An advanced level Mixed Media class at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, taught by Lisa Wax (creator of the Life’s Deal Deck of Cards project) created these fantastic full-color variations on the black and white Autobiographical Comics project. This was the last project of the school year so students had had many experiences with a variety of media. The project began with the questionnaire to elicit student storytelling. Ms. Wax created a new version of the McAdams Questionnaire—discarding some questions and adding others that she felt would be more relevant and interesting for her students.

The average size of a piece was around 15 by 22 inches. Students created a pencil sketch, then darkened the lines, and began the process of adding color. Markers, collage, watercolor, and charcoal were the favored materials for completing the project.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
For those with monitors or eyes that are not quite sharp enough, we’ve included the text of the comics in type next to each image.



























ANOTHER STRAY CALICO
THE SMELLY PERV ON THE
“NICE KITTY. WANNA SEE SOME PICTURES?” OH, NO…
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE…
MY FATHER NOT SO HAPPY
AT LEAST HE MADE ME DINNER.
by Allie Young



























MY DAD
My Dad was big in Vietnam. Big!
He was big and busy at work!
He was big helping me with my homework!
Then we moved to Chicago.
And my Dad got small…
He was small at home, but still okay!
“Little Daughter, what did that say?”
But, working at the steel mill . . .
by Haibinh Hguyen



























“BOY SCOUT”
by Jacqueline Paredes










































THE END.
by Adi Berlin






































WHERE DO YOUR THOUGHTS GO WHEN YOU SLEEP?
YOU AREN’T DREAMING THE WHOLE TIME…
BUILDING UP, AND FALLING DOWN JUST AS SOON,
WHAT IS BEHIND THE FROWN, THE EMPTY CALM?
INHALE, EXHALE….
by Elijah Rutschmann



























At the show…
THE CHEMISTRY…THE SMOKE…THE CHORD CHANGES…
[YOU BELONG.]
TRY TO EXHALE
THIS IS REAL…
LIFE BRUISED WITH STAGE LIGHTS AND POSSIBILITIES…
IT ALL MAKES SENSE…
DANGLED IN MUSICAL
DOSES OF PERFECT.
by Liz Kemph

























Sheet in pocket reads: Safety Guide
Fragments of writing visible on paper with hand:
Packets
Plastic grey…
that remind me of
preschool
Smiling employees
with polished nametags
…tall cup of flat Dr. Pepper…
by Matt Milkowski




























Once upon a time in guitar class, I dream that I would one day…
ROCK!
Playing guitar under the purple twilight
Smeared with starlight
Thick with butterflies
Adoring fans
On the road
Hot cars
Free stuff
Groupies and gold records.
But it was only a dream.
…Or was it?
by Erin Parker