The Story: After a year, the death of her friend still haunts Alix Otto. Stalked by a shadowy hound, she is institutionalized after a desperate series of events. Barking tells the story of Alix’s journey through her grief and the system.
Art Style: Sullivan’s book is fully in black and white. The pencilled style gives a feeling that is both ethereal and raw. When searching for my next read, her erratic art style attracted me to this book. The layout was fluid throughout the book, changing with Alix’s state. This format lends itself well to the subject matter.
Did I put it down? Not once. The opening sequence was intense and disturbing. I found myself immediately invested in Alix as a character.
Content: Sullivan is discussing delicate material. The main themes of the book revolve around mental health. Suicidal ideation is a subject matter early, and mental health institutions are addressed as well. We do see some vulgar language used by characters, but this is not gratuitous.
Would I recommend Barking? Absolutely. Admittedly, the topics discussed could be troubling for some readers. Beyond this, Sullivan does telling a compelling story. Take a look at the book along with other authors for this publisher at https://unbound.com/books/barking/.