Entries tagged with time:2020s

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Dissociation is a bitch / Untitled Poem by crow& (poetry, 2024)

"RAGE AGAINST THE DISTANCE!
KILL THE GHOST!
BURN THE DIVIDE!"

Blurb: "a poem/maybe future lyrics about dissociation--specifically, the moody sort of dissociation where you can't ground and are only able to feel the frustration/irritation around that."

Why is it worth your time?: It's a short powerful poem about breaking dissociation and feeling.

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, dissociation

Content Warnings: ...it's a poem about dissociation.

Access Notes: Screenreadable, free to read here on Dreamwidth! (back-up link here)

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The One Within the Villainess/悪役令嬢の中の人, by Makiburo & Shiraume Nazuna (isekai manga, 2021-)

"What happened to the girl whose body this was...? I wonder if she's okay..."

Blurb: Neglected by her family, Remilia is destined to become the villainess of her world, but when a young woman from our world, Emi, is suddenly reincarnated into her body, suddenly Remilia is cherished and sheltered for the first time. For 11 years, Emi builds a life for Remilia's happiness, but when the treacherous court turns on softhearted Emi, it's Remilia's turn to build a life for her... and make all those jerks sorry!

Why is it worth your time?: Iron-fisted Remilia is a glory to watch in action. Lacking morals herself, she nevertheless embarks on a campaign to revolutionize the world around her for the better, from protecting the oppressed to farm reform to murdering corrupt gods, all for the sake of Emi, whose own moral code is extremely strict and who Remilia loves above all else. All of this is to bring about the downfall of those who wronged her, BY BUILDING A WORD SO GOOD THEY CAN'T SUCCEED IN IT. Give it a shot!

Plural Tags: abuse intermediate focus, the dead, intimate relationships, setting-specific, switching

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: Not officially licensed in English, but the English fan translation is pretty good! Google the title and pick the one of your choice; scanlators are working on it in Indonesian, Vietnamese, traditional Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese. Not screenreadable.

Misc Notes: In progress; 22 chapters scanlated at time of posting.

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Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (contemporary gothic sci-fi prose, 2021)

Submitted by

acorn_squash! Thank you,

acron_squash! ^_^

“Vern reached out to squeeze Lucy’s hand. Lucy squeezed back. In her mind, Vern said the words, I love you, I miss you. Lucy put down the book, turned to Vern, and said, ‘I like living inside of you.’”

Blurb: Everybody in Cainland is used to hauntings - visions and night terrors supposedly caused by withdrawal from white people's toxins. But in Cainland, everything is connected and nothing is what it seems. After fleeing the Cainland cult compound pregnant with twins, an exoskeleton develops on Vern's disabled, teenage body, a passenger that saps her energy but connects her to something greater than herself. Meanwhile, she learns to communicate with her hauntings and develops loving relationships with some of them.

Why is it worth your time?: It’s a fast-paced thriller with some of the most unique and creative science fiction elements I’ve seen in a while (did I mention the exoskeleton?). Definitely read the content warnings first, though!

Plural Tags:abuse high-focus, the dead, children, setting-specific plurality, family, friendship, and intimate relationships, visions

Content Warnings: The author includes the following content warning: “I hope that even as Sorrowland delves into the pain these colonial states have wrought, one might see the joy, triumph, and humor of those who resist, resist, resist. That said, there is no mincing words about some of the darker themes in this book. Note discussion and instances of racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicidality, and homophobia, inclusion of animal death and explicit violence, and references to sexual violence that have taken place off the page.”

In addition to this, the book also includes the death and sexual abuse of children, the forced removal of children, poverty, homelessness, cults, medical experimentation, and drugs. Pregnancy, childbirth, and consensual sex also appear.

Accessibility Notes: Available in e-book, audiobook, and print.

Stop Dying, You Were Very Expensive! by AKWAEKE (hiphop/Afropop music, 2024)

"you can’t do anything, we getting in
put some money on a god, i bet we win
i feel the power on my skin, setting in
i feel a demon at my door, LET IT IN"

Blurb: Akwaeke Emezi's debut EP, with the declared premise of, "I'm here, I'm a god, now shake your ass ;)"

Why is it worth your time?: It rocks! It's a kicking album covering themes like spirit lovers, godhood, deviant victory, and Jean Grey! Give it a listen!

Plural Tags: abuse intermediate-focus, otherworld, nonhumans [gods, demons, spirits], dreamfolk, relationships romantic and teamwork and community, spiritual, visions, voices

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: All songs come with lyrics and notes. Parts of a couple songs are in Portuguese and Igbo. You can listen for free, but please do buy it on Bandcamp! It's only $7!

Misc Notes: Contains seven tracks, all less than three minutes:

Let It In
Summoning 101
Diabozinho
The Thing You're Looking For is Inside Me
Jean Grey
Banye
Light Fantastic

John Constantine and the Golden Boy remix, by Jes & Cin Wibowo (2024, fantasy fancomic)

"Goldie let me absorb him. So that I could live. That means my soul isn't entirely my own, ennit?"

Blurb: Burned-out sorcerer John Constantine had a twin who died in the womb. In the world on other side of the mirror, it was the twin who survived, and John who died. And one day, that twin comes out to make him an offer to solve everything...

Why is it worth your time?: It's good! Jes & Cin packed a lot of thought on themes of self-hatred, grief, and sacrifice into these short little comics. Give 'em a shot, they're free!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, otherworld, children, the dead [twins], nonswitching, fusion/integration [failed and successful both], family and enmity relationships, setting-specific, visions

Content Warnings: It is not a spoiler to say that these are comics about a dead twin, and the grief therein!

Access Notes: Not screenreadable. Free to read online, though not posted in order!

Misc Notes: The creators have put it all in one expanded "Director's Cut" post now! (EDIT: here's also the tumblr post version.) Here's the masterpost on the creation of it (back-up link). The authors' notes in the original posts are also well worth reading:

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The Imaginary Friend, by Gwynne Garfinkle (Contemporary Prose, 2022)

Submitted by

matsushima! Thank you,

matsushima!

"It’s clearly been a long time since you’ve spared a thought for me. I should hate you."

Blurb: A fictive imaginary friend discovers the truth about his existence as his human grows up.

Why is it worth your time?: Told from the POV of an outsourced imaginary friend (headmate? tulpha?) who blinks in and out of existence only when their human (host?) remembers them and grapples (some) with what that means.

Plural Tags: fictioneers, imaginary friends, on purpose, abuse not mentioned, nonhumans [catperson]

Content Warnings: off-screen character death, and this is a story about an imaginary friend having to deal with being a created being with a tragic backstory.

Access Notes: Free and screenreadable online. Read it here! (Back-up link here.)

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Infinity Train, seasons 1-3?, by Owen Daniels (sci-fi cartoon, 2019-2021)

"Look at me! I am a person! I DESERVE A NUMBER!"

Blurb: Characters find themselves on a surreal, forever-extending train with ever-changing numbers printed on their hands. Each one has to deal with that in a different way.

Why is it worth your time?: All four seasons of this show are good, but each one is self-contained and have different themes; your mileage may vary on which of seasons 1-3 are "plural enough." In Season One, there's the multi robot One-One. Season Two deals with MT, a runaway mirror reflection determined to find her own personhood separate from the person she reflects. Season Three deals with Grace, who's spent years treating the train (and its denizens) as her own personal playground devoid of moral weight, and the way that eventually comes back to haunt her. (Season 4 involves two ex-best friends who get thrown on the train together and has no pluralish content.)

Plural Tags: abuse low-focus, cofronting, otherworld, copies, nonhumans (robots, mirror reflections), setting-specific

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: On account of being canceled by streaming services, this show can only be pirated. We encourage you to do so; it's very good! Subtitles should be available; I was able to watch with them.

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We're yours and your ours, by beeyolk/the Yolcatzin System (slice of life hypertext, 2023)

“...It’s complicated,” he said. “The thought of being someone’s girlfriend, or boyfriend, or whatever, it really creeped us out.”

“Is it because they saw you two as one person?”

“No. It’s… Like…” He sighed. “Subsa. What are we?”

The butterfly tilted his head. “You’re PJ.”

“No, like, you and us. What are we, together?”

Blurb: A butterfly, a boy, and a robot dog try to figure out what their relationship is to each other.

Why is it worth your time?: It's short, sweet, and loving. Give it a shot!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, cofronting, nonhumans [butterfly, robot dog], queerplatonic relationships

Content Warnings: None whatsoever.

Access Notes: Free, screenreadable, available in Spanish. Read it here! (EDIT 2024/10/6: deleted and the Wayback Machine can't play it.)

(EDIT 2025/02/12: contacted author, was asked not to rehost or back it up. This is now officially lost media.)

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OPEN CANVAS SEEKING FLAME, by ISLA NARANJA DEL VIAJE (personal comic, 2024)

Submitted by

hungryghosts!

""AS OF RIGHT NOW I FEEL CREATIVELY STUNTED YET SUBLIMELY FREE AND ALL I HAVE TO CHEW ON ARE THE BONES OF THIS DEAD HORSE"

Blurb: A poetic reflection on escaping a poisonous relationship, ambiguously described, and having to refind yourself and your art afterward, shown through a conversation between two headmates.

Why is it worth your time?: Poetic and moving, and I haven't seen this topic done before. Free and short.

Plural Tags: plural creator, abuse intermediate focus, otherworld, nonhumans [wolf, pony from My Little Pony]

Content Warnings: Mention of a bad relationship in the past, dealing with feelings afterward.

Access Notes: not screenreadable. Free.

Misc Notes: Read online here!

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EDIBLE AND INEDIBLE, by ISLA NARANJA DEL VIAJE (personal comic, 2023)

Submitted by

hungryghosts!

"Carving away until only flesh remained would deny us entirely

we don't want that

I don't want that"

Blurb: a personal reflection on vulnerability and nonhuman identity, in stark black, white, red, and yellow.

Why is it worth your time?: Short, free, and striking.

Plural Tags: abuse low-focus, nonhumans [wolf, pony, robot, cat]

Content Warnings: blood, mention of violence from others and self

Access Notes: Free, not screenreadable.

Misc Notes: Read it online here! Creators' website is here.

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Me & My Tail: a true story, by Meredith K. and Co (autobio comic, 2024)

Submitted by

hungryghosts!

"one day i was watching a movie... when suddenly my tail came to life!"

Blurb: Kittylove's tail comes to life and makes it happy.

Why is it worth your time?: It's a cute little comic about plural joy!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, cofronting, nonhumans [cat person, sentient limb], friendship

Content Warnings: None!

Access Notes: Screenreadable! Free!

Misc Notes: Read it online here! (EDIT: Cohost is going down; here's another link. Also a back-up link. As always, all entries with the "LB local copy" tag mean you can ask

lb_lee for a copy)

Piranesi, by Susannah Clarke (fantasy prose, 2020)

Submitted by

packbat!

"And indeed, this is what must have happened now, because the next thing I knew was that I was waking suddenly out of sleep.

"A Full Moon stood in the centre of the Single Doorway, flooding the Hall with Light. The Statues on the Walls were all posed as if they had just turned to face the Doorway, their marble Eyes fixed on the Moon. They were different from the Statues in other Halls; they were not isolated individuals, but representations of a Crowd. Here were two with their Arms about each other; here one had his Hand on the Shoulder of one in front, the better to pull himself forward to see the Moon; here a Child held on to its Father's Hand. There was even a Dog that — having no interest in the Moon — stood on its Hind Legs, its Front Paws on its Master's Chest, pleading for attention. The Rear Wall was a mass of Statues — not neatly arranged in Tiers, but a jumbled, chaotic Crowd. Foremost among them was a Young Man, who stood bathed in the Moonlight, elation in his Face, a Banner in his Hand.

"I almost forgot to breathe. For a moment I had an inkling of what it might be like if instead of two people in the World there were thousands."

Blurb: A series of journal entries by a man living in an apparently-infinite House full of Statues, oceans, and clouds, as he comes to learn more about the nature of his world and realize certain truths which were hidden from him.

Why is it worth your time?: Mostly it's a really cool story and we loved reading it? The protagonist's memory issues mean that he is solving a mystery where we know a lot more than he does. But also, the story being structured around a journal lets us see the perspectives of multiple inhabitants of the protagonist's body over the course of the story.

Plural Tags: abuse:high-focus, memory work, visions, closeting,

Content Warnings: gaslighting, animal death (fishing, a monkey offscreen), human death, kidnapping, unsanitary (one character is implied to have soiled himself, another throws up), fatphobia (very brief but intense), violence, drowning. Also, there's a heroic cop character, and the only explicitly LGBTQ+ character out of the dozen or so named characters is a villain.

Accessibility Notes: Available in audiobook, and in MANY languages, including Spanish, Polish, German, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish, French, Bulgarian, Russian and Czech.

Misc. Notes (if any): There is a lot of obvious inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges and similar otherworldly fantasty, but it also draws from the author's experience with ME/CFS in a lot of subtle ways. And it has a good ending, which for us Packbats makes it easier to deal with the heavy stuff.

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Projections, by S. E. Porter (horror prose, 2024)

"The you that killed Viola Wright was mulched a month later. I found my outlying scrap of consciousness balled up in Gus's pocket, all unbeknownst to him, along with the rest of your magically compressed matter and a great charge of vibrating magic. It was an unsettling vantage, for where I curled infinitesimally in your remains I could hear what I might call my primary self screaming above Gus's head.'"

Blurb: Gus is a sorcerer so obsessed with Catherine that he murders her, and her ghost is stuck haunting him forevermore. Unable to accept that Catherine doesn't love him, Gus then becomes obsessed with finding other girls that remind him of Catherine and making THEM love him... only to kill them when the inevitably don't'. He creates magical duplicates of himself to do that dirty work, forever recycling them into new copies, using Catherine's ghost to follow them. But over the decades, that means a piece of Catherine is embedded in those pieces of Gus. And she still wants her revenge...

Why is it worth your time?: It's pretty good! This is a book covering 150+ years of time, with three major time periods and two (or three, depending how you count) different points of view, and a decently sizable cast, all organized well enough so as not to throw us. Gus is utterly convincing as that special brand of romantic obsessive who sees himself as the most loving person, all the while being an utter horrorshow, and Catherine's revenge is delicious.

Plural Tags: abuse (mostly of a ghost) high-focus, cofronting, copies, the dead, enmity, setting-specific, possession

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: Available in print, ebook, and audiobook

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Moon Knight vol. 9, by Jed MacKay, Alessandro Cappuccio, Federico Sabbatini (superhero comic, 2021)

This is part of a series on Moon Knight submitted by

erinptah! Thank you,

erinptah! :D See her whole post with clips here!

“We’re not crazy, Marc. Well, maybe Grant is. You seen how much he pays for a suit? No, ‘crazy’ is what stupid people call things they don’t take the time to understand. You, me, Grant…we’re a team. Or we should be.”

Blurb: After dying and being resurrected (for the first time, but not the last) by the Egyptian god of the moon, mercenary Marc Spector sets out to atone for the harm he caused…by becoming a moon-themed superhero. That’s on top of being Steven Grant, rich CEO/investor in unspecified businesses. And being Jake Lockley, who ranges from “friendly, easygoing, regular guy” to “comedically murderous sociopath” depending on who’s writing this run. (The current series is striking a middle ground of “avuncular scoundrel with a heart of gold”.)

VOLUME 9 BLURB:

So, after the Bemis run ended, the main Avengers comic did this arc in which Khonshu orders Marc to attack a bunch of the Avengers. Which he does. (Everyone he’s managed to reconnect with decides this is a good reason to cut him off again.) The Avengers ultimately put Khonshu in super-god-prison, but let Marc go free…as long as he follows certain conditions.

This is the run that combines “Marc has a new set of Moon Knight adventures” with “Marc goes to court-ordered super-therapy.”

Steven and Jake don’t appear until the end of the end of the first story arc — but when they do, it’s to reveal they were giving Marc space on purpose, and to call out how much he’s struggling without them. After that, while they don’t get to be in every issue, they get regular appearances that showcase how Jake and Steven both have personal skills that Marc doesn’t, and how much better they work as a team.

Why is it worth your time?: Marvel Comics’ longest-running and most-successful attempt to portray a superhero with DID. (Some writers don’t actually attempt it — but we’re limiting this roundup to the runs where they remembered.)

“Most-successful” still means plenty of flaws, drawbacks, and general comic-book nonsense! But at its best, the writing is a heartfelt, complex, insightful, funny portrayal of A Troubled System Doing Their Best, which a lot of IRL plural readers have found relatable.

Plural tags: abuse low-focus, memory work, otherworld, realitymashing, relationships: family, relationships: teamwork, type: medical, type: switching

Content warnings: violence (not as gratuitous as the last run), a recurring theme of mind-control/violation-of-autonomy from the villains, major character death

Access Notes: Most of these are available in print collections of some sort, as well as digitally through Marvel. Nothing audio or screenreadable as far as I know.

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The Glass Scientists, by Sage Cotugno, Julia Elliott, Lucy Xue, Tiina Purin (fantasy comic, 2015-)

Also submitted by a mysterious anon! Thank you, anon!

"I am the darkness within! The caged beast at the heart of all humanity! The spirit of--"

"London at night! I know! Speaking of humbug, you do realize I can hear all of your little inner monologues, don't you?"

Blurb: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, only more queer and crossing over with other classic horror. Jekyll runs a society for mad scientists like himself who push the boundaries, hoping to become more accepted by wider society. Of course, considering it's the Victorian era, this is easier said than done. Especially when there's Hyde, who has his own agenda...

Why is it worth your time?: Takes the Jekyll and Hyde story and makes it more nuanced, not simply 'Hyde is pure evil'. The two don't necessarily get along, but their relationship has elements that some systems may find relatable. Though switching has to be physically induced via potion, the two still make plans at a couple points on when to switch so one member can go out and do something he wants to do, etc. Also does a good job tackling themes such as racism, queerphobia, and classism. The art is quite nice!

Plural Tags: on purpose, otherworld, enmity

Content Warnings: racism, homophobia and transphobia, the typical psychological effects that occur with Victorian repression, trauma, body horror, blood, some sexual situations (non-explicit), emotional manipulation, strained family dynamics. Others contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: The first volume is now in print with a second volume on the way, but it is free to read online with weekly page uploads. https://www.theglassscientists.com/about

Misc Notes: The primary author is nonbinary and a POC!

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Solipschism, by Alexi H.S. (Utilitymonstergirl) (sci-fi comic, 2023)

"I suggest you spin off a few more selves with slightly shited neurotypes and discuss the matter."

Blurb: After spending centuries dead, Markus awakens in a world that doesn't care to explain much, least of all itself. And he can spin off other selves to discuss the matter...

Why is it worth your time?: Trippy and thoughtful, a meditation on history and the self. Give it a shot; it's free to read online!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, fusion/integration, otherworld, copies, the dead, community, plural on purpose, setting-specific

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: The creator has now textually transcribed the whole thing! :D Backed up by LB because I have LEARNED from previous archiverot!

Misc Notes: Read for free on https://solipschism.webcomic.ws or pay what you want for the PDF ebook on itch.io!

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Prison Worship: Orishas, Vodoun, and Mpungos, by Onjé Keon Pierce (personal art zine, 2020)

"I have divinities I share my life with that are like mother to son, or business contacts, or even lovers."

Blurb: A Risographed art zine, done entirely in shades of blue and black, of religious art and practice by a then-imprisoned artist.

Why is it worth your time?: Short, simple, with beautiful art. Give it a shot!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, nonhumans [orisha, mpungo, gods, spirits] the dead, spiritual, visions,

Content Warnings: Imagery of death, racial violence, slavery, and life in prison.

Access Notes: Available on paper only at Snakehair Press for $12 USD. You can also buy full-color prints of the artwork in the zine here!

ねこのティーチくん/Teach the Cat, by Oyasainoni 9 (slice-of-life thriller animation, 2019-2022)

Submitted by

yolcatzin !

「やあ、僕の名前はティーチくんだよ。今日は僕といろんな事学ぼう」 "Hey, my name's Teach. Today we're going to learn all sorts of things."

Blurb: A thriller dressed up as a very incompetent edutainment show. Your host, a cat named Teach (joined by his headmates Sam and Kobayashi), tries to give you entertaining life lessons from the white void he calls home, even as he is beset by unpleasant, horrific, and inexplicable events.

Why is it worth your time?: Don't let the crude art style fool you. The mysteries are compelling, the drama is effective, the comedic moments land, and the bodysharing protagonists have very interesting dynamics with each other.
When we watched, we were invested in the one-sided relationship Sam has with Teach. That bunny is filled with so much yearning and he is so unhealthy and obsessive about it. He's a riot!

Plural Tags: abuse intermediate-focus, enmity, family, friendship, nonhumans [bunny person, cat person], romantic, spiritual, switching, the dead, visions, voices

Content Warnings: Infrequent eyestrain-inducing graphics and harsh noises.
Depictions of abuse between headmates, blood, body horror, death, illness, gore, manipulation, murder, mutilation, obsessive/stalkerish behavior, suicide, unreality, urine, vomit. Discussions of familial abuse, incest, sexual assault, and COVID-19. (Context: This series is full of seasonal/topical episodes, so there are a few episodes from 2020 that mention the pandemic. These can be skipped without missing out on important plot points.)

Accessibility Notes: This series is entirely in Japanese. There are no transcripts or Japanese subtitles. As of the time of this submission, the first fourty episodes have been subtitled in English by the creator, and there are fansubs going up to episode 200 of 374 (compiled in this playlist). Unfortunately, all of these subtitles are baked in (not screen-reader-friendly) and riddled with errors. If you don't speak Japanese, you won't be able to fully enjoy this series.

Episode by episode playlist

Compilation playlist

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Plural Joy! vol. 0, by the Equinoxian Systems (autobio zine, 2023)

"Living as a singular person never made our dissociation or amnesia stop. It always made it worse. I'd rather not do it to myself anymore for the sake of prioritizing the comfort of singlets."

Blurb: "A light introduction to plurality with some interviews with the author systems' members."

Why is it worth your time?: It's what it says on the tin. Not a story, but we try to include autobio experiences in this archive to boost artists!

Plural Tags: plural creator, abuse not mentioned, community and enmity relationships, medical

Content Warnings: None

Access Notes: Sadly not screenreadable.

Misc Notes: $5+ on Ko-fi. Buy it here!

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Ally, by Madison Scott-Clary (autobio? hypertext, 2019-2020)

Submitted with the kind assistance of

rax!

"that review forced me to face a tangential fact, but one no less important: the knowledge that I am — that we are — not alone."

Blurb: (from creator description) "ally is an ergodic, arborescent, semiautobiographical work about identity, mental health, spirituality, and the mutability of the past. A lot of the information contained within is real, some of it isn’t. Each page is structured as a conversation between myself and my ally, a mirror reflection of myself."

Why is it worth your time?: "a fictionalized memoir in which Scott-Clary grapples with issues of mental health, sexual and asexual identity, what it means to have a self, how abuse and trauma affect those things, and how being a hopelessly nerdy furry specifically inflects all of that in really interesting directions. It's a typographical adventure (the whole thing is produced in LaTeX), with the inclusion of sheet music, threaded stories, interlocking footnotes, and subtle but crucial uses of color. I think it's my favorite plural memoir."

Plural Tags: cofronting, nonswitching, community

Content Warnings: Several sections focus on suicide, self-harm, rape, sexual content, and poor mental health.

Access Notes: Read online for free at https://ally.id/ Text is screenreadable, but the images unfortunately are not alt-texted.

Misc Notes: See Rax's post about ally here! You can also buy it at https://makyo.itch.io/ally (ebook) or https://ally.id/book?pk_campaign=itch (paperback)