Dualism vs Monism: Nicholas’ Psychological Study

By August Tales

Leo Fox’s Showstopper: My Body Unspooling

Lucille stands out with a ghost-white body and a spirit, depicted as a throbbing red hood. Take off the hood and your eyes meet Lucille’s piercing red stare. Lucille’s body fluidly transitions between masculinity and femininity, panel after panel. Thus, Lucille finds himself required to navigate a labyrinth of pervasive patterns, where solid-colored beings dash through a blended medley of yellow and purple.

Lucille’s spiritual and physical selves are engaged in a battle. His body loves the warmth, reveling in the symphony of ‘clicks and pants’ that ring out in his life. On the other hand, his spirit has a tendency to be overly indulgent, creating a complicated tension between his physical needs and spiritual aspirations.

From Prokaryote Season to Boy Island

Leo Fox created the Lucille character in “My Body Unspooling.” Fox’s unique offering comes on the heels of the acclaimed “Prokaryote Season” and ushers in Lucille’s story, continuing in the newly released, full-length trans narrative, “Boy Island.”

Fox boasts an intriguing double-life: a student by day at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art and a celebrated artist published by the rebellious Silver Sprocket. This duality familiarizes comics with the concept of high art brought down to earth through ‘low’ formats. Lucien Freud, a celebrated Slade alumnus, was once cited for his ability to frame the imperfect human form in a light that elevated it to perfection. Fox’s work mirrors this ethos. In “My Body,” he invites readers to confront the ambiguous nature of the human meat suit we inhabit.

Tackling Psychological Dualism and Materialization

The crux of “My Body Unspooling” revolves around reconciling psychological dualism with monism. Readers encounter an exploration of the importance of unity between body and spirit. It’s Fox’s fascination with flesh and bodily tangible truth that immediately captivates. Observe a panel where ethereal intestines spew forth from an exposed Lucille. The treatment of bodies as fluid and environments as flexible shares shades of renowned artist Michael DeForge’s work.

Appreciating Design in the Pages of “My Body Unspooling”

“My Body Unspooling” is compact, zine-sized. Nevertheless, the A4 format provides ample room to luxuriate in Fox’s color experimentation. He coalesces dense chunks of black with primary and muted hues, providing recognizable character to abstract forms.

Fox’s art gets the heart racing. His Ignatz nomination for promising new talent in 2023 comes as no surprise. His work displays promising consistency, transforming even brief narratives into cohesive microcosms with their own rhythm and rules.

“My Body Unspooling” is an intellectual appetizer for the main course: “Boy Island.” It features Lucille grappling with the tug of war between his interior and exterior worlds and his journey towards a strengthened reconciliation. The next chapter in Lucille’s journey and Fox’s career is sure to have us all on the edge of our seats, eager with anticipation. Their paths, each different yet intertwined, prove to be irresistible draws as we wait to see what’s next.