But I also have my own burdens. Panel 3 image: the image shows the woman with the bundle still strapped to her back. She is carrying black bundles in her arms labelled ‘mental health, ‘DWP’, ‘chronic illness’ and ‘proposed benefits cuts’. Panel 4 text: And sometimes it’s all too much. Panel 4 image: the woman is standing alone with all the bundles strapped to her back. She is leaning heavily on the shepherd’s crook and knees are buckling. She is either standing in a large patch of shadow or about to fall into a hole.
March 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
I made a lil comic about hating my art style and hating my appearance. I feel like grief has aged me about 10 years in 3 months. #griefcomics #diarycomics #artstyle #artstylestruggles #goodtimess
4 panels of a haggard looking female face. The first panel is grey and each one gets brighter. Text in panel 1: ‘Every so often I never want to draw again’. Text panel 2: ‘I think I hate my drawing style so much’. Text panel 3: ‘And then I doodle something I love’. Text panel 4: ‘And then all I want to do is draw - and round it goes’. The art style of the comic is fairly realistic and looks like a rough pencil sketch or an etching.
March 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
3 months today since you died. A whole season has passed. Grief has totally fucked with my perception of the passage of time. It feels like it’s been a month and a year simultaneously. #grief
Wonky drawing of a candle on a tan coloured background. The candle is scented and lit. On the label it says ‘La Luna’ ‘Siberian pine, eucalyptus, cedar wood’ ‘Halvana’, ‘plant wax’. The candle is a symbol both of grief and of hope in grief.
February 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
#wip #candle
A small tea light candle is being lit with a taper. Underneath it says ‘a light in the darkness’. The candle and taper are in colour but the rest of the drawing is a soft dove grey/brown colour.
February 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
Grief Diaries #3 Remembering the shitty things is part of grief too. #griefcomics #diarycomics #beingabitofadick #stealingnapkins
A 2-panel comic about grief. The first panel shows a drawing of a man in a scruffy jacket with messy hair. The text reads: Some days I think about how annoying you were. The drawing is labelled with 5 arrows. They read: 1. Either needs a haircut OR just got one that looks like an SS officer. 2. Impish expression because he’s stoned off his tits and it’s only 11.30am. 3. About to say some unspeakable political nonsense. 4. £20 jacket from M&S, falling apart 5. Just stole 10,000 napkins from Pret for no apparent reason. Panel 2 shows a woman crying wearing headphones. The text reads: But other days all I can think of is. Surrounding the drawing of the woman are the words I MISS YOU written multiple times.
February 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
Grief Diaries #2
A 6 page comic coloured in shades of blue and grey. Panel 1 caption: ‘The January light is silvery blue’. This panel shows blue light shading to a warm grey. Panel 2 caption: ‘The clouds tinged with pink’. This panel shows the same background but with pinkish clouds. Panel 3 caption: ‘It’s been 6 weeks since you died. At first the pain was like looking at bright light.’ The panel shows a bright sun low in the sky above silhouetted buildings. Panel 4 caption: ‘But over time it feels less intense. Hazy, less clear, darker’. The panel shows the same sun without building, the light is more muted and the sky is darker. Panel 5 caption: ‘And harder to distinguish’ The panel shows a close up of the sun with clouds moving to cover it. Panel 6 caption: ‘From fogs of depression’ The final panel shows the sun being obscured by clouds. Everything looks greyer and foggy. The sunlight is more watery.
January 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM
jessmakescomics.bsky.social
Grief comic I made last month for a dear friend and ex I lost 2 months ago.
January 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM